Professional Standards and Ethics Flashcards

Which behavior reflects a commitment to equal employment opportunity (EEO) principles in a county office?

Answer: Treating all employees and applicants consistently regardless of protected characteristics

EEO requires that all employment decisions be based on job-related qualifications and consistent standards, not personal characteristics.

What is the best course of action when you are uncertain whether a specific action is ethical?

Answer: Consult the agency's ethics guidelines or ask a compliance officer before acting

When in doubt, consulting official ethics resources or a compliance officer prevents inadvertent violations.

A county clerk overhears a colleague making derogatory comments about a coworker's religion. The appropriate action is to:

Answer: Report the behavior to HR or a supervisor as a potential harassment issue

Derogatory comments based on religion can constitute harassment and should be reported to HR or a supervisor to protect the workplace environment.

Why is it important for clerical staff to follow records retention schedules?

Answer: To ensure records are kept for legally required periods and disposed of properly

Retention schedules ensure compliance with legal requirements, support audits, and guarantee that records are not destroyed prematurely or kept unnecessarily.

An employee posts negative comments about their department's leadership on a personal social media account using their real name. This may:

Answer: Violate county social media policies and reflect poorly on the agency

County social media policies often extend to personal accounts when employees can be identified as county workers, as posts can undermine public trust.

Protecting personally identifiable information (PII) in county records primarily serves to:

Answer: Safeguard individuals' privacy rights and comply with applicable laws

PII protections exist to uphold individual privacy rights and comply with state and federal laws governing the handling of personal data.

When a clerical employee is promoted to a role with access to additional confidential information, they should:

Answer: Access only the information necessary to perform their new job duties

The principle of least privilege requires employees to access only the information genuinely needed for their specific duties, even when broader access is technically available.