Ethics and Standards of Conduct in the BC Public Service

Last updated: June 27, 2023

BC Public Service employees are united by a shared commitment, not just to deliver the services and programs and policies of government but to do so in ways that maintain and enhance the trust and confidence of British Columbians.

This focus on purpose, impact and ethical commitment is woven into the very fabric of who we are as an organization and how we work. It is embedded in the Oath sworn by every one of us when we begin our career, and in the corporate values we bring to our jobs every day.

This page is for senior executives, managers and supervisors, hiring managers, and all employees.

Senior executives

Senior executive leaders in the BC Public Service share a unique opportunity and obligation to shape both the citizen experience of government and the employee experience of all those who choose a career in the public service.

As a senior executive, you are responsible for acting in a manner consistent with the following guiding documents.

• Employment conditions and agreements
• Corporate values of the BC Public Service
• Accountability Framework for HR management
• Core policy objectives and human resources policies
• Terms and conditions for excluded employees and appointees
• Managing occupational health and safety
• Supervisor and executive safety roles and responsibilities
• Policies on internal and external communications about personnel matters (PDF, 104KB)
• Post-employment restrictions for senior management in the BC Public Service (PDF, 96KB)

Managers and supervisors

As a supervisor in the BC Public Service, you are responsible for acting in a manner consistent with the following guiding documents.

• Set up your new employee
• Employment conditions and agreements
• Corporate Values in the BC Public Service
• Accountability Framework for HR management
• Core policy objectives and human resources policies
• Terms and conditions for excluded employees and appointees
• Managing occupational health and safety
• Supervisor and executive safety roles and responsibilities
• Managing employee records
• Managing employees in a unionized environment
• A Managers Guide to Reasonable Accommodation (PDF, 499KB)
• Policies on internal and external communications about personnel matters (PDF, 104KB)
• Talking to your employees about ethics
• Knowing about Public Interest Disclosure
• Protecting employees against reprisal

Hiring managers

Hiring decisions must be based on the principle of merit. Each decision point in the process, such as the establishment of qualifications, the assessment methods chosen and the final selection decision, should be reasonable in view of the job duties and the organizational requirements. Please refer to the Public Service Act for more information on the principle of merit.

As a hiring manager in the BC Public Service, you are responsible for acting in a manner consistent with the following guiding documents.

• Hiring principles
• Steps in the hiring process
• Security screening

All BC Public Service employees

Within the first 90 days of their careers, every member of the BC Public Service is required to swear the BC Public Service Oath of Employment.

It’s a unique requirement of the job that highlights how different a public service career is from working with any other employer.

The Oath reinforces the significance and special trust placed in public service employees by the citizens of British Columbia. It also highlights the importance of ethics, impartiality and integrity in all that we do as members of the BC Public Service.

Alongside the Oath, the Standards of Conduct define how we go about fulfilling our obligations.

As a BC Public Service employee, you're responsible for acting in a manner consistent with the following guiding documents.

• Appropriate Use of Government Information and Government Information Technology (IM/IT) Agreement (PDF, 106KB)
• Employment conditions and agreements
• Corporate Values of the BC Public Service
• Accountability Framework for HR management
• Core policy objectives and human resources policies
• Terms and conditions for excluded employees and appointees
• Conflict of interest guidelines for BC Public Service employees
• Who to talk to about BC Public Service employee ethics
• Standards of Conduct and relationships with contractors
• Privacy Management and Accountability Policy
• Social media guidelines for personal use
• Knowing about Public Interest Disclosure
• Ethics Management Framework roles and responsibilities

Beginning in July 2018, all employees are expected to individually complete an Annual Review of the Standards of Conduct and Oath of Employment.

This e-module ensures public service employees are refreshed on the Oath of Employment and the Standards of Conduct on an annual basis.