The Postal Service is reminding employees that federal rules govern the use of their position, nonpublic information and time.
Employees cannot use their title or authority to benefit themselves, their friends or their family, and they cannot use their position to give friends and family members special treatment or access.
For example, an employee cannot put in a good word for a friend so that a Post Office hires that friend’s landscaping company.
Another example: An employee cannot reference the Postal Service or their postal title and then make a favorable statement online about a postal vendor. Only the postmaster general or the full executive leadership team are authorized to endorse a company, product or service on behalf of the Postal Service.
Employees also cannot use nonpublic postal information to benefit themselves or their friends or family.
Employees also should only work on USPS matters while on duty.
In certain instances, employees can use limited amounts of Postal Service time for personal tasks, such as scheduling a medical appointment. But an employee cannot have a two-hour conversation with a friend or watch a baseball game online while on duty.
For more information, employees can email the USPS Ethics Office or call 202-268-6346.
