To help mark USPS Ethics Awareness Week, the Postal Service is reminding employees they may not use the organization’s property for any unauthorized purpose.
Misusing postal property violates federal ethics rules and can result in discipline, fines, garnishment of wages and termination of employment.
Here are some things employees should keep in mind:
• Although the Postal Service allows limited personal use, don’t use your postal phone or work computer for an outside business or second job; partisan political activity; gambling; pyramid schemes; to send or store inappropriate pictures or email messages; or to visit inappropriate websites.
This applies whether you are on or off duty.
• Don’t use Postal Service vehicles for personal trips and don’t deviate from your route for personal reasons.
For example, you cannot use a USPS vehicle to travel to the airport for annual leave, and you cannot use a postal vehicle to commute from home to work unless you have received authorization.
• Don’t use USPS travel cards to pay for personal expenses. Keep your postal card in a different location from your personal cards so you don’t make a mistake.
• Don’t use Voyager cards to put fuel in a personal vehicle or to pay for snacks, drinks or other convenience items.
Both the Postal Service and the USPS Office of Inspector General routinely audit Voyager card usage, and violators are regularly caught.
• Don’t borrow money from a postal drawer, even if you intend to repay it later.
• Your USPS ID is postal property and an important security measure. Don’t alter or damage the badge in any way or allow others to use it.
The Ethics Blue page covers these and other topics in more detail.
Employees who have questions should email the Ethics Office or call 202-268-6346.