Daily printout: May 30, 2024

The Postal Service is reminding employees to abide by the Hatch Act as Election Day nears.

The Hatch Act is a law restricting the partisan political activity of civilian, executive branch employees of the federal government, including USPS employees.

Under the law, political activity is defined as any action directed toward the success or failure of a political party, candidate for partisan political office or partisan political group.

While on duty, on postal property, wearing a uniform or using a postal vehicle, USPS employees are prohibited from:

• Making or interacting with political social media postings;

• Wearing political apparel and accessories; and

• Placing a political bumper sticker on a postal vehicle or a personal vehicle that is used to deliver the mail.

Whether on or off duty, Postal Service employees also can’t:

• Host a political fundraiser or invite anyone to attend a political fundraiser;

• Solicit, collect or receive money for a candidate, campaign, political party or political action committee;

• Use their postal title or position to influence or interfere with elections; and

• Be a candidate in a partisan election.

The Hatch Act also applies to social media use. While employees are allowed to engage with partisan political content while off duty, they are prohibited from posting or sharing messages that solicit political contributions or invite others to political fundraisers.

Violations of the Hatch Act can result in disciplinary action, including suspension, removal and debarment from federal employment, and up to $1,000 in civil penalties.

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel has more information about what federal employees can and cannot do under the Hatch Act.

Employees with questions can email the USPS Ethics Office or call 202-268-6346.

Bill Fraine was appointed the Postal Service’s business and commercial initiatives vice president, effective May 4. He reports to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

Fraine is responsible for the creation of the organization’s commercial strategy and for aligning it with network transformation changes.

“Bill brings extensive sales, operations and business development experience to this position, which will guide how we sell and integrate innovative solutions into our new transportation and processing network,” DeJoy wrote in a memo announcing the appointment.

Most recently, Fraine served as chief commercial officer at GXO Logistics.

Previously, he held several leadership positions at XPO Logistics, including division president of the Americas and Asia, as well as executive vice president and chief operating officer, where he was responsible for new product development and key customer growth.

He also served as senior vice president of business development and was responsible for driving revenue growth for XPO Logistics. 

Fraine started his career as a front-line employee in customer service, sales and operations at FedEx. He spent more than 20 years there in a variety of leadership roles, including senior vice president of sales.