Ethics Guide: Outside business activities

WAC 292-110-010 strictly prohibits any use of state resources for the purpose of conducting an outside business or private employment, or supporting, promoting the interests of, or soliciting for an outside organization or group, unless provided for by law or authorized by an agency head or designee. Here are a few things to remember to help you make good decisions regarding outside contracts, employment, businesses and organizations:

De minimis use exceptions do not apply to conducting activities for an outside business or organization. This means that even a brief email or phone call on state time or with state equipment or resources is prohibited for such purposes.

Individuals with authority over other persons, or with control over facilities, have a duty to halt such persons’ use of state resources. Allowing such use to continue is itself a violation of the Ethics in Public Service Act.

If you send email promoting an outside business or organization, send it from your home email address, from your home computer, on your own time. Also, do not send materials promoting outside business or organizational activities to other employees’ state (WSU) email accounts, even if sent from your personal email account.
If you make phone calls promoting an outside business or organization, make them on your personal phone on your own time.
Make sure outside business or organizational activities do not interfere with your official duties or the official duties of any other state employee. Such activities must take place on personal time.

The last (and best) recommendation is to know the law. Ignorance is not a defense for legal or ethical violations. The Washington State Executive Ethics Board (EEB) has additional information on this subject at its website: ethics.wa.gov.

For concerns or more information, please contact the Office of Internal Audit at ia.central@wsu.edu.

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