Page 76 - Employee Handbook 1-2015 rev9

A. Ethics Policy

All City of Winston-Salem representatives should maintain high standards of personal
integrity, truthfulness, honesty, and fairness in carrying out their public duties. They must avoid
any improprieties in their roles as public servants including the appearance of impropriety; and
never use their position or power for improper personal gain. City representatives should guard
against decisions that are affected by undue influence and conflicts of interest.

The Ethics Policy specifically prohibits city representatives from: improperly using their
positions, improperly using city property or personnel, engaging in inappropriate private
employment, disclosing confidential information, having beneficial interests in city contracts,
having beneficial influence in contract selection, representing private persons at city
proceedings, and engaging in prohibited political activity in the workplace.

With regard to gifts and gratuities, no city representative will directly or indirectly give or
receive or agree to give or receive any gift (including but not limited to money, gift cards, food,
beverage, loans, promises, services, or entertainment), favor, reward, or gratuity for matters
connected with the city’s official business. Specific exceptions to this rule are:

1) Attending a banquet or professional association event provided by a city vendor
when it is provided in conjunction with a meeting directly related to city business;
2) A plaque publicly presented in recognition of public service;
3) Receiving an honorarium for presenting or participating in a meeting;
4) Receiving advertising items or souvenirs of nominal value, where $25 is
presumed to be nominal;
5) Receiving meals or non-solicited discounted meals, not to exceed $25 per meal,
from someone with no current or anticipated future business relationship with the
city; and
6) Receiving a discount that is available to all employees.

Please contact the City’s Ethics Officer for additional policy interpretation.

Al Andrews, Deputy City Attorney
Email to alana@cityofws.org or telephone (336) 747-7401

Gifts and Favors

To comply with Section 133-32 of the North Carolina General Statutes, officers and
employees of the City of Winston-Salem may neither receive nor accept gifts or favors from any
contractor, subcontractor or supplier doing business with the City.

Conflicts of Interests

Purchasing, in the name of the City or for the City government, is authorized only with
the expressed approval of the City Manager or his designee.

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City of Winston-Salem Employee Handbook (January 2015 Revision)