Providing false information about work experience in an appointment process – Founded

Authority:

This investigation was conducted under section 69 of the Public Service Employment Act, S.C. 2003, c.22, ss. 12 and 13.

Issue:

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether a federal public servant committed fraud in an internal appointment process when they provided false information about their work experience in their job application.

Conclusion:

The investigation concluded that the public servant committed fraud by knowingly providing false information about their work experience in the appointment process.

Facts:

The public servant applied to an internal appointment process to staff anticipatory manager positions but was not successful in the process.

An assessment board member for the appointment process, who was also the public servant’s previous manager, noticed questionable information in the job application. As a result, the file was submitted for investigation to the Public Service Commission.

The Public Service Commission examined the public servant’s job application and found inaccurate and misleading information. The public servant’s description of their work experience suggested a level of experience, involvement and responsibility that was not consistent with their actual duties. The information was exaggerated and factually incorrect.

During the investigation, the public servant admitted to responding dishonestly to some of the screening questions, and did so to increase their chances of being screened in. They acknowledged that they did not provide adequate context in their job application and that they were experiencing personal issues at the time. They denied any attempt or intent to deceive, misrepresent or gain an unfair advantage.

To conclude that fraud occurred in an appointment process pursuant to section 69 of the Public Service Employment Act, 2 essential elements of fraud must be met: dishonesty and deprivation or risk of deprivation. The evidence showed that the public servant acted dishonestly when they knowingly provided exaggerated, inaccurate and misleading information in the appointment process. In doing so, they could have been screened into the process, and even deemed successful, when they did not meet the essential qualifications. Their dishonest actions could have compromised the appointment process.

The evidence demonstrated that, on the balance of probabilities, the public servant committed fraud when they knowingly provided false information about their work experience in the appointment process.

Corrective action:

Following the conclusion of fraud in the appointment process, the Commission ordered that:

• the Public Service Commission send a copy of the Investigation Report and Record of Decision to the Deputy Head of the public servant’s home department to inform them of the fraud
• for a period of one year, the public servant must notify the Public Service Commission before accepting any position or work in the federal public service
• failure to do so will result in the revocation of the appointment
• the public servant must complete the Values and Ethics Foundations for Employees course offered by the Canada School of Public Service, and then have a discussion with their director

• failure to complete the course or to participate in the discussion will result in the revocation of the public servant’s current appointment

Investigation File No.: 21-22-02