[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 139 (Friday, July 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33806-33807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15311]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 447


Rules of Conduct for Postal Employees

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is revising its rules concerning employee 
conduct to specify the circumstances under which a nonbargaining 
employee may consume intoxicating beverages at an Officer Approved 
Event or a Postmaster General Approved event. This revision is intended 
to ensure that the relevant rules conform to the Postal Service's 
existing practices regarding this matter.

DATES: Effective date: August 21, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David B. Ellis at (202) 268-2981, or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service has determined that it is 
necessary to revise and update its regulations concerning employee 
conduct to reflect current practices concerning the possession and 
consumption of intoxicating beverages at officially-approved Postal 
Service events. The current rules, set forth at 39 CFR 447.21(e), are 
couched in general terms that fail to provide sufficient guidance to 
managers or employees.
    As revised, the general prohibition against consuming intoxicating 
beverages on duty is replaced with a rule that intoxicating beverages 
may be consumed by non-bargaining employees while on duty only if 
consumption occurs at certain events known as Officer Approved Events 
and Postmaster General Approved Events. This change was made because 
the current regulations' general prohibition against on-duty 
consumption is not in accordance with Postal Service practice. The 
Postal Service permits the consumption of intoxicating beverages by 
nonbargaining employees at business meetings, sales meetings, and 
recognition events. At such events, Postal Service nonbargaining 
employees may be on duty because the event occurs during their normal 
work hours and their attendance is authorized or required, or because 
they are hosting or

[[Page 33807]]

performing Postal Service responsibilities at a recognition event, 
meeting with a customer, or otherwise conducting Postal Service 
business, whether or not the event occurs during the nonbargaining 
employee's normal work hours. Such events often involve the serving of 
food and beverages, whether during a meal or as refreshments at the 
event.
    The Postal Service, however, wishes to restrict the consumption of 
intoxicating beverages by nonbargaining employees at Postal Service 
events to appropriate situations for which executive approval has been 
obtained, whether or not the employees are on duty. As a result, any 
event where intoxicating beverages are served to Postal Service 
nonbargaining employees, whether they are on duty or off duty, must 
meet the requirements for an Officer Approved Event or a Postmaster 
General Approved Event. Among other things, this means that the 
consumption of intoxicating beverages at the event would require the 
express approval of a Postal Service Officer or the Postmaster General.
    The new regulations will not change the existing prohibitions 
against beginning work or returning to duty intoxicated. They will, 
however, impose a specific prohibition against becoming intoxicated at 
Officer Approved Events or Postmaster General Approved Events.
    The new regulations also clarify the conditions under which 
intoxicating beverages may be possessed or consumed on Postal Service 
premises. First, beer and wine would be permitted on Postal Service 
premises if approved by a Postal Service Officer in connection with an 
Officer Approved Event. Under current regulations, only the Postmaster 
General may approve the consumption of intoxicating beverages on Postal 
Service Premises. Second, intoxicating beverages other than beer and 
wine would never be permitted on Postal Service premises, regardless of 
whether the event is an Officer Approved Event or a Postmaster General 
Approved Event. Under current regulations, the Postmaster General may 
approve the consumption of intoxicating beverages other than beer and 
wine on Postal Service premises.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 447

    Conflict of interests, Employee conduct, Government employees.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Postal Service amends 
39 CFR part 447 as set forth below:

PART 447--RULES OF CONDUCT FOR POSTAL EMPLOYEES

0
1. The authority citation for part 447 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  39 U.S.C. 401.

Subpart B--Employee Conduct

0
2. Revise Sec.  447.21(e) to read as follows:


Sec.  447.21   Prohibited conduct.

* * * * *
    (e)(1) Except as provided in this paragraph, employees must not 
drink beer, wine, or other intoxicating beverages while on duty; begin 
work or return to duty intoxicated; or drink intoxicating beverages in 
a public place while in uniform. Employees found to be violating this 
policy may be subject to disciplinary action.
    (2) A nonbargaining employee may consume beer or wine at an Officer 
Approved Event. An Officer Approved Event means: A meeting of Postal 
Service employees convened by management, such as a working meal, an 
employee recognition event, or an employee appreciation event; or an 
event whose primary purpose is to interact with external individuals or 
entities, such as an industry conference, a sales meeting, or a 
supplier meeting; that in all cases is either attended by an Officer of 
the Postal Service who personally decides that the consumption of beer 
and wine by employees is appropriate, or with respect to which an 
Officer of the Postal Service has granted specific, written, and 
advance approval for the consumption of beer and wine by employees.
    (3) A nonbargaining employee may consume beer, wine, or other 
intoxicating beverages at a Postmaster General Approved Event. A 
Postmaster General Approved Event means any Postal Service-related 
event with respect to which the Postmaster General personally approves 
the consumption of beer, wine, or other intoxicating beverages.
    (4) No employee may become intoxicated while at an Officer Approved 
Event or a Postmaster General Approved Event. Except in connection with 
an Officer Approved Event or a Postmaster General Approved Event 
occurring at a Postal Service facility or premises, no employee shall 
have or bring any container of beer or wine into any Postal Service 
facility or premises, whether the container has been opened or not. 
Intoxicating beverages other than beer and wine may never be brought 
into any Postal Service facility or premises under any circumstances.
* * * * *

Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2017-15311 Filed 7-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7710-12-P