The Civil Servants Agency (CSA) on Monday, August 19, 2024, issued an Administrative Circular Governing the Conduct of Civil/ Public Servants.
The CSA is the custodian of the integrity of the civil service in Liberia.
The CSA release issued on Monday quoted the CSA as saying they have observed a troubling rise in what it terms “unbecoming conduct” among civil servants.
The CSA named Dishonesty, unethical behavior, criminal activities, and disrespectful or offensive actions as acts against the CSA standing orders.
The release made Specific reference to the prevalence of bullying and the use of disrespectful, derogatory, and unfounded remarks directed at superiors and subordinates, both in the workplace and on various social and mainstream media platforms, as increasingly concerning.
Such behavior, CSA said clearly violates Chapter 4, Section 2.1 and 2.2 of the Standing Orders for the Civil Service and the personnel handbooks of various Government Spending Entities.
Chapter 9, Section 2 of the Code of Conduct for Public Servants as contained in the Human Resources Policy Manual (Revised), charges that a public servant or civil servant should act professionally at all times: “He or she shall exhibit good conduct at all times, both at work and off duty. He or she shall be honest, faithful, and just and shall not act in a manner derogatory to the honor or service.”
The CSA has threatened to take disciplinary action against any civil servant who is cut engaging in unethical acts both at the workplace and at home.
“Therefore, any civil servant engaging in unbecoming conduct will be subject to disciplinary action per the Standing Orders and other relevant personnel guidelines and regulations governing their respective entities.”
The CSA emphasized that these measures are essential to maintaining professionalism, decency, and integrity of the public service.
The CSA said it is unwavering in its commitment to upholding the principles of democracy, including freedom of speech, in workplaces.
However, civil servants are not only allowed but encouraged to express constructive criticism and respectfully engage in policy discussions or employee-related matters with their respective management.
The release highlighted that doing so responsibly and respectfully is not only their right but also fosters a positive and healthy work culture.
