Thursday • August21

Smart Business Moment

Nepotism and Spouses

Your Better Half Can’t Be Your Boss

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Nepotism and Spouses

Your Better Half Can’t Be Your Boss

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

Alternate business moment

Voluntary Contributions to a Group Gift

Planning a Retirement Party? No Arm Twisting Allowed.

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Voluntary Contributions to a Group Gift

Planning a Retirement Party? No Arm Twisting Allowed.

Contributions to a gift for your manager or a higher paid employee must truly be voluntary. For this reason, managers and supervisors are not permitted to organize a collection – the lowest level employee in the office should be assigned the job.
Group gifts must be limited to special, infrequent occasions, such as marriage, adoption, birth, retirement, or resignation.
Contributions must be limited to $10 per person, except that superiors and higher paid employees may contribute any amount suitable to the occasion.

When managers and supervisors refrain from organizing a collection for a group gift, subordinate employees do not feel coerced to contribute – resulting in a better work environment and higher productivity.

And that’s smart business.

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

Smart Safety Moment

Lobby safety

Falling for great service?

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Lobby safety

Falling for great service?

Provide safe lobbies for your customers. Make sure display racks, stands and other lobby furniture are anchored or designed to prevent toppling. Safety glass is a must for display racks, stands and cases — plate glass isn’t permitted. Warn customers of the hazards of allowing children sit on counters. Keep wet floor areas roped off with “wet floor” signs or high-visibility safety barricades until the floors are dry.

Maintaining a clean, safe lobby sends a message to customers that safety is a top priority at USPS.

That’s smart safety.

For additional information or guidance, contact your Safety Office.

Alternate safety moment

Cyclist awareness

Beware the door zone.

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Cyclist awareness

Beware the door zone.

If you’re parked at the curb and open your car door without first checking your mirrors, you risk “dooring” a passing cyclist. The bike rider could crash into the door or get knocked into traffic. Whenever you’re parked, check your mirrors to see if a bike is approaching before you open your door.

And that’s smart safety!

For additional information or guidance, contact your safety office.

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