When you engage in activities outside of your typical job duties as an employee of the UW System, it is important to avoid pursuits that could conflict with your public responsibilities to the UW System. All University of Wisconsin System employees are required to comply with the code of ethics applicable to their employment type. Institutions are expected to assess (as part of an Outside Activity Report), how an employee’s time commitment to outside activities may impact their expected contributions to the UW System.
Outside professional activities may not create a conflict of commitment with an employee’s UW primary duties. If an employee’s aggregate time commitment to one or more outside professional activities will exceed an average of 16 hours per calendar month during hours that they would be normally on duty in their UW position, they must receive prior written permission from their supervisor. Individual institutions or departments may impose stricter time limitations, reflecting the local needs and concerns. Supervisors are encouraged to have a written conflict management plan in place in circumstances that may give rise to a conflict of commitment.
Managers and Supervisors (or other individual designated by the institution to review outside activity reports) are responsible for reviewing the information provided on outside activity reports submitted by employees and determining whether any reported activities may pose potential conflicts of interest. If the potential for conflict does exist, the manager should meet with the employee to provide guidance on how to avoid conflicts of interest and, if necessary, create a conflict management plan in writing. The reviewer may determine that a conflict does exist and cannot be avoided, in which case the employee should be advised to terminate the activity that causes the conflict. Institutions are expected to assess, as part of the review of an outside activity report, how an employee’s time commitment to outside activities may impact their expected contributions to the UW. The evaluation of a potential conflict of commitment should be a part of the review of an outside activity report.
UW System Administrative Policy 1290: Code of Ethics provides guidance on the avoidance of activities that cause, or tend to cause, conflicts between employees’ personal interests and their public responsibilities. The policies Guidance also provides additional information on requirements for reporting outside activities.