Hanscom Legal team gives guidance for holiday ethics

  • Published
  • By Demetria Themistocles
  • 66th Air Base Group Office of the Staff Judge Advocate

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. —Counselors from the 66th Air Base Group Legal Office offer the information below to remind federal employees of the ethics guidance for parties and gift giving within the Department of Defense this holiday season.

Federal employees, including civilians and military members, may not solicit or accept gifts from prohibited sources, or receive gifts because of their official position.  

Prohibited sources include anyone seeking an official action or business with an employee's agency, and anyone substantially affected by the performance of the employee's duties. Contractors are always considered prohibited sources.  

Gifts can include favors, discounts, travel expenses, or reimbursement after an incurred expense. An exception to this gift-giving rule is that a federal employee may accept a gift up to $20 in value, though never in cash, at one time, and up to $50 from the same source in one year.

Gifts from subordinates are generally limited to non-cash items worth less than $10. Personnel should be cautious when pooling contributions for a holiday gift for a supervisor, as it still cannot exceed $10.  

There are no monetary limits for gifts given between co-workers.

Similar ethical considerations must be taken prior to holiday parties.

Supervisors may accept food and refreshments shared in the office and may share in the expense of an office party. Federal employees may be solicited to contribute a proportional monetary amount for an office party; however, contributions must be voluntary and not solicited by their supervisor.  

When planning an office party, please note that federal employees may never ask local businesses or contractors, to include those working in the office, for any type of donation, including cash or food.  

Organizations may fundraise within their own office for a party using methods such as a snack or sunshine fund.

Raffles or other forms of gambling are prohibited.  

Federal employees may also attend social gatherings hosted outside the office, such as a holiday reception, so long as the event is hosted by a non-prohibited source and no attendee is charged an admission fee. If the social event is hosted by a prohibited source, federal employees should consult with an ethics counselor before attending.

Even if a gift is not expressly excluded, employees should still not:

  • Accept a gift in return for being influenced in the performance of an official act.
  • Solicit or coerce the offering of a gift.  
  • Accept gifts from the same or different sources on a basis so frequent that a reasonable person would be led to believe the employee is using his or her public office for private gain.

Additional information can be found at https://dodsoco.ogc.osd.mil/Portals/102/Documents/Gifts/Holiday%20Guidance%202020%20FINAL.pdf?ver=XleA61bxhHqck5S_zVoAhw%3d%3d

To consult with an ethics counselor, email 66.ABG.JA.Ethics@us.af.mil.