Federal employees face restrictions with post-government employment

By Polly Russell, ANAD Legal OfficeJune 28, 2018

ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- If you leave the federal service and work for a private employer, there are certain post-employment restrictions contained in the Ethics Rules that you must follow.

If you are looking for outside employment while working at Anniston Army Depot or negotiating with an outside employer for a job while working at ANAD, there are restrictions that apply as well.

SEEKING POST GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT

If you seek private, non-federal employment while working at ANAD, you must not work on a particular matter which could have an effect on your financial interests or the financial interests of people or companies with whom you are seeking employment or with whom you are negotiating for employment.

While seeking outside employment and working at ANAD, you must disqualify yourself, in writing, from participating in any particular matter that could affect your financial interests or the financial interests of a person or company with whom you are negotiating for employment.

Violation of these rules is a criminal offense.

POST-EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONS

After you leave federal employment, there are restrictions on the type of work you can perform for your new employer for any federal agency.

You may never communicate with any federal agency with the intent to influence the federal agency on behalf of an outside employer regarding a particular matter and specific parties in which you participated, personally and substantially, as a federal employee.

For two years after you leave government service, you may not represent any person or private company before any federal agency or court regarding matters under your official responsibility during your last year of government service, even if you did not work on those matters directly.

The post-employment restrictions are aimed at your interaction with government personnel on behalf of persons or private companies.

They are not aimed at your "behind-the-scenes" work for a private employer.

If you are working for a private employer behind-the-scenes and not interacting with government personnel on behalf of your employer, then you cannot exercise undue influence with the government.

When you work behind-the-scenes for a private employer you are using your expertise, which is fine, you just may not represent your private employer before any federal agency.

If you have questions regarding the application of these rules to an outside job you are plan for the future, please contact the ANAD Legal Office at 256-235-6518.