Ethics-in-the-Workplace.ppsx

8/11/2022 Business & Financial Services Controller’s Office 1
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
Office of the Controller
Business and Financial Services

Business & Financial Services
BFS is an integral campus and community partner, providing sustainable
value-added services and solutions to ensure responsible compliance and
stewardship.
• Accounts Payable
• Travel and Entertainment
• BARC (Cashiers, Accounts Receivable, Collections)
• General Accounting
• Extramural Funds Accounting
• Payroll
• Purchasing
• Contracts and Property
• Equipment Management
• Office of the Controller

Business & Financial Services
Operating Principles
Partner
We partner with the campus and community to deliver solutions that
best accomplish our mutual goals.
Serve
We are a service-oriented organization, responsive to our clients’
needs and committed to timely communication and solutions.
Collaborate
We are an inclusive team that develops a shared vision by respecting
and incorporating diverse viewpoints.
Adapt
We embrace change in our environment of constantly evolving
regulation, policy, and technology.
Sustainable
We consider social, economic, and environmental benefits in our
business services and practices.

Presentation Goals
In support of our mission, our goals today
are to:
1. Raise awareness of UCSB ethical standards
2. Identify specific areas of concern on campus
3. Offer tools to help in decision making
4. Identify campus resources

ETHICS DEFINED
Ethics in the Workplace

Definition of ethics
Relating to what is good or bad, having to do with
moral* duty and obligation. 1
*relating to principles of right and wrong
Ethics is not about being better than someone else; it’s
about being the best we can be.2
1Webster’s New World Dictionary, 3rd College Edition
2 © 2000 Josephson Institute of Ethics - Reprinted with permission.
In a nutshell, ethics are about doing the right
thing.

Doing the Right Thing is Important
UCSB is a public institution funded by the State
of California with taxpayers dollars.
We have stakeholders with a vested interest in how we
manage our resources:
• Donors
• Funding agencies
• Students
• Parents
• Employees
We have an obligation to make the very best
use of our valuable resources.

Consequences of Wrongdoing
What are some of the potential consequences?
• Negative impact to the UCSB public image
• Loss of donor gifts
• Impact to contract and grant awarding for research activities
• Tarnished department reputation
• Difficulty in recruiting the best and brightest students, faculty and
staff
• Potential criminal or civil investigation
• Cost
• Resource allocation

AREAS OF CONCERN

Areas of Concern
Travel
• Consistently using the maximum daily meal
allowance
• Requesting meal reimbursement for events
where meals are provided
• Choosing airfare for the frequent flyer
benefits instead of best pricing
Best Practice:
Think like a taxpayer

Areas of Concern
Conflict of interest
• No clear separation between University and
private interests/activities
• Accepting gifts from vendors
• Hiring a friend or relative as an employee or
contractor
Best Practice:
Always be above-board when conducting University
business.
Remember, perception can be just as bad as the real
thing!

Areas of Concern
Personal use of resources and staff
• Personal use of resources
– Office supplies
– Equipment
– Vehicles
– Computers
• Personal use of staff
– External committee assistance
– Travel arrangements
– Purchases/errands
Best Practice:
Remember that resources and staff are here to help you do
your job

Areas of Concern
Hiring and staffing practices
• Falsifying timekeeping records
• Misrepresenting work performance on
evaluations
• Non-communication of work
performance issues to employee
Best Practice:
Be fair and consistent

TOOLBOX

Toolbox
Questions to ask
How can you be sure that you are making the right
choice?
Think about…
• Are my actions legal?
• How would a person whose moral judgement I
respect perceive my actions?
• Will I sleep soundly after making this decision?
• How will this decision look in the news?

Toolbox
Warning bells
choice?
Listen for the warning bells…
• “Well, maybe just this once”
• “No one will ever know”
• “It sounds too good to be true”
• “Everyone does it”
• “Audit will never catch it”
• “We have always done it this way”

Toolbox
Policies
choice?
Check to see if there are any regulations or policies
which would restrict choices…
• UC System-wide Policy (handout)
• UCSB Local Policy (handout)
• University of California Statement of Ethical
Values and Standards of Ethical Conduct
(handout)

Toolbox
Campus Resources
choice?
Check in with campus subject matter experts
• Department Chair
• Control Point
• Audit and Advisory Services (handout)
• Business and Financial Services (handout)

Toolbox
Confidential Resources
When in a pinch, use campus confidential resources
• Whistleblower website or hotline
• http://www.whistleblower.ucsb.edu or 800-403-4744
• Reports may be made anonymously and are protected
under UC policy from retaliation
• Office of the Ombuds
• Confidential, informal, independent, and neutral resource
• Provides informal and private consultation
• Safe, confidential, and impartial

Ethics in the Workplace Recap
Think like a taxpayer
Always be above-board when conducting University
business
Remember, perception can be just as bad as the real
thing
Remember that resources and staff are here to help you do
your job
Be fair and consistent
Ask questions and listen to warning
bells
Review regulations and
policies
Check in with campus
experts

Ethics in the Workplace Summary
Do the right thing!

ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
Questions?

Ethics-in-the-Workplace.ppsx

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