Misuse of government computers and phones

Your personal use of government property is still government use — and wrongful behavior is always wrongful.

Only very limited personal use of government property is acceptable. Certain activities are always prohibited on government computers, phones and other devices at any time, no matter where you are at the time. These include:

• Viewing, creating, sending or arranging to receive sexually explicit videos, photographs, jokes or other materials.
• Pyramid schemes, gambling, betting.
• Buying, selling or arranging to use illegal drugs.
• Working for an outside employer.
• Operating an outside business.

Do the right thing. It’s what our customers trust us to do.

Use government property only to achieve our mission.

And that’s smart business.

Nepotism and Spouses

• Postal policy provides that a Postal Service employee cannot directly report to his or her spouse.
• There must be at least one level of supervision between spouses at all times.
• This is because a criminal law prohibits a Postal Service employee from participating in a particular matter that would affect the financial interests of his or her spouse.

Ensuring that a spouse does not directly report to his or her spouse maintains a work environment free from favoritism allegations and helps the supervisory spouse avoid criminal liability.

And that’s smart business.

Contact the Ethics Office (ethics.help@usps.gov) for guidance