Compliance Chat #5 - Restrictions Post-employment

May 5, 2023

“It is the secret of the world that all things subsist and do not die, but retire a little from sight and afterwards return again.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Spring is the ubiquitous time of year for many of our seasoned university colleagues to enter their retirement.  While closing out their university work, each of these retirees welcomes a range of great options - the freedom to spend more time with loved ones, travel, and the rare delight of exiling their alarm clock to the drawer.  After a respite, a number of university retirees find it appealing to explore some level of similar work and it is important to be aware of the rules governing post-university employment.

As university employees, the Executive Branch Ethics Act (EBEA) provides guidance for safely navigating these situations and serves as our Standards of Ethical Conduct. The EBEA states that for two years after leaving employment employees may not “represent, advise, or assist a person for compensation regarding a matter that was under consideration by the administrative unit served by that public officer, and in which the officer participated personally and substantially through the exercise of official action.” 

Current and former employees also have an ongoing obligation to continue keeping confidential that information that is confidential by law, and also to refrain from using or disclosing any information that might have any benefit for myself or for an immediate family member. Those obligations still apply even after the employee leaves university employment.

Learn more about these requirements as we continue our coverage of the Executive Branch Ethics Act in this month’s “Compliance Chat” video clip. Mary Gower, Senior Institutional Compliance Liaison, meets with Andy Harrington from the Office of the General Counsel for a quick overview of the guidelines to avoid potential issues with post-university employment. 

Interested in trying to win a prize?  After watching this Compliance Chat and answer the question: 

• Who can I reach out to if I have questions about my post-employment ethics obligations?

Email your answer to ua-compliance@alaska.edu.  A correct answer will be drawn at random to receive $20* at Amazon.com!

*Gift certificates are taxable.  Responses due before May 31st, 2023.