USPS Reinstates Mask Requirement for Employees

The Postal Service is again requiring masks for its employees, regardless of their vaccination status.

The Postal Service has reinstated a mandatory mask policy for all of its employees regardless of their vaccination status.

According to a memo issued last week by Doug Tulino, Deputy Postmaster General and Chief Human Resources Officer, uncertainty surrounding the Delta variant of the COVID-19 coronavirus led to the decision. The mask policy will apply to “all Mail Processing and Logistics, Retail and Delivery, and Vehicle Operations facilities.”

The memo states:

“Effective immediately, all employees are required to wear face coverings in the following situations regardless of their vaccination status, or until further notice:

  • When there is a local, state, or tribal face covering order or directive in place; or
  • When an employee who does not deal directly with the public and cannot achieve or maintain social distancing in the workplace.”

The memo also adds that Postal employees who work in administrative positions who cannot maintain distance from other individuals must wear a mask regardless of their vaccination status.

Postal facilities are instructed to keep enough masks on hand to give to employees to wear. Any employees who cannot wear masks for medical reasons are instructed to contact their supervisors.

About the Author

Ian Smith is one of the co-founders of FedSmith.com. He has over 20 years of combined experience in media and government services, having worked at two government contracting firms and an online news and web development company prior to his current role at FedSmith.