In a
recent report, The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) found that nearly 20% of all USPS frontline employees were eligible to retire as of November 2023. Another 5% will reach retirement eligibility in 2024, and an additional 13% will reach retirement age within the next five years. Within the next decade, nearly 53% of frontline employees will be eligible for retirement.
While not every USPS employee will retire as soon as they are eligible, the agency is at risk of experiencing workforce staffing challenges if it does not ramp up hiring. According to
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, USPS may need to hire around 300,000 employees over the next 10 years to keep up with staffing needs.
Mail Management
From 2019 to 2023, USPS has seen drastic changes in mail volumes. Packages, rather than traditional letters and flat volumes, are taking up a greater share of the agency’s total volume, increasing the demand for mail handlers. Additionally, USPS is updating their equipment and operating procedures, which will rely more heavily on mail handlers than processing clerks.
If USPS is unable to adequately replace retiring employees in the coming years, there may be a significant impact to agency operations. Understaffing may lead to burnout, making USPS employees more vulnerable to mistakes and inefficiency. When mistakes are made, blame may be placed on USPS managers.
Allegations & Accountability
Agency managers will be responsible for implementing new procedures, while also working to fill the gaps left by the potential retirement wave. Missteps in mail handling can impact the public, leading to calls for accountability that may lead to allegations and investigations.
Allegations and investigations can lead to suspensions, terminations, or even personal capacity lawsuits. If an allegation is made against you, it is a necessity, not luxury, to have knowledgeable and effective counsel advocating on your behalf.
Postal Protections
As the professional liability insurance (PLI) provider endorsed by the leading federal employee associations, FEDS Protection offers federal employee PLI policies with $1 million, $2 million, or $3 million in civil liability protection for attorney’s fees and indemnity costs in the event you are sued in your civil capacity. The FEDS policy also includes $200,000 of legal representation coverage per incident for administrative actions and $100,000 of coverage for criminal defense costs.
Annual premiums for FEDS Protection PLI start at $290. Additionally, federal managers, supervisors, and law enforcement officers are eligible for a reimbursement of up to 50% the cost of their PLI policy through their agency. To learn more about how a FEDS PLI policy can protect you and your career, browse our site or call (866) 955-FEDS, M-F 8:30am-6pm to speak directly to a representative.
*This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Are You Leaving Federal Service and Considering Government Contracting?
If yes, consider FEDS Protection for your government contracting insurance needs. At FEDS Protection, we also support Federal Contractors by providing insurance coverage specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of today's federal contractors, including Professional Liability, Defense Base Act Insurance, and Foreign Liability coverage. In our experience, many small businesses need assistance in navigating the insurance portion of a government RFP.
The federal government is our specific focus and area of expertise. If you are looking to review your current or upcoming insurance needs, including the unique insurance requirements of any contract involving civilian employees overseas (requiring DBA Insurance and Foreign Liability coverage) please contact us at 866-955-FEDS (3337) or dmoylan@fedsprotection.com.
Inclusion in Action
FEDS Protection wants to celebrate those who work together from diverse backgrounds that move our country forward. These efforts are not and cannot be made alone. They are completed each day with empathy, energy, and intentionality. While some moments can be awkward, small wins can be awesome. Regardless, each inclusive action is worth the effort.
We hope each of you can play a small part in the path toward progress and continue to do so in your own way. We will continue to stand with you in this effort every step of the journey.
Testimonials
"FEDS Protection and the National Association of Federal Veterinarians have had a great and mutually beneficial relationship for a very long time. Like most insurance products, one hopes to never need to use it, but our members who did, found it an invaluable resource and an ideal supplement to what NAFV can do for its members. We strongly encourage our members to not just use our resources but to enroll in FEDS Protection to complete their umbrella of services when the worst happens. Remember that most agencies reimburse up to 50% of the cost, making it a great value as well.”
- Dr. Joseph F. Annelli, DVM, MS (NAFV Executive Vice President)
Radio & Webinars
Contact us if you or your agency are interested in a webinar or brochures that provide federal employees best practices on how to protect themselves with a federal employee professional liability insurance policy like the one offered by FEDS Protection. This benefit is so important, it could be partially reimbursed for many federal employees!
Featured Webinar: From Investigations to Discipline: When Your Conduct as a LEO Comes Under Review – Michael Sgarlat, Associate Attorney at Shaw Bransford & Roth P.C., will explore critical issues in law enforcement conduct and discipline.
Date: October 29, 2024, at 1pm (ET).
FEDS On the Road
October
o Association of Certified Background Investigators (Rockville, MD)
o 43rd FAAMA Convention and Managing the Skies Expo (Orlando, FL)
o NAFV Annual Meeting (Nashville, TN)
o WIFLE Julie Y. Cross Memorial Golf Tournament (Milton, DE)