By Amy E. Feldman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - We’ve all heard of illegal firing, but what’s illegal hiring?

With the White House, many Senate, and every House seat up for election this year, people will be entering and leaving posts at the Federal Government. If your company hires any of those entering the private sector, you could fall into the same trap as the former CFO of Boeing, who pleaded guilty to illegal hiring in a past Presidential election season.

Federal law prohibits a company from discussing future employment with a federal procurement officer who is overseeing that company’s business, and procurement officers are prohibited from seeking future employment with any entity that is financially involved in a matter that’s pending before him. If he has employment discussions, he must report the contact to a supervisor and disqualify himself from further personal participation in the procurement. It’s meant to prevent even the appearance of improper influence.

In Boeing’s case, the CFO discussed possible employment with an Air Force official who oversaw billions of dollars of its contacts. No matter who you’re voting for, it’s who you’re bidding for that can have an even greater effect on your liberty.