A Code of Conduct booklet was issued by the Commissioner of Public Employment in March 2005.

Members have contacted the PSA asking if they have to sign the “Acknowledgment of this Code” form in the back of the booklet.

This form states that “by making this acknowledgment you are confirming you have to apply this Code to the work you do within the South Australian Public Sector”.

The PSA view is that the signing of the form does not increase your responsibilities which are already referred to in the PSM Act, Part 2, Section 6. That is, you have already had these obligations since joining the Public Sector.

As an ongoing employee the PSA considers it unnecessary that you sign this declaration. However, signing this declaration does indicate that your manager has fulfilled their obligation to advise you of this new booklet.

As with any document that your employer asks you to sign, you are entitled to make any written comments on it.

Similarly with this document, you could write on it “sighted, [date]” and then make any comments you consider relevant.

Not signing this document does not mean that you are not bound by it. PSM Act, Part 2, Section 6 (ea) states, employees are expected to “observe the requirements of any Code of Conduct for employees issued from time to time by the Commissioner and published in the Gazette”.

Employees should be allocated time to read this booklet and management should give advice about the Code to employees prior to any employee signing this acknowledgment.

A more detailed analysis of the Code is contained in the May edition of the Public Sector Review.

For any further information contact Peter Christopher, Chief Industrial Officer on pgc@cpsu.asn.au

11 May 2005