New Federal Ethics Rules May Lead to More Private Sector Ombuds

The Federal Acquisition Regulation was recently amended to require contractors to meet specific ethics and compliance-oriented requirements, including: a written contractor code of business ethics and conduct; and the display of Fraud Hotline posters as required by the Office of the Inspector General. Jackson Lewis, a national law firm that represents and counsels management, says that government contractors should determine an ombudsman can provide a resource for employees to report concerns of workplace misconduct including compliance issues and illegal activity. The requirements became effective on December 24, 2007. (Jackson Lewis Legal Updates; Federal Register FAR 2006-007.)