The Postal Service is reminding employees and contractors to abide by the Privacy Act of 1974.
This federal law governs how agencies collect, maintain and disclose personally identifiable information, or PII. This includes names, addresses, Social Security numbers and employee identification numbers.
The law prohibits the Postal Service from disclosing PII to outside individuals or entities without proper authorization.
Providing PII to someone who does not have an official need to know — by email, paper documents, phone calls or conversations — is an unauthorized disclosure.
Employees and contractors who make unauthorized disclosures face disciplinary action, termination, civil fines or criminal penalties.
Indirect consequences of such disclosures for the Postal Service can include a breach of trust, embarrassment, loss of business and damage to the organization’s brand.
Handbook AS-353: Guide to Privacy, the Freedom of Information Act, and Records Management has more information.
Employees and contractors who have questions can email the USPS Privacy and Records Management Office.
