Ethics dilemmas and moral decision-making

Ethics

The Bureau of Land Management/Department of the Interior videos illustrate a wide variety of issues related to ethics in administrative civil service positions. All of the ethical dilemmas and issues addressed are outlined and codified in publications and handbooks. However, no booklet can cover the nuances and extent of all ethical situations and especially the trickiest conundrums. As the video points out, there is no substitute for actual advice from a skilled professional in the field of ethics counseling. This is why departments like the BLM or the Fish and Wildlife Service have on staff ethics counselors. Ethics counselors are on call to answer questions and solve dilemmas when they arise, thus preventing problems that can lead to severe penalties ranging from fines to probation and/or prison. All employees are responsible for their own ethical conduct, which is why it is not possible to plead ignorance in cases like those illustrated in the videos. Likewise, managers are especially responsible for their actions and accountable also for their employees. Three of the most common ethical dilemmas presented in the videos, which correspond with universal ethical codes, include bribes and conflicts of interest.

According to the videos, it is unacceptable under any and all circumstances for a government employee to accept outside gifts or cash for his or her work. Bribing seems to be a clear-cut scenario in which it is obvious whether the government worker was acting in an unethical manner. However, there are many gray areas and situations in which the gift or compensation does not appear to be a bribe. There are also cases in which gifts are acceptable. According to the United States Department of Justice (2015), gifts of small monetary value (less than $20), "items of little intrinsic value which are intended solely for presentation," such as awards, snacks, and soft drinks are all acceptable to take. In fact, it may even be ethical to accept a gift from a fellow employee who happens to be a lifelong friend or relative (United States Department of Justice, 2015). It is unethical to accept gifts that have anything to do with the performance of an official act, or "when a gift is offered by a person or organization whose interests could be affected by your official actions," (United States Department of Justice, 2015). In the BLM videos related to bribery, the story about Mike Peters, a Senior Analyst for NASA, recommended Peace software for a government contract. However, it turned out that Peters had worked for NASA and deliberately disguised his payments. Thus, Peters was charged not only with bribery but also with conflict of interest and also falsifying financial information. Therefore, bribery often intersects with other ethical code violations. In the case of Peters, bribery, conflict of interest, and also outside employment were core ethical code violations.

Conflicts of interest comprise a large proportion of ethical dilemmas within the administrative environment. It can be difficult to distinguish between an honest collusion of personal and business interests vs. A genuine conflict. Therefore, the employee must consult with his or her ethics counselor if the slightest potential for a conflict of interest should arise in relation to government work. Conflict of interest, like bribery, is clearly outlined in ethical codes and statutes, yet it may still be necessary to seek professional ethical counseling when faced with a dilemma. For example, the videos refer to several cases in which government employees found themselves being penalized for conflicts of interest. One example is when a government employee awarded a contract to a firm that subcontracted to another firm that was owned by the employee's spouse. The conflict of interest was not immediately apparent because the firm that was awarded the contract was not exactly the firm owned by the employee's spouse. Only after an investigation, the conflict of interest was found. Any time a government employee has a stake in a company, that employee cannot make any recommendations related to that company. The employee must report their alliance with the organization and allow his or her colleagues to make a decision independently.