The Postal Service is reminding employees that they can accept gifts of books and other informational materials from outside sources — under certain conditions.
Informational materials are writings, recordings, documents, records or other items that are educational or instructive. They are not primarily created for entertainment, display or decoration, and they must somehow relate to an employee’s official duties or to the Postal Service.
Under federal ethics rules, an employee can accept unsolicited gifts of informational materials if the total market value of those gifts is less than $100 in a calendar year. If the value exceeds $100, the employee should contact the USPS Ethics Office for guidance.
For books or similar items that are not informational materials, an employee can accept an unsolicited gift valued at $20 or less from an outside source if the value of all accepted gifts from that source does not exceed $50 in a calendar year.
Employees with questions should email the ethics team, call 202-268-6346 or go to the Ethics Blue page. Employees can also download the USPS Ethics App.
