The Hatch Act allows postal employees to engage in some political activities, such as a running in a nonpartisan election.

The Postal Service is offering employees another reminder about the rules for participating in political activities under the Hatch Act.

The Hatch Act is a law that prohibits federal employees from engaging in certain political activity while on duty, while wearing a federal uniform or identification badge, while on federal property or while inside a federal vehicle.

The law also forbids employees from engaging in certain political activities whether or not they are on duty, such as raising money for a candidate or running for a partisan office.

However, under the Hatch Act, employees are permitted to do the following when not at work, wearing a postal uniform or occupying a postal vehicle:

• Register to vote and vote in an election
• Volunteer to participate in voter registration efforts
• Manage or volunteer with a partisan political campaign
• Attend a political fundraiser
• Donate money to a partisan candidate, party or group
• Become a member of a political party
• Hold office within a political party
• Attend a political rally, convention or meeting
• Sign a nominating petition
• Run in an election in which no candidate belongs to a political party

The Ethics Blue page has more Hatch Act resources. Employees with questions can contact their local field law office or send an email to ethics.help@usps.gov.

Rita Morgan, a Gaithersburg, MD, bulk mail clerk, used the Clerks Care program to help generate revenue for USPS.

A sales lead from a bulk mail clerk in Maryland has resulted in a bulk mail deal worth more than $1.4 million in new revenue for the Postal Service.

Rita Morgan, who works at the Gaithersburg Post Office, met a customer who seemed unsure of where to drop off her company’s mail. Morgan used the opportunity to talk with the customer about the company’s mailing needs.

Morgan then submitted a lead through Clerks Care, a program that allows retail associates, call center agents, and machine and distribution clerks to pass along sales tips.

Ryan Broughton, a territory executive, followed up with the business and closed a deal worth $1,402,500 in new estimated annualized revenue for the Postal Service.

Sales generated from Clerks Care leads are included in the USPS Every Lead Counts campaign to raise revenue through sales leads from employees.

“Rita engaged with a customer who had an immediate need and then used that opportunity to ask a few questions,” said Lou DeRienzo, a small-business senior specialist at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC. “Doing so revealed additional needs that customer had, and Rita recognized that the Postal Service could help.”

The Postal Service is encouraging as many employees as possible to submit at least one lead through any of its six lead programs by Sept. 30.

The Small Business and Lead Generation Programs Blue page has more information about Clerks Care and the other employee lead programs: Business Connect, Customer Connect, Mail Handlers, Rural Reach and Submit a Lead.

National Postal Customer Council Week is Sept. 19-23.

For the first time in three years, USPS leaders will meet in person with commercial mailers during National Postal Customer Council Week.

The annual meetings are held across the nation each year to bring participants together to discuss strategies to grow the mailing and shipping industry, strengthen partnerships, learn about postal innovations and receive training.

More than 90 postal customer councils, or PCCs, will participate in this year’s meetings, to be held Sept. 19-23.

A video message from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy will be shown at the 2022 meetings. Keynote speakers will amplify his message on implementing the Delivering for America 10-year plan.

PCCs are local organizations that help foster a close working relationship between USPS and commercial mailers, with the goal of sharing information about postal products, programs and services.

In addition to the state-of-the-industry discussions, National PCC Week celebrates the recipients of this year’s PCC Leadership Awards, which were recently announced.

The Postal Pro website has a list of National PCC Week events under the September heading.