The Postal Service is reminding employees that federal ethics laws place certain restrictions on them while working at USPS — and after they leave the organization.
Here are some important rules to keep in mind:
• Employees working on matters involving outside companies — such as contracts, projects, licenses, applications or investigations — cannot simultaneously seek employment with those companies.
Employees interested in working for such a company in the future must first sign a recusal agreement approved by their manager, and all work-related matters involving that company must be assigned to another employee.
• Former employees can work for any outside employer, but they cannot communicate with the Postal Service on behalf of their new employer regarding matters they worked on at USPS.
Even if former employees did not personally work on a matter, they must wait two years before communicating with the Postal Service if they managed subordinates who did. Former employees can, however, work behind the scenes on any USPS-related project with their new employer.
• Former senior-level employees have a one-year “cooling off” period before they can communicate with the Postal Service regarding any matter on behalf of a new employer.
Employees must meet a certain salary threshold — in 2025, it’s $195,231 — to be considered senior level.
Details and situations may vary, so current and former USPS employees should seek guidance by emailing the USPS Ethics Office or calling it at 202-268-6346.
Add your first comment to this post