The Postal Service has received a slap on the wrist from the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, following a USPS manager’s instructions to staff that they could contact an employee’s doctor by fax or e-mail in an apparent attempt to skirt a prohibition against "telephone contact" by postal officials with an injured worker’s doctors.

In a staff memo sent last January, USPS Manager for Safety and Risk Management Larry Anderson stated that Postal Service officials could communicate with an injured worker’s doctor by fax or e-mail, and could even talk by phone or in person if the doctor’s office initiated the contact. However, in July OWCP responded by reminding USPS that such contacts are prohibited.

In a letter to Anderson, Sheila Williams, OWCP’s Acting Director of Federal Employees’ Compensation, stressed that faxes and e-mail "most certainly are written communications and are subject to the limitations outlined in 20 CFR 10.506." Williams also clarified that "any and all" such telephone contacts that are "initiated by the agency, regardless of the subject"—even in response to follow-up requests—are "entirely prohibited."

"Written communication," she added, "regardless of how it is transmitted to the physician, is limited to information regarding fitness for duty." Also, Williams’ said, "a copy of all written communications to and from a physician must be provided to OWCP and the employee." Williams’ letter concluded by asking the Postal Service to "instruct staff to cease" all such communications with employees’ doctors, and to provide "prompt documentation that this correction has been made."