The Postal Service wants to remind employees about the rules for working for an outside employer or seeking outside employment.
Employees are prohibited from working for:
- Amazon, DHL, FedEx, UPS and other companies that deliver mailable matter, other than daily newspapers
- Commercial mail-receiving agencies
- Companies that makes uniforms or other products for the Postal Service
- Transportation contractors who move mail to or from the employee’s postal facility or within the delivery area of the employee’s facility
Employees also cannot engage in any sales activity while on duty, in uniform or at any postal facility.
Additionally, employees need approval from the USPS Ethics Office before working for a company that:
- The employee has had official dealings with on behalf of the Postal Service
- Is dependent on or affected by postal rates, fees or classification
- Is dependent on providing services to USPS
To request approval from the Ethics Office, an employee must send a written statement listing his or her postal duties, the name of the outside employer, the type of outside employment and a description of any dealings the employee has had with the company in his or her postal capacity.
An employee must also submit a written statement from his or her supervisor that lists the employee’s duties and any concerns the supervisor has with the request.
Once an employee begins outside employment, he or she must comply with postal regulations, maintain regular and on-time attendance in his or her postal position, and not let the outside work interfere with his or her postal job performance.
Postal employment must take precedence when a scheduling conflict arises with the outside job.
More information is available in the supplemental standards section of the standards of ethical conduct for employees of the executive branch, which applies to postal employees.
If you have questions, call the USPS ethics hotline at 202-268-6346 or send an email to ethics.help@usps.gov.
