Ethical Frequently Asked 问题s

问题:  Can you accept tickets to a concert?

Answer:  Yes, you can accept tickets to a concert, as long as it is not given in exchange 对于官方行为. 而且价值不到50美元 

要问自己的问题:

Does it appear that it might have influenced you or seems inappropriate?
Are you involved in a procurement process with the vendor?  如果是，拒绝礼物. 
NOTE:  This would include gifts obtained in drawings for door prizes at work-related 会议.  

问题 1: May I work at the Hattiesburg Country Club Golf Course, with which USM has a lease arrangement, at times when I am not working at USM if I am a full-time 员工? 

问题 2:  Do I have to fill out the Permission to Engage in 外就业 form to request permission to obtain another job if I am a part-time 员工?

Answer 1:  Probably as it does not appear to be a conflict.  然而，你必须接受 approval from your department head and the President before accepting the outside employment unless your work at the Golf Club constitutes employment related duties within the scope of your responsibilities as a USM 员工.  已获得此权限。 by filling out the appropriate Permission to Engage in 外就业 or Consulting Form. 

Answer 2:  Yes, all 员工s are required to obtain permission for outside employment 根据国际人道法政策801.08外部就业 and must fill out the Permission to Engage in 外就业 or Consulting Form.

Permission to Engage in 外就业 or Consulting

参见教师咨询政策

See Employee Handbook Section 3.2外部就业

见国际人道法政策801.08外部就业

问题: I’ve been buying stock in a company that does business with USM. 在我 next purchase, I’ll own more than a $5,000 equity interest in the company. 这是否 制造问题? 

Answer:  Depending on your job duties, this investment may constitute a conflict of interest and should not be pursued.  In addition, if you have the authority to award contracts, select vendors, or influence the 购买 of 商品或服务, then you must report your ownership on the financial disclosure and conflict of interest statement filed with your department head and the Office of 研究 Integrity.

问题:  I noticed a flyer posted in my supervisor’s office advertising a party 对于一个政治候选人. Is it okay for the ad to be posted?

回答:不, no one should ever post any type of advertisement for any political candidate on any USM property, leased or owned.

问题: May I use USM computers or telephones to send e-mails or make local calls to representatives urging their support for a bill that regulates fishing? 该法案 is not related to higher education, and I will only do it during a small part of my 午休时间.

回答:不, you may not use USM resources to urge passage or defeat of a bill, even if the use is incidental and even if the bill does not affect higher education.

问题: I received a call from a newspaper reporter who wanted to speak to somebody about student enrollment statistics for USM. Since I am not familiar with this subject, 我该怎么给她转电话?

Answer:  The Office of 大学 Communications can help connect reporters with appropriate 发言人. In identifying the appropriate 发言人, each office should follow the guidelines established by supervisors and executive officers for their areas. Do not refer a reporter to another office unless you are certain that they are the appropriate office to address the reporter’s questions. When in doubt, refer a reporter to the Office of 大学 Communications.

问题:  Last night there was a knock on my door, and the per儿子 identified himself 作为联邦调查局探员. The agent wanted to talk with me about my work at USM. 我应该 和他交谈? .

Answer:  Unless the FBI agent has a search warrant or a subpoena, you should ask the agent to contact you at the office the next business day; then, immediately contact your supervisor who is to contact the Office of General Counsel. 联邦调查局探员应该 produce a search warrant or subpoena, if possible, notify your supervisor and the Office of General Counsel before you answer any questions from the agent.

问题: Our department is very short on space. We have many boxes of “old” files 我们已经准备好摆脱它了. 我们可以扔了吗?

Answer: It depends on the content. Generally, if the records are listed on USM’s retention schedule a disposition log must be submitted and approved. 大量纸质记录应 安全地切碎. Bulk electronic records require a disposition log but may be deleted at any time of the year after approval of the disposition. 你的部门 records coordinator is the best resource for more 信息 on departmental procedures or you can contact Special Collections with the 大学图书馆 for specific 信息 on retention schedules.

问题:  I received a phone call from a woman asking if I would send her copies of all email and other correspondence our office had sent to state leaders regarding 学杂费. Should I make the copies and send them to her?

回答:不, receiving a verbal inquiry for public records is not considered a valid request under the Mississippi Public Records Act. To be a valid public record request, an inquiry must be submitted in writing. Because this individual seeks to obtain 信息 from USM, you should advise her to submit her request in writing, via hand delivery, facsimile, e-mail or regular mail, to the Office of 大学 Communications.

问题:  My office uses an application that requires the collection of Social Security numbers (SSN) that is mandated by state law. Individuals can fill out the form as 硬拷贝或电子拷贝. Since I am required to give the notice required by the Federal Privacy Act when we request an individual to initially disclose his or her SSN, is there standard language available somewhere that we can use for that notice?

Answer:  Yes, The Office of 合规与道德 provides pre-approved text for the notice required by the Federal Privacy Act of 1974.

问题:  I noticed some numbers were wrong on a proposal I sent out. 我可以回去吗? and change the numbers so my file copy is correct? 

回答:不, changing the numbers on the file copy of a proposal may be considered 伪造文件. If possible, reissue the proposal and indicate what was changed.

问题:  What are some examples of occupational fraud?

Answer: There are three primary categories of occupational fraud:

Asset misappropriation may include stealing or misusing cash or non-cash assets (e.g., supplies, equipment) of the organization; providing false receipts and documentation for any type of reimbursement from Southern Miss; or claiming overtime for hours not 工作.
Corruption refers to the fraudster using their influence in business transactions to obtain a benefit for themselves or someone else contrary to their duty to their employer, such as accepting a bribe or kickback to favor an outside vendor in buying 商品或服务.  
Financial statement fraud involves the intentional misstatement or omission of material 信息 from the organization’s financial reports which may include the financial statements, grants, or application the organization submits which include financial 信息.

问题: I feel like I was passed up for a promotion because of my age. 我该怎么办? call when I feel I’ve been discriminated against?

Answer:  Contact The Equal 就业 Opportunity Officer in the Office of Human Resources if you feel that you have been passed over for promotion based on your age : they handle allegations of discrimination not related to sexual harassment or sexual misconduct.

问题:  My co-worker is sending me jokes via email that contain offensive content. I’ve asked her to stop, but she continues to send them. 我该怎么办呢??

Answer:  Since the emails with “jokes” could be a form of sexual harassment and continued after you asked her to stop, immediately contact your supervisor and the Title IX 协调员. An investigation will be conducted, and appropriate action will be taken.

问题:  If I am a wage (non-exempt) 员工, how often am I required to complete and submit timekeeping records to my supervisor?

Answer: In accordance with Employee Handbook Retrieval Number 2002 – Time and Attendance, all wage 员工s should submit timesheets on a weekly basis: it is also preferable that time be recorded on a daily basis.

问题:  I am a non-exempt 员工, and I am confused about overtime. 有时 my department says that I have to take the time off or lose it and other times I accrue 时间和一半. How can I tell what I am going to receive?

Answer: A non-exempt 员工 qualifies for 《九游会国际》的规定 overtime if he or she actually works more than 40 hours in a workweek (Monday through Sunday). 《九游会国际》的规定加班是应得的 on a one- and one-half-time basis for all time 工作 over 40 hours in a workweek (one hour of 《九游会国际》的规定 overtime is accrued as 1.50小时). The 《九游会国际》的规定 provides that any 员工 of a public agency who has accrued compensatory time off and requested use of this compensatory time shall be permitted to use such time off within a "rea儿子able period” after making the request, if such use does not “unduly disrupt” the operations of 该机构. Unduly disruptive is usually not interpreted as a staff shortage.

家庭医疗休假法 

问题:  My wife and I are adopting an infant next month. 我有资格申请家庭津贴吗 和病假? 我可以离开多久?

Answer: You could be eligible for Family 和病假 (用完了). 为了排位赛 legal adoption, 用完了A allows a certain number of weeks off. 去办公室查一下 Human Resources  for specific eligibility requirements and for 信息 on requesting 用完了.

问题:  I accidentally cut my finger on the paper cutter and will most likely need 针. Do I need to report this to anyone?

Answer: Yes, you should always report any job-related injury to your supervisor and to the Workers’ Compensation Insurance manager in the Office of Human Resources: report all job-related injuries no matter how small. Your supervisor should ensure that the required WC forms are completed.

问题:  Is it okay to have an alcoholic beverage during my 午休时间 while off 九游会国际?

Answer:  Using alcohol while not on duty (including, but not limited to when on lunch or a break) when that use that adversely affects job performance or may adversely affect the health or safety of other 员工s, students, visitors, or patients is prohibited by the 大学’s Drug and Alcohol Policy

问题:  A sales representative has asked me to immediately sign a “purchase agreement” because the product price will increase tomorrow. 我可以签这样一份协议吗?

回答:不, This is a contract for purchasing goods and services. 联络部门 of Procurement and Contract Services or the Office of General Counsel for guidance. Only certain individuals have the authority to enter into contracts on behalf of The 大学.

问题:  My 儿子 calls me each day when he gets home from school to ask me to make copies of his homework assignments which he mails me. 因为这是私人电话 a USM owned phone, am I breaking any rules?  Is it okay to make photocopies for my 儿子. 

回答:不. Generally, the per儿子al use of any USM property or asset is prohibited; however, incidental per儿子al usage of email, telephone, or the Internet that complies with applicable Southern Miss policies and does not result in additional cost is okay.  However, using resources that do result in additional costs like making copies is 不允许. 

问题:  My budget doesn’t allow for everyone to have a copy of a software program. Is it okay to copy the program from someone else’s computer and put it on mine? 是什么 这是不对的?

回答:不, it is not okay to use someone else’s software on your computer without 支付许可证费用. This is a violation of federal copyright laws. 向iTech查询 to determine whether a cost-effective site license is available for this program.

问题:  While typing some employment records, I noticed that a new 员工 is 现在嫁给了我的前夫. 我能和她谈谈吗?

Answer:  •Unless she or someone else tells you that she is now married to your ex-husband, you may not disclose that you saw the 信息 on her employment application.

问题:  A friend of mine owns a construction business and has asked me to tell him how much USM has paid to a competitor over the last year.  我有这个权限 主机信息.  我这样做可以吗?

答:不，小姐. 代码安. § 25-4-105(5) states “No per儿子 may intentionally use or disclose 信息 gained in the course of or by rea儿子 of his official position or employment as a public servant in any way that could result in pecuniary benefit for himself, any relative, or any other per儿子, if the 信息 has not been communicated to the public or is not public 信息.”

问题s:  Our department wants to purchase new furniture. 我们可以去任何一家商店吗 and purchase the furniture and seek reimbursement?

回答:不. USM has strict guidelines for purchasing. Purchases over a certain amount 必须投标吗. Additionally, Facilities Management should pre-approve furniture 购买. When in doubt, contact the Office of Procurement and Contract Services.

问题:   I would like to copy a chapter of a certain book for one-time use in my 培训班.  这样可以吗??

Answer:  In accordance with the four-factor fair use test, copying of a chapter for one-time use would probably qualify as fair use. On the other hand, repeated use will likely require permission from the copyright owner. A good practice: if the material is properly and publicly available through a web site, provide a link to the material and an acknowledgement to the web site (rather than a copy of the material). 感觉 free to contact the Office of General Counsel if you have questions about fair use 或者其他版权分析.