USPS wants employees to remember the rules on endorsing non-postal products, services and business endeavors.
Due to the nature of the Postal Service’s business, private organizations might seek to further their interests by requesting an endorsement from a USPS employee.
However, under federal ethics guidelines, these types of endorsements aren’t permitted.
The rules state that employees cannot use government information, property, time or other resources to serve a private interest.
In addition to eroding the public’s confidence in the employee’s loyalty, an endorsement of this kind could lead to the appearance that the Postal Service supports or sanctions the product, service or business.
USPS may endorse products, services and businesses, but only with the permission of the Postmaster General or the organization’s executive leadership team.
If an outside entity asks a postal employee to provide an endorsement of any kind, the employee should contact the Ethics Office for guidance. The email address is ethics.help@usps.gov.
Throughout 2019, the Postal Service is educating employees about the federal government’s principles and standards of ethical conduct.
In addition to endorsements, the campaign has covered seeking employment outside the organization and seeking employment after leaving USPS, avoiding financial conflicts of interest involving close relatives and avoiding general financial conflicts of interest, general community service activities and community activities on postal property, misuse of position, and the general standards of ethical conduct.