Wednesday • September18

Smart Business Moment

Political Emails

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Political Emails

Think Twice Before Hitting Send

If you receive a partisan political email sent to your postal email address, you have not violated the Hatch Act. Forward that email, and you will.

Hatch Act violations detract from the Postal Service’s reputation for trustworthiness and can affect our business. Thinking before hitting send is smart business.

Contact the Ethics Office (ethics.help@usps.gov) for more information about the Hatch Act.

Alternate business moment

Advance Payments

It’s Possible but not Encouraged

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Advance Payments

It’s Possible but not Encouraged

In most cases, the Postal Service pays for supplies or services after delivery. Paying for supplies or services before they’re delivered is strongly discouraged.
However, in instances where the common trade practice is to pay in advance and the supplier refuses delivery otherwise, advance payments are permitted under the guidelines found in Management Instruction, Advance Payments (MI FM-610- 2010-2).
Where paying in advance is a regular practice, it’s justified to expect that to continue. Examples include facility rentals, magazine subscriptions, booth space at conventions, tuition and software maintenance.
Advance payments have different approval thresholds.

Get to know the advance payment policy. It ensures proper management of USPS funds.

And that’s smart business.

Find the MI (MI FM-610-2010-2) on advance payments at: http://blue.usps.gov/cpim/ftp/manage/fm610102.pdf

Smart Safety Moment

Emergency planning

Be emergency specific.

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Emergency planning

Be emergency specific.

When developing an evacuation plan for your facility, identify how employees are to respond to a specific emergency. For example, instructions for a shelter-in-place emergency differ from those for an evacuation due to a fire. Conduct evacuation drills to familiarize employees with emergency procedures, exit routes and assembly locations.

Preparing in advance is critical to the safety of employees. When an emergency happens, they’ll know what to do.

And that’s smart safety!

For additional information or guidance, contact your safety office.

Alternate safety moment

Crosswalk safety

Caution! Pedestrians are crossing.

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Crosswalk safety

Caution! Pedestrians are crossing.

Pedestrians are one-and-a-half times more likely to be killed in a crash than passengers in the vehicle. Faster car speeds increase the likelihood of a pedestrian getting hit and being severely injured. Most pedestrian deaths occur in urban areas, locations without marked intersections and at night. Most at risk are older adults, children and individuals impaired by alcohol or drugs.

By being extra vigilant at intersections and crosswalks, drivers can help reduce accidents involving pedestrians.

And that’s smart safety!

For additional information or guidance, contact your safety office.

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Smart Business Moment