USPS logo LINK — USPS employee news Printable

Ethically correct

Employees should heed political activity rules

Employees who have questions about the Hatch Act should contact their field law office or the Ethics Office.
Employees who have questions about the Hatch Act should contact their field law office or the Ethics Office.

Postal Service employees must follow rules established by the Hatch Act, a law that prohibits federal workers from engaging in some political activities.

USPS wants employees to be familiar with these rules, particularly during presidential election years.

The Hatch Act aims to protect federal employees from political coercion in the workplace and ensure that programs are administered in a nonpartisan fashion.

The law also aims to ensure federal employees are promoted based on merit, not political affiliation.

Under the law, employees may register to vote and support their favorite candidates by voting.

Employees may also assist in voter registration drives, attend political rallies and run for office in nonpartisan elections, among other activities.

However, employees may not engage in political activity while on duty, in uniform, in a federal building or while operating any federally owned or leased vehicle.

There also are restrictions on employees’ use of social media and email in connection with political activities.

Employees who have additional questions should contact their field law office, send an email to ethics.help@usps.gov or call the Ethics Office at 202-268-6346.

Post-story highlights