COVID-19 SUT 14 – ALL EMPLOYEES: Operations continue – 03.23.2020

Mandatory Stand-Up Talk

March 23, 2020

Operations continue

Health and well-being remains a priority

The Postal Service is continuing normal operations while the nation deals with

the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation. Our customers are

depending on us, and we are taking all precautions necessary, so we can

continue to deliver for our country.

It’s important to know that the Postal Service is part of the critical infrastructure of

this nation, and to clarify that as Postal Service employees, you are providing an

essential public service of the federal government for the American people.

This means you are exempt from “lockdown,” “shelter-in-place,” general

quarantines, and other restrictions imposed by state and local governments.

We are working closely with federal, state and local health authorities to ensure

that our operations are conducted in a safe manner.

Postal Service employees travelling for work in areas with local travel restrictions

should make sure to carry their Postal Service-issued identification badge with

them in case they are stopped by local or state law enforcement. This includes

when employees are traveling to work from home, during the course of their

workday and at the end of the day, when they return home from work.

Contractors should follow this same advice.

If encountered or stopped by state or local law enforcement officials who are

enforcing travel restrictions, you should identify yourself as a postal employee or

postal contractor, show the official your postal-issued identification badge, and

then explain the nature of your work for the Postal Service and the reason why

you are travelling, either from home to work, during the workday, or returning

home from work. With this information, the state or local official should allow you

to continue with your travel. However, if you run into any further issues, contact

your supervisor.

We are in constant communication with the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) and other organizations to help ensure that you and our

customers have the latest information.

(continued on next page)

COVID-19 SUT 14 – ALL EMPLOYEES: Operations continue – 03.23.2020

There is very low risk that coronavirus can be spread through imported goods.

And there is no evidence to indicate it is associated with mail.

If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or are experiencing its symptoms,

you should not come to work, and should take leave, which will be liberally

approved.

Employees who wish to remain at home in accordance with state or local

directives can request the use of leave in accordance with applicable postal

policies and other federal laws.

If you have questions about COVID-19, there are many resources available on

the special COVID-19 pages of our internal website Blue, and our employee

website, LiteBlue. In addition, the latest details will always be available on the

government’s website, coronavirus.gov.

Finally, I’d like to remind you of our Employee Assistance Program, E.A.P. The

program can help you and your families cope during stressful times with

counseling and referral services.

You can call for information or assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-

800-EAP-4-YOU, (1-800-327-4968). There is also assistance available for the

hearing impaired, at 1-877-492-7341. And the E.A.P. website is:

www.eap4you.com.

Thank you for listening, and for your professionalism and commitment, and for all

you do for our customers, your co-workers, and the Postal Service.

# # #