The Postal Service is reminding employees that federal ethics rules generally prohibit them from accepting gifts of monetary value from anyone outside the organization.
USPS itself, however, can accept a gift under its agency gift acceptance authority if the gift is necessary or convenient for postal business.
For example, if an employee is offered free attendance at a conference featuring educational or networking opportunities that could benefit the Postal Service, the organization could exercise its agency gift acceptance authority and allow the employee to attend the event.
A USPS vice president or other officer must make that determination, and the organization’s ethics and legal compliance team must agree.
Employees with questions should email the USPS Ethics Office or call 202-268-6346. The Ethics Blue page has more information.
