Display of a Candidate’s Photograph in the Workplace

• Photographs of partisan political candidates are not permitted in the workplace during election season unless all of the following apply: the photograph was on display in advance of the election season; the employee is in the photograph with the candidate; and the photograph is a personal one (i.e., the employee has a personal relationship with the candidate and the photograph is taken at some kind of personal event or function). Of course, an employee must not have a political purpose for displaying the photograph, namely, promoting or opposing a political party or a candidate for partisan political office.

Photographs of partisan political candidates could offend some of our customers, and even cause conflict in the workplace. Keeping your political views to yourself is smart business.

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

Hotel Government Rate for Personal Travel

• Can you use the government rate for personal travel? If the government rate is offered to all federal government employees and the hotel confirms the rate can be used for personal travel, you can do it.

When you don’t solicit or accept prohibited gifts from an outside source, you strengthen the Postal Service’s reputation as being a transparent, fair, and honest organization.

And that’s smart business.

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