Monday’s Ethics Awareness Week Trivia Question Winner & Answer

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Thank you for helping us kick off Ethics Awareness Week.

Congratulations to Shanika Wright-Turner for being the first person to answer Monday’s question correctly!

Listed below is the answer to Monday’s ethics question.

Monday’s question was about the responsibilities we all have to maintain an ethical culture.

Q:        Which of the following statements is NOT true?

  1. USG employees have an affirmative duty to report wrongdoing and unethical practices in a timely manner.
  2. USG policy prohibits retaliation against those who report wrongdoing or assist with authorized investigations.
  3. It is the policy of the USG to refer all criminal acts to law enforcement for investigation.
  4. Employees may only report wrongdoing to their immediate supervisors and may not utilize other reporting avenues to include the HR, Compliance, Legal and Audit Departments or the Ethics & Compliance Reporting Hotline.

Correct Answer: D.  

Choice “D” is NOT true.  It is preferred that employees report wrongdoing to their immediate supervisors; however other reporting avenues are available to include the USG HR, Legal, Audit and Ethics & Compliance departments. Employees may also report concerns on the Ethics and Compliance Reporting Hotline (www.usg.ethicspoint.com).  

The other answers are all true. Employees do have an affirmative duty to report wrongdoing. Retaliation is also prohibited by BOR policy. Retaliation is any action or behavior that is designed to punish an individual for reporting concerns or wrongdoing, cooperating with an investigation, participating in a grievance or appeal procedure or otherwise objecting to conduct that is unlawful, unethical or violates USG policy. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, dismissal from employment, demotion, suspension, loss of salary or benefits, transfer or reassignment, denial of leave, loss of benefits, denial of promotion that otherwise would have been received, and non-renewal. It is also the policy and practice of the USG to refer all criminal acts to law enforcement.

Relevant Policy Consideration:

  1. The USG Ethics Policy. https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct
  2. BPM 16.6 Reporting Wrongdoing. https://www.usg.edu/business_procedures_manual/section16/C2909
  3. BOR 8.2.16 Use of USG Resources. https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.16_use_of_university_system_of_georgia_resources

Other Helpful Resources:

Explanatory Notes on USG Ethics Policy. https://www.usg.edu/organizational_effectiveness/ethics_compliance/ethics_policy

If you have questions about the USG Ethics Policy, you should feel free to ask your supervisor or the USG Office of Ethics and Compliance. (https://www.usg.edu/organizational_effectiveness/ethics_compliance).