The Postal Service is reminding employees of federal ethics rules about group gifts and office gatherings.
Here is some general guidance:
• Group gift contributions. A group gift to a fellow employee — including a supervisor or higher-paid employee — is allowed for a special, infrequent occasion such as marriage, birth of a child, family tragedy, retirement, resignation or transfer.
Employees are allowed to organize a collection for a group gift, but contributions must be voluntary and cannot be more than $10 a person.
• Chipping in for food and drinks. Employees can organize a collection for refreshments to be shared in the office, but the contributions must be voluntary and cannot be more than $10 a person.
If the event is catered, participants can pay the per-person cost. Potlucks are allowed if participation is voluntary and employees who do not contribute can still attend.
• Flyers or invitations. An office can distribute a flyer or invitation to solicit contributions for a group gift or refreshments. To ensure that nobody feels any pressure to contribute, a non-supervisory employee should collect the funds.
On the flyer, the solicitations for the group gift and refreshments should be on separate lines, and state “up to $10.” The USPS Ethics Office can help review the flyer.
Employees with questions should email the ethics team or call 202-268-6346.
