The Postal Service is reminding employees that they may not use USPS property for any unauthorized purpose.
Misusing USPS property violates the standards of ethical conduct for employees of the executive branch, which applies to all postal employees.
Here are some examples of USPS property misuse:
• Postal-issued cellphones. Don’t use them for outside business or to send or store inappropriate pictures or email messages.
• Computers. Although the Postal Service allows limited personal use, don’t use your work computer for a second job or to visit inappropriate websites.
• USPS vehicles. Don’t use them for personal trips and don’t deviate from your route for personal reasons. You cannot use a Postal Service vehicle to travel from home to work unless you have received authorization.
• Postal travel cards. Don’t use them to pay for nonqualifying personal expenses. Keep your postal card in a different location from your personal cards so you don’t mix them up.
• Voyager cards. Don’t use them to put fuel in a personal vehicle or to pay for snacks, drinks or other convenience items.
• Cash drawers. Don’t borrow money from a postal drawer, even if you intend to repay it later.
• Badges. Your USPS ID is postal property and is an important security measure. Don’t alter or damage the badge in any way or allow others to use it.
Misusing postal property can lead to dismissal, fines and garnishment of wages to repay any amount of money that was stolen.
Employees who have questions should call the ethics helpline at 202-268-6346 or send an email to ethics.help@usps.gov.
The Postal Service is observing Ethics Awareness Week from Aug. 16-22.
