The USPS Ethics Office has released its 2022 Holiday Ethics Guide.
The guide’s graphics and photos cover the do’s and don’ts of giving and receiving gifts. It also offers guidance on holiday scenarios employees may be confused about.
A few key points:
• Gifts of cash, checks, money orders or cash-equivalent gift cards (Visa, Discover, etc.) cannot be accepted.
• Employees may accept unsolicited noncash gifts worth $20 or less from an outside source — if the total value of gifts from that source doesn’t exceed $50 in a calendar year.
• An employee may give a holiday gift to a manager or higher-paid colleague only if it is valued at $10 or less.
• Secret gift exchanges (such as “white elephant” and “Secret Santa”) may be held but participation must be voluntary — and gifts must be valued at $10 or less.
• Office potlucks are permitted if participation and contributions are voluntary. No one should be told what to bring and those who do not contribute may still attend.
Employees with questions can call the Ethics Helpline at 202-268-6346 or email ethics.help@usps.gov.