CAN GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ACCEPT GIFTS OF FREE TRAVEL FROM NON-GOVERNMENT SOURCES?
Yes. Non-government sources often offer free travel to government employees, especially in a medical setting, so that the government employee can teach at a seminar, attend a conference, or engage in special training which will benefit the government. The bottom line is that the government must benefit from the free travel, and the non-government source must not expect any preferential treatment from the government in return. The government employee must obtain advance approval for the travel from our office and from Clinical Investigations.
