USPS wants employees to be mindful of federal ethics rules when seeking supplemental employment.
A second job cannot conflict with an employee’s Postal Service duties. Employees must adhere to USPS regulations and maintain regular, on-time attendance in their postal positions.
Employees must give their USPS position priority in scheduling conflicts, and they cannot let their outside work interfere with their Postal Service job performance.
Employees cannot perform work for their supplemental employment while on USPS duty, and they cannot use Postal Service resources for their secondary jobs.
Additionally, USPS employees cannot:
• Work for commercial mail-receiving agencies or any entity that delivers “mailable matter” such as UPS, DHL, FedEx or Amazon;
• Consult on Postal Service operations, programs or procedures with any person who has competed or will compete for a USPS contract;
• Engage in any sales, fundraising or outside business activity while on duty, in uniform or at USPS facilities; and
• Have any interest in a mail-carrying contract.
There are also certain secondary jobs that require employees to get the Postal Service’s approval by completing the supplemental employment approval form and emailing it to the USPS Ethics Office.
Positions requiring prior approval include those in which the employee works for:
• A highway contract route holder or subcontractor;
• Anyone with whom an employee deals in their USPS capacity;
• A business that contracts with the Postal Service, including a manufacturer of USPS uniforms or products;
• A business largely dependent upon postal rates and classifications; and
• A subsidiary such as Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh or Twitch that is not involved in its parent company’s business of delivering mailable matter.
The updated Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the United States Postal Service address outside employment and business activities.
Employees should call the USPS Ethics Office at 202-268-6346 or email it with questions.
