Talking to Employees About Ethics

Employees who care about doing a good job often look for ways to improve how things are done. They review new policies and think about what worked or didn’t work in the past. People responsible for budgets, staffing, or legal matters usually raise those issues. But who brings up ethical concerns? Who asks if something is fair and right?

The answer: Everyone should. Every employee shares the responsibility to ask these questions. Still, some people hesitate. They might assume someone else will speak up or think that if no one is saying anything, the behavior must be okay. Others may feel it’s pointless or risky: “Nothing will change anyway,” or “What if my coworkers or boss disagree?”

Because of these challenges, supervisors should encourage employees to raise ethical concerns. Here are some tools to help with those conversations. 

Employees look to supervisors for leadership and information about how to behave in the workplace, and they model their behavior accordingly. If supervisors never raise ethical concerns, neither will their staff. As a supervisor, make ethics part of your regular conversations with your team. Be ready to start and lead these discussions yourself. When employees see that talking about ethics is normal and encouraged, it becomes part of everyday work.

Another way to include ethics is to review it alongside other factors like budget, staffing, and legal issues. When a new project is suggested, ask:

• Does this project violate the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (Ethics Act) or encourage others to?
• Does it support the agency’s values and policies?

Any time is a good time to talk about ethics, but some moments are especially useful for supervisors. For example:

• Early December is a great time to remind employees about the Ethics Act’s gift ban.
• Before primaries and elections, discuss rules about political activity.
• At year-end or when someone plans to leave, review revolving door restrictions.

Every State agency has an Ethics Officer who can help you with these conversations. The Executive Ethics Commission also offers resources to guide you through Ethics Act issues. News stories about scandals can also spark ethics discussions. As a supervisor, steer the conversation away from gossip. Explain how the alleged behavior might violate the Ethics Act and talk about what your team can do to keep workplace ethics strong.

To lead by example, supervisors must know the expectations of their staff. As a supervisor, you should have a good sense of what behavior is permitted and prohibited by the Ethics Act, other ethics laws, and your agency’s policies. As you normalize talking about ethics in the workplace, employees may come to you expecting answers. Don’t worry. Ethics education is important for everyone, but no supervisor can be expected to have all the answers. A best practice is to tell staff, “I don’t know that answer, but let me look into it.” Make sure to follow up with your agency’s Ethics Officer. The Executive Ethics Commission also has resources to help.

Just reading the Ethics Act aloud is not meaningful for most employees. Instead, tailor a hypothetical situation that is relevant to your team and present it for their discussion. The hypothetical situation might involve gifts, political activity, a potential conflict of interest, or another situation that has real-world elements. Be prepared in case you experience some strong opinions from your staff. Consider consulting your Ethics Officer in advance for strategy or assistance.

Candid discussions about ethical issues take place only under the right conditions. Supervisors must be accessible and open. “Open door” policies are essential. Staff should be reminded of the confidentiality provisions of the Ethics Act, the availability of their Ethics Officer, and their potential whistleblower protection.

Finally, employees must believe that their supervisor will take their concerns seriously and follow up with appropriate action. If an issue needs to be referred to an Executive Inspector General, be prepared to explain the process that follows. Ethics Officers are available to help. Additional information is on the Executive Ethics Commission website.

As a supervisor, if you have any questions about your responsibilities or about how to encourage ethics discussions, talk to your Ethics Officer. Your Ethics Officer and the Executive Ethics Commission are ready and willing to help.

You can find your agency’s Ethics Officer on the Executive Ethics Commission Website.

More information about the EEC, including links to the Ethics Act, other relevant laws and procedures, as well as resources for all employees can be found on our website. Every State agency is required to appoint an Ethics Officer. Ethics Officers are always available to discuss questions or concerns.

Find your agency’s Ethics Officer by visiting our website.

This publication is for general informational purposes only. It does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.

Executive Ethics Commission Address:
401 South Spring Street
516 William Stratton Building
Springfield, IL 62706

Contact Us:

Website: https://EEC.Illinois.gov
Phone: (217) 558-1393
Fax: (217) 524-2041
Email: EEC@illinois.gov