Uniform Info for Postal Employees

Work Clothes and Uniform Information for USPS Employees
Source: USPS ELM - Section 930
Uniform Vendors: See List

Entitlement and Allowances
Certain employees must wear prescribed uniforms in performing their duties. These employees are entitled (a) to a uniform allowance to purchase authorized uniform items or (b) to be furnished uniforms that meet Postal Service specifications.

Allowances
The annual allowance authorized each employee covered by a collective bargaining agreement is determined by the terms of that agreement. Allowances for other employees are set as a matter of policy.

When Allowances Take Effect
Anniversary Date
Allowances take effect on the earliest date an employee is required to wear the uniform following completion of the 90-day probationary period. This date is known as the employee's anniversary date.

Types of Clothing
The Uniform Program consists of a number of types of clothing developed for various positions dependent on (a) the level of visibility to the public, (b) the type of work normally performed, and (c) the physical environment in which the employee normally works. The current categories are:

a. Type 1 - city letter carriers, clerk/special delivery messengers, clerks performing city letter carrier duties, motor vehicle operators, tractor-trailer operators, driving instructors and examiners, letterbox mechanics, ramp clerks and transfer clerks, AMF, performing ramp clerk duties, area maintenance technician/specialists, maintenance mechanics working as letterbox mechanics (see 932.11h), passenger elevator operators, and elevator starters.
b. Type 2 - employees assigned to retail operations.
c. Type 3 - vehicle maintenance, custodial maintenance, mail handler, BMEU, and clerical employees eligible under ELM 932.12 and 932.13.
d. Type 4 - security force police officers.
e. Type 5 - bargaining unit and nonbargaining unit medical personnel.
f. Type 6 - supervisors.

The criteria are different for each type, as well as the procedure necessary to establish or terminate an employee in each category. Installation heads must familiarize themselves with the criteria established for each type so that certifications are made under the correct program.

Personal Appearance
Supervisors are responsible for continually observing the uniforms of employees and taking appropriate corrective action, when necessary, to ensure employees are properly attired.

Appearance - Employee Responsibility
Postal employees are responsible for being adequately and properly dressed for duty. They are expected to maintain high standards of appearance, representing to the public the best tradition of service and efficiency while performing their official duties. Uniform garments should be properly fitted and maintained in a clean, neat, and serviceable condition. Jeans, shorts, sleeveless tops, T-shirts, sweats, spandex, etc., are not appropriate attire for employees working at a retail counter. This list is not meant to be exhaustive.

Prohibitions

Wearing postal uniforms is prohibited under the following circumstances:
a. A person not connected with the letter carrier branch of the Postal Service who wears the uniform or badge worn by a city carrier is fined not more than $100, or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both. When employees are separated from the Postal Service, all emblems, buttons, or other identifying insignia must be removed before the uniforms are discarded.
b. The uniform is not worn during or in connection with the furtherance of private employment or commercial interests.
c. The uniform is not worn under circumstances that would tend to bring discredit upon the Postal Service.
d. The uniform is not worn, except when authorized by the postmaster or Headquarters, when an employee participates in activities such as public speeches, interviews, picket lines, marches, rallies, or any public demonstration that may imply service sanction of the cause for which the demonstration or activity is being conducted.

When to Wear Uniforms
Uniforms are worn as follows:

a. General. A uniform is worn only while the employee is on duty, in connection with approved activities directly related to postal employment.

b. Special Authorization. Postmasters may authorize wearing postal uniforms for activities in which the Postal Service participates, or which it sponsors, where identification with the Postal Service is beneficial to the Service, and while the employee is traveling directly to and from work.

c. Restrictions. In no other case may the postal employee's uniform, or any part of it that identifies the garment or wearer with the Postal Service, be worn in nonpostal employment or activities.

Postal Service Emblem
The Postal Service emblem may not be worn except by uniformed postal employees as part of the prescribed uniform except in the following circumstances:

a. Postmasters and other installation heads may permit the voluntary wearing of the Postal Service emblems by a postal employee who has daily personal contact with the public, but who is not required to wear a uniform.

b. In all other situations, specific authorization is obtained through administrative channels from Labor Relations.

Some Rules for Uniform and Clothing
1. Shirtjacs are not to be tucked in or worn with any outer garments (e.g., sweaters, jackets, etc.) except rain gear. They are not to be worn with ties.

2. Knit shirts are to be worn tucked in. They may be worn only with authorized sweaters or windbreakers.

3. Hems of walking shorts should not be more than 3 inches above mid-knee. Shorts must be worn only with uniform socks.

4. Craft tabs are worn only on bomber jackets and windbreakers. Bomber jackets may be purchased and worn with optional zip-in lining. Liners may not be worn alone as outer garments.

5. Vests may be worn with or without jackets or parkas; however, they must not be worn without shirts and ties.

6. Delivery personnel may not purchase or wear the retail service personnel sweater.

7. Coveralls are authorized for motor vehicle operators when exposed to dirty or toxic materials.

Additional Guidelines
1. Skirts are to be no shorter than top of knee cap.
2. Silver logo button cover is worn in lieu of other ladies' neckware.
3. The apron is nonreimbursable, although some offices may choose to provide retail service employees with aprons to protect their uniforms when working away from the retail counter. These aprons are not to be worn while working at the retail counter or in the lobby.
4. Footwear is reimbursable after the employee has completed at least 2 years of eligibility in the retail uniform program.

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Uniform F.A.Q.'s and More

Who Cares about Postal Socks? Your aching feet do….

By Michele Ward, the Uniform Girl

(Michele Ward is the General Manager of Postal Uniform Discounters, one of the larger online postal uniform companies. She has been in the postal uniform business for eleven years.)

In a previous entry I wrote about postal shoes, including the care, history and styles. Now it is time to address another component of the postal uniforms that are important to your aching feet: the postal socks.

The USPS employee labor manual section on authorized uniform items does not offer too many clues on which socks can or can not be worn as part of the official uniform; it states “Calf-length, crew style, or quarter-length uniform blue-gray, black, or white with blue stripes” are approved socks. Each sock manufacturer must submit samples to the Natick Testing Facility of socks that they want approved to be sold on the postal allowance. I would imagine that they do some type of wear-test up there before certifying – I have a vision of a hamster running the wheel in blue striped postal socks but somehow think this might not be the method of testing! After contacting Natick, I have been told that socks are approved for the USPS based essentially on color and sizing, that they must be made domestically, and that they must be of commercial quality (any commercial type fiber is allowed). In recent years we have seen many new fabrics come into play for the comfort of your feet!

Traditionally, most of the postal approved socks are made of a mixture of cotton, nylon, and lycra, with cotton accounting for about 75% of fiber content. Breathable and comfortable due to the high cotton content, these “standard” socks are still the largest selling type of socks for postal workers.

Manufacturers have been coming out with an extra padded sock for years as well. Thorlo has been the market leader. Thorlo not only makes postal uniform socks but are also well known in the sporting goods, outdoor, and backpacking industries. The padded socks tend to concentrate extra cushioning, usually at the ball and heel of the foot. But unlike the “standard” postal sock, the extra cushioning socks are primarily made of acrylic, for its added durability and breathability. Most also have added nylon for increased wear.

Our newest offering is the X-static sock, which combines the comfort of mostly cotton with the addition of silver fiber. Naturally antimicrobial and anti static, the addition of the silver fiber helps these socks eliminate odor and move the moisture off of your feet and out through the fibers. And if you have handled as many returned worn postal shoes as I have, you would agree that many postal workers can benefit from these as they have stinky feet!

Another innovative sock is the Wright Anti-Blister socks. These double layered socks provide superior moisture management and protection from bacterial growth. The two layers of material move slightly to absorb friction, offering better comfort and helping to eliminate blisters. We have seen sales of these socks increase each year since we added them to our catalog, and we keep hearing good things about them. So I assume that they work, and work well!

About ten years ago a breathable waterproof sock was added to the product mix. When I first heard about the Sealskinz socks I didn’t believe that a waterproof sock would be breathable so I asked to wear-test a pair. I wore them while camping and hiking for about a week. Sure enough my feet stayed dry, cool, and blister free. After the wear test we at Postal Uniform Discounters (www.postaluniformdiscounters.com) started stocking this sock. It seems like we were onto something good, as nearly every postal uniform company copied us and started to sell this product as well. Sealskinz also now makes a waterproof breathable glove, and their products are used by various US military personnel here and overseas.

Up until a few years ago, postal approved socks only came in crew and over the calf lengths. The crew length comes up to the lower calf area, and the over the calf go up close to the knee. These two lengths did not incorporate what has been happening with sock wear in general, ankle and quarter lengths. So in 2005 the USPS added quarter length socks, which pull up to about the ankle. This has been a huge help to those who wanted to even out the tan on their legs down to their ankles!

So as you can see there are many new choices and options for socks that you can purchase with your USPS uniform allowance. We have even more choices on the sock page of our website, http://www.postaluniformdiscounters.com/postal-uniforms-footwear-socks.html. So come for a visit and do your aching, tired (and sometimes smelly) feet a favor!

To view all of the newest items please visit our website www.postaluniformdiscounters.com.

Here at Postal Uniform Discounters we sell all of the newest items at very reasonable pricing with great service.

Michele Ward
The Uniform Girl

To view all of the approved postal uniform items, please visit our website:

www.postaluniformdiscounters.com

Here at Postal Uniform Discounters we sell all of the approved USPS uniform items, whether polyester or cotton, at very reasonable pricing with great service.

Michele Ward
The Uniform Girl
(Michele Ward is the General Manager of Postal Uniform Discounters, one of the larger online postal uniform companies. She has been in the postal uniform business for eleven years.)

More Information

Supervisor Work Clothes Program - See ELM 938

See the USPS ELM

Note: All information correct when posted. Please see the USPS ELM and Postal Bulletin for possible updates.

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