Our lives outside of Los Alamos National Laboratory are filled with activities, both professional and personal in nature, and it is important for you to know your responsibilities for these activities.
Employees must be free of any influence, interest, or relationship that conflicts, or could conflict, with the best interests of Triad, the Laboratory, the government, or other Laboratory sponsors, could cause embarrassment or public criticism of Triad or Los Alamos National Laboratory, or could interfere with staff’s ability to perform his or her job duties. When considering an outside activity, one must consider the following principles:
- Laboratory employees may not have a compensated or uncompensated employment or professional relationship in another organization or business, including a sole proprietorship, without a prior written approval from Los Alamos National Laboratory. This permission is provided through the Outside Activity Request System.
- When approving these requests, the Committee on Conflicts of Interest Related to Outside Activities (COI Committee) will ensure the activity does not interfere with the proper and effective performance of the employee’s Laboratory position and will consider the criteria in P723, Conflicts of Interest, Section 3.3.2, “Outside Activity Requirements.”
Summary of Policy
An outside activity is a professional or business activity conducted outside the normal course and scope of an employee’s Laboratory job that may or may not involve compensation. While not all outside activities require the filing of an Outside Activity Request (Request), each employee must inform his or her manager in writing of all outside activities. P723, Conflicts of Interest, gives guidance, by category, regarding when an outside activity requires the employee to file a Request and requirements related to all outside activities.
Do the Right Thing
- Inform your manager in writing (to include email) of all outside activities.
- Be aware of potential conflict of interest (COI) situations and contact your manager and/or EA-Ethics with any questions or concerns.
- Avoid any outside activity that interferes with the proper and effective performance of the duties of your Laboratory position.
- Ensure all outside activities are conducted on your own time and away from Lab property. Remember incidental use of government property or resources is not allowed for outside activities.
- Avoid any outside activity that directly competes with the Laboratory mission. In some cases, this may be a project that you work directly on or work conducted by another Division or Group.
- Do not engage in outside activities that put you in violation of P723, Conflicts of Interest.
Common Questions
Generally, if the outside activity meets any of the following criteria (with a few exceptions), a Request is required:
- Your role is as an owner, executive, officer, manager or similar position (includes consulting);
- Your role in the outside activity is related to your Laboratory position and/or duties;
- The activity is related to Laboratory mission; or
- The outside organization has a business agreement with Triad or the U.S. Government.
Visit the EA-Ethics website to use the Outside Activity Decision Tool or contact EA-Ethics for advice.
Yes. This type of outside activity requires review and approval by your managers and by the COI Committee.
A rental property requires submission of a Request when:
- The rental property is rented to Triad or a Triad subcontractor or
- The employee has created a legal entity to manage the rental property.
In this case, you are both required to submit a Request as you are both owners of the residential property LLC. Please note that managers may not rent to employees who report to them in any manner. This would include mentors renting to students.
No. Triad/LANL property cannot be used in any manner in connection with any outside activity. This prohibition on use includes things like computers, email, telephones (office and cell), copiers, and office supplies.