Post-Employment Restrictions

• Accepting employment with a business that you worked with in your postal capacity after you retire or leave the Postal Service can be perilous because a criminal law may limit your communications with the Postal Service on behalf of your new employer.
• Which of the post-employment restrictions apply to you, and how they will apply, depends on your individual situation.

The post-employment restrictions are complex and fact-specific – please contact the Ethics Office (ethics.help@usps.gov) in advance to avoid criminal liability and damage to the Postal Service’s reputation.

Looking before you leap is smart business.

Do you “need to know”

Is there an official reason you need my information?

The Privacy Act protects personal information from being disclosed outside of the Postal Service without the person’s written permission. Did you know the Privacy Act also protects personal information from being circulated internally to employees who don’t have an official need for it?

Before you share personal information with another postal employee, ask yourself whether the other person needs the information in order to fulfill a USPS function or activity.

The unlawful disclosure of personal information — internally or externally — could lead to legal action, negative publicity and damage to our brand. And willful disclosures of protected information could result in criminal sanctions.

Protecting personal information from unlawful disclosure promotes trust and helps avoid unnecessary costs and penalties.

And that’s smart business.