• Guidance for the Upcoming Holiday Season
• Ethics Guide for DOI Employees, September 2008
• Reference Guide on Post Employment
• 2008 Annual Ethics Training
• Hatch Act and Federal Employees
• Ethics Office Updates DI-1958, Free attendance at Widely Attend Gatherings

Opinion on Attendance of Events in Skyboxes

The Office of Government Ethics has recently provided guidance to
Designated Agency Ethics Officials on the valuation of gifts of attendance to an event in a skybox or private suite. As the ethics
regulations state, employees generally may not accept any gifts from a prohibited source (that is anyone who does business with your agency, seeks to do business with your agency, is regulated by your agency, or could be affected by the performance or non-performance of your official duties) or if the gift is given to the employee due to their official duties. However, if an employee were to pay fair market value for the gift, the employee may accept it. The Office of Government Ethics notice states that fair market value for attendance at an event in a skybox or private suite would be the sum value of all incidentals offered (food, parking, etc.) as well at the price of the most expensive ticket to the event available to the general public. In this case, if an employee is offered attendance to an event in a skybox or private suite from a prohibited source or because of the employee’s official position, in order to accept the gift the employee would have to pay whoever offers the gift, the equivalent cost of all incidentals as well as the value of the most expensive ticket to the event open to the general public. Additionally, if you receive a gift that is not from a prohibited source or offered to you due to your official position, you may have reporting requirements for the gift on your financial disclosure form. If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact your relevant ethics counselor. http://www.usoge.gov/pages/daeograms/dgr_files/2007/do07003.html

Melinda Loftin new DAEO