Section VI: Standards of Conduct

Political Activities

You have the right to express your individual opinions on political issues and candidates. You may not express political opinions when expression may be in violation of the law or when the expression would substantially or materially interfere with the performance of your duties. Additionally, you are prohibited from engaging in political activity during scheduled work hours or when using state equipment. These activities include, but are not limited to, soliciting or receiving political contributions, promising or using influence to secure public employment as a reward for political activity, or discriminating based upon political activity. Political buttons or other insignia may be worn if you have minimal contact with the public and the buttons do not constitute a safety risk. In certain situations, agencies may have additional work rules regarding the wearing of political buttons or other insignia. 

If you are working in connection with a program financed in whole or in part by federal funds, you may be covered by the provisions of the federal Hatch Act. If you are covered by the Hatch Act, you shall not be a candidate for public office in a partisan election, may not use official authority for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the results of an election or a nomination for office, and shall not directly or indirectly solicit or coerce contributions from subordinates in support of a political party or candidate. If you have questions concerning your status under the Hatch Act, you may request an advisory opinion by writing to:

US Merit Systems

Protection Board Central 

Regional Office

230 South Dearborn Street,

31st Floor Chicago, IL 60604 

1-312-353-2923

Outside Employment/Selling Goods or Services

If you are considering outside employment, you should refer to your agency’s policies and procedures and Iowa Code section 68B.2A. Your outside employment must not conflict with the interests of your agency or interfere with the performance of your job duties with the State. Your outside work may not involve the dissemination of official information not generally available to the public or to other employees.

If you are employed by a state regulatory agency, you may not sell any goods or services to individuals, associations, or corporations which are regulated by your agency without the prior approval of your agency director. 

Additionally, you are prohibited from engaging in any outside employment or activity that requires you to file a registration statement under the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended, 22 U.S.C. § 611, et. seq.

Gifts and Gratuities

You shall not solicit or knowingly accept anything (including money, items of monetary value, any other benefit, or any promise of the previously mentioned items) given with an understanding or arrangement it will influence the public service rendered by you or a decision by you or by your agency. As a general rule, you and your immediate family members may not receive gifts (including food or beverages) which are valued at more than $3.00 from any person, lobbyist, or entity doing business with or lobbying your employing agency. You are prohibited from accepting honoraria or loans from lobbyists. If anyone attempts to influence you through a gift or gratuity, you must report it to your supervisor immediately. For further clarification or exceptions, see Iowa Code chapter 68B.

Use of State Property

You must protect government-owned and private property located on agency work sites or other state premises. Therefore, the following are prohibited: unauthorized entry to state premises; unauthorized use, abuse, misuse, or waste of property or materials; unauthorized possession or sale of items; and unlawful operation or use of state vehicles and equipment for other than state business. You must use the State’s long-distance service and state-owned cellular phones for official state business only. You must keep local personal calls from state office phones to a minimum. State postage stamps and metered mail are for official business only. You must not use the State’s internal mail system for the distribution or receipt of personal mail or packages.

You must check out state equipment through a management representative before removal from the premises. You may not take equipment off premises for personal use. You may use agency photocopy machines for personal copies at a charge to be set by the employing agency and with the approval of the employing agency.

If you are provided an access badge, you may not allow others to utilize the badge to permit entry to facilities. During all work hours, you should prominently display your badge, or carry it on your person, except when the card is being used to gain authorized electronic access to buildings, offices, facilities, or electronic communication equipment. You are responsible for the care and secure use of access badges provided by your employer and must report, immediately upon discovery, the loss or theft of any issued badge to management.

You are provided Internet and e-mail services by the State of Iowa to support open communications and exchange of information, as well as to provide the opportunity for collaborative government-related work. The State of Iowa encourages your use of electronic communications. Even though you may have your own password for accessing e-mail, the Internet, and computers issued to you, state computers and all the information received or transmitted through them are the property of the State. The State may monitor the use of state equipment and as such, you should not have any expectation of privacy.

As with any resources made available to you, use of Internet and electronic communication services are revocable privileges. The use of state-provided Internet service must be for state government-related activities and not for personal business, for-profit activities, commercial advertising, shopping, entertainment, or other use which interferes with your productivity or reflects poorly upon state government. The use of state-provided Internet and e-mail in the transmittal, retrieval, or storage of any obscene material, as defined in Iowa Code section 728.1, will result in discharge.

If you misuse state-provided Internet and e-mail, allow others unauthorized entry to state facilities, or engage in unauthorized use and/or abuse of state property and equipment, you may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.

Upon termination of employment, whether voluntary or involuntary, you must return all state equipment to your agency.

Use of Personal Electronic Devices

Your use of personal electronic devices in the workplace will be governed by your employing agency. If permitted, your use of personal electronic devices shall not interfere with your work. Limited use of your personal electronic device is allowable for accessing the Workday system.

Protection from Reprisal

Your employer shall not take reprisal action against you for disclosure of information by you to a member or employee of the General Assembly, the Office of the Ombudsman, or other political official or law enforcement agency, or for disclosure of information which you reasonably believe is evidence of a violation of law or rule, mismanagement, a gross abuse of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. 

For information about protection from reprisal, please see Iowa Code section 70A.28.