Philadelphia's efforts to bolster government accountability just took a significant step forward, with all city employees now mandated to undergo ethics training. An amendment by the Board of Ethics to Regulation No. 7, as reported on the city's website, requires that from 2025 forward, city workers take part in this training at least once every five years to ensure a deeper understanding of integrity and transparent conduct within city operations.
All new employees are expected to complete their training within 90 days of starting their roles, while established City officials including elected officers, members of City boards or commissions, members of the Mayor’s cabinet, and heads of City agencies will need to complete their training within this calendar year. According to the new rules, "2020; 2015; 2010; 2005; 2000; 1995; 1990; 1985; 1980; 1975; 1970" are the start years for City employees who are also required to attend ethics training in 2025, according to the website.
The Board is currently collaborating with HR managers and training coordinators to make sure that employees comply with these requirements. Ethics sessions, led by Board staff, will last around 60 minutes and are available twice a month via Zoom, or can be scheduled directly with the Board staff for more flexibility.
For those looking ahead, the training requirement is set to continue beyond 2025. City workers will have to attend these sessions every five years based on the year their City employment commenced, adhering to the pattern that aligns with their start year. Start years ending in 0 and 5 must attend training in 2025 and every year thereafter ending in 0 and 5, start years ending in 1 and 6 must attend training in 2026 and every year thereafter ending in 1 and 6, and so on for subsequent years. For detailed information or to arrange an ethics training session, employees and managers can reach out to the Board of Ethics by emailing [email protected].
