CSJT Ethical and Professional Conduct 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A coworker asks you to cover for them by telling your supervisor they were in the office when they were actually running personal errands. What should you do?
- Agree, since it is a small favor and harms no one
- Decline and explain you are not comfortable providing false information to a supervisor (Correct answer)
- Tell your supervisor immediately without speaking to the coworker first
- Agree this time but warn the coworker not to ask again
Correct answer: Decline and explain you are not comfortable providing false information to a supervisor
Providing false information to a supervisor compromises your integrity and violates professional conduct standards.
Question 2: You discover that a process your team has used for years is less efficient than a newer method. Your supervisor prefers the old approach. The best course of action is to:
- Switch to the new method without mentioning it
- Present the evidence for the improved method professionally and let your supervisor decide (Correct answer)
- Complain to coworkers about your supervisor's resistance to change
- Continue the old method indefinitely to avoid conflict
Correct answer: Present the evidence for the improved method professionally and let your supervisor decide
Raising concerns through proper channels with evidence is both professional and constructive.
Question 3: During a staff meeting, your supervisor states something factually incorrect that will affect a policy decision. You should:
- Stay silent to avoid embarrassing your supervisor
- Interrupt immediately and loudly correct them
- Politely and respectfully offer the correct information at an appropriate moment (Correct answer)
- Send an anonymous note correcting the error after the meeting
Correct answer: Politely and respectfully offer the correct information at an appropriate moment
Accurate information is essential to good policy, and correcting errors respectfully upholds professional responsibility.
Question 4: A citizen offers to buy you lunch as a thank-you for your help processing their application. You should:
- Accept, since it is a small gesture and not cash
- Accept only if you pay your share of the bill
- Decline politely, explaining that accepting gifts from the public is not permitted (Correct answer)
- Accept but report it to your supervisor afterward
Correct answer: Decline politely, explaining that accepting gifts from the public is not permitted
Accepting gifts from members of the public, even small ones, can create conflicts of interest and typically violates civil service ethics rules.
Question 5: You accidentally make an error on an official document that has already been submitted. What is the most appropriate action?
- Hope no one notices, since correcting it may draw attention
- Report the error to your supervisor and follow the proper correction procedure (Correct answer)
- Ask a colleague to fix it quietly without creating a paper trail
- Submit a second corrected document without noting the original error
Correct answer: Report the error to your supervisor and follow the proper correction procedure
Promptly reporting and properly correcting errors maintains the integrity of official records.
Question 6: A fellow employee regularly makes offensive jokes in the workplace. You find the jokes inappropriate. What should you do?
- Laugh along to fit in with the group
- Ignore it completely since it does not affect your work
- Address the behavior by speaking to the employee directly and/or reporting it to HR (Correct answer)
- Retaliate with jokes targeting that employee
Correct answer: Address the behavior by speaking to the employee directly and/or reporting it to HR
Addressing inappropriate workplace behavior upholds a respectful and professional environment for all employees.
Question 7: You are asked to complete a task that you believe may violate agency regulations, but you are unsure. The best first step is to:
- Refuse the task outright until given written orders
- Complete the task since your supervisor requested it
- Seek clarification from your supervisor or consult the relevant regulations before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Delay the task indefinitely without explanation
Correct answer: Seek clarification from your supervisor or consult the relevant regulations before proceeding
Seeking clarification before acting prevents potential regulatory violations while remaining cooperative.
