Different ethics rules apply when USPS employees receive books or other informational materials as gifts.
Gifts of informational materials are educational or instructive — not primarily created for entertainment, display or decoration. Such gifts must relate to an employee’s official duties or to the Postal Service’s mission.
An employee can accept an unsolicited gift of informational materials if the value of all informational materials accepted by the employee from that same source does not exceed $100 in a calendar year.
If the value of all informational materials accepted by the employee from that source exceeds $100 in a calendar year, the employee should contact the USPS Ethics Office to see if the materials can be accepted.
For other types of gifts, the standard ethics rules apply: An employee may accept an unsolicited, noncash gift of $20 or less from an outside source if the value of all accepted gifts from that same source does not exceed $50 in a calendar year.
Employees with questions should email the USPS Ethics Office.
