Daily printout: Aug. 21

The Postal Service is marking USPS Ethics Awareness Week by reminding employees that nepotism is prohibited in the workplace.

Under the rules, USPS employees cannot hire or promote a relative, which is defined as a spouse, parent, child, sibling, aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew, in-law, stepparent, stepsibling or half sibling.

Employees are also prohibited from taking direct or indirect action related to a relative’s career at the Postal Service.

Reporting relationships between relatives can also raise ethical concerns.

For example, an employee is not permitted to report directly to his or her spouse.

Reporting relationships between other relatives can also raise concerns about nepotism and misuse of position.

For this reason, a higher-level relative in a reporting relationship should generally recuse themselves from taking actions that financially benefit a lower-level relative, such as making decisions regarding compensation, promotions, overtime, leave requests or detail assignment requests.

Another employee should be designated to perform these tasks.

Reporting relationships between relatives can raise workplace environment concerns beyond ethics regulations.

Human Resources and Labor Relations should always be consulted regarding reporting relationships between relatives.

The Ethics Blue page covers these topics in more detail. For more information, employees can email the Postal Service’s ethics helpline or call 202-268-6346.

The Postal Service has named Gary Reblin as its chief technology officer, a role he has filled on an acting basis since June.

Reblin succeeds Scott Bombaugh, who has retired.

In his new role, Reblin is responsible for the Postal Service’s efforts to create a network of integrated mail and package processing facilities. He oversees engineering systems, applied engineering and maintenance operations at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC.

Additionally, his team provides new and redesigned facilities with standardized floor and operating plans, as well as state-of-the-art processing and material handling equipment.

Reblin, who joined USPS in 1991, previously served as applied engineering vice president, helping to transform the Postal Service’s mail processing and retail and delivery networks.

He has held vice president positions in several areas, including innovative business technology, product innovation, domestic products, shipping services and expedited shipping.

Reblin has led several successful product and service launches, including USPS Informed Delivery and the Intelligent Mail barcode.

The Postal Service’s latest stamped card was recently dedicated at the Minnesota Stamp Expo in Crystal, MN.

The card, which features an image of a two-masted schooner sailing across calm waters, celebrates the history of the elegant American sailing vessel.

“Minnesota, with its lakes and maritime heritage, is the perfect setting for this release,” said Minneapolis Postmaster Kenneth Johnson, who spoke at the ceremony.

Michigan artist Libby VanderPloeg designed the image based on a photo of the Columbia schooner, a replica of a 1923 vessel. Known for its storied racing history and mysterious disappearance off the coast of Nova Scotia, the Columbia continues to capture the imagination of maritime fans and collectors alike.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the card.

It marks the second time the Postal Service has worked with VanderPloeg, who was also the artist for the popular 2023 Sailboats stamped card.

Stamped cards are designed to be a convenient way to send prepaid correspondence.

The Schooner stamped card is available in packs of 10 at Post Offices and on usps.com.

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