Moving from Public to Private Sector? Be Aware of Potential for Conflict

A case involving a professional from another engineering discipline offers a valuable reminder for any engineer contemplating a leap from public to private sector employment or to any new job opportunity involving entities that do business with a current employer. Though the engineer’s tight technical specifications narrow the pool of prospective suppliers, a second equipment supplier submits a bid. Seeking more information about the competing supplier, the engineer contacts a colleague who recently purchased equipment from the company on a similar contract. Despite the marked restrictions, the engineer forwards the document to the contact from her preferred supplier. A member of the engineer’s team makes use of the agency’s confidential reporting process to express concerns about the engineer’s apparent conflict of interest. Recognizing the risks posed by the ‘revolving door’ between public and private sector employees, the federal government and many state entities have adopted conflict of interest laws intended to limit the ability of certain public employees or officials to accept private employment opportunities that are closely connected with their public service.