Kokua Line June Watanabe

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UH worker unfairly
cashes in on position

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Question: What can be done about an employee at the University of Hawaii who uses the office phone to win radio contests on a regular basis? She wins trips, cash and all kinds of prizes by calling in while at work! It's not only on one radio station -- she plays contests on all stations.

We think that this is against the code of ethics and have complained to her boss and the Ombudsman's Office, but apparently nothing has been done; she just won again recently. Who else can we complain to?

Answer: The state Ethics Commission. Call 587-0460.

Complaints like yours typically could be handled administratively -- that is, by the woman's supervisor or employer.

But because the situation you describe is on the borderline regarding use of government resources for personal gain, the Ethics Commission would be the proper authority to investigate.

"We have a statute that says you can't misuse your government position to give yourself any unwarranted privileges or advantages," explained Daniel Mollway, executive director of the Hawaii Ethics Commission. But that provision was aimed at "basically using your government position for private financial gain."

Classically, for example, that would entail running a real estate business or consulting company from a government office or by using government resources, he said.

However, people have called the Ethics Commission to complain about co-workers who they say are talking too much on the telephone or sleeping at their desks. In those cases, "we say that's more of an administrative concern," Mollway said.

He explained that when a situation involves employees using the phone to address legitimate personal matters -- "the usual matters of life," such as family concerns or emergencies -- "that would be administrative matters for the employer to deal with" and not a matter of ethics.

Your complaint "falls kind of right on the line," Mollway said.

"In one sense, it's probably something that should be addressed administratively," he said. "On the other hand, because they are using the phone to essentially enrich themselves, it goes beyond probably what we would allow."

The commission also has begun hearing complaints about people at work going on the Internet to win contests or going to Web sites that offer money in return for filling out surveys. That's "probably inappropriate as well," Mollway said.

"I think that there, instead of doing your work, you're using the state's resources to enrich yourself," he said. "I think that's where the line is drawn -- you're not handling matters necessary for everyday living."

Taxing situations

The IRS reminds taxpayers that they can call its help line -- 800-829-1040 -- or check its Web site -- www.irs.gov -- to get answers to federal tax questions.

For information on state tax returns, call the Taxpayer Services Branch, 587-4242; from neighbor islands, call toll-free 800-222-3229; or check the Web site www.state.hi.us/tax.

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Useful phone numbers

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