Education:

Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Standards of Employee Conduct Need Improvement

FPCD-79-29, Mar 14, 1979

Contact:

Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov

The development and implementation of standards of conduct in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) were reviewed.

Standards of conduct for Federal employees in HEW do not provide sufficient guidance to enable employees and supervisors to identify and resolve potential ethical problems. The standards are incomplete, complex, and out-of-date. As a result, employees are not always aware of their responsibilities, and a supervisor's advise is often a personal interpretation of the HEW Standards of Conduct regulation.

Status Legend:

More Info
  • Review Pending-GAO has not yet assessed implementation status.
  • Open-Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned, or actions that partially satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-implemented-Actions that satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-not implemented-While the intent of the recommendation has not been satisfied, time or circumstances have rendered the recommendation invalid.
    • Review Pending
    • Open
    • Closed - implemented
    • Closed - not implemented

    Recommendation for Executive Action

    Recommendation: HEW should: (1) revise and update the standards to make them complete, current, and easier to read and understand; (2) make the Department Counselor's interpretations of the standards available to supervisors; (3) expand training on the standards for Department supervisors who provide advise and guidance on employees' ethical conduct; (4) prepare a publication summarizing the standards and alerting employees to potential conflict problems for which they should seek advise; and (5) use available information to identify areas of the standards that need to be revised.

    Agency Affected:

    Status: Closed

    Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.