Protect Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

If a proposed initiative newly collects, stores, uses, or discloses any PII or changes how the Postal Service does so, your team should contact the Privacy and Records Management Office early in the process to ensure compliance with the Privacy Act.

The Privacy and Records Management Office may determine that the Postal Service will have to provide notice to the public.  This process takes four to six months.

Even then, you may only share someone’s PII with other employees who “need to know” the information to perform their job, or with persons outside the Postal Service who are authorized to receive the information.

By taking steps to protect PII, you can help the Postal Service comply with the law, maintain public trust, and prevent potential litigation against the Postal Service.

And that’s smart business.

Contact the Privacy and Records Management Office (privacy@usps.gov) with any questions.

Can I be a contractor?

Postal regulations and policies prohibit the Postal Service from entering into any contract with a postal employee, except in the following circumstances:

• The lease of an employee’s vehicle in connection with his/her employment;
• The licensing of a patent invention that is the sole property of the employee; or
• Lease agreements for real property under certain conditions.

By understanding when employees may contract with the Postal Service, you can ensure that you and your team do not violate laws, regulations, or policies that apply to Postal Service employees in outside-work activities.

And that’s smart business.

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