The following excerpts were taken from the USPS OIG Report on “Officers’ Travel and Representation Expenses for Fiscal Year 2011”
WHAT THE OIG FOUND:
Officers’ travel and representation expenses totaling about $700,000 were supported. However, officers did not always comply with Officers’ Travel and Representation Expense Guidelines (Guidelines) when claiming expenses incurred during official travel and representation. Specifically, we found issues regarding reimbursement claims, international travel approval letters, travel deviation requests, alcohol purchases, and parking fees.
WHAT THE OIG RECOMMENDED:
We are not making recommendations because in FY 2011, management made several staff changes that impacted the oversight of the officers travel reimbursement process. Also, management revised the Guidelines in July 2011 and will provide necessary training to the officers and their administrative assistants on them by the end of FY 2012. Additionally, because revised Guidelines now require reimbursements based on per diem rather than actual expenses, alcohol as part of meal reimbursement claims will no longer be an issue.
During FY 2011, the Postal Service made changes to the Postal Service Officers’ Travel and Representation Expense Guidelines (Guidelines)3 for officers’ travel and representation expenses. A postmaster general (PMG) memorandum, dated July 29, 2011, notified officers that management revised the Guidelines, and included a copy of the revised document. The revisions incorporated eight major changes, including reimbursements based on General Services Administration (GSA) per diem rates rather than actual expenses.
Officers’ travel and representation expenses, totaling about $700,000, were supported. However, officers did not always comply with the Guidelines when claiming expenses incurred during official travel and for representation. Specifically, we reviewed 68 of the 972 total reimbursements and found 17 issues regarding reimbursement claims, international travel approval letters, travel deviation requests, alcohol purchases, and parking fees. Although these instances did not materially affect the overall financial statements, officers not only shape the strategic direction of the Postal Service by setting goals, targets, and indicators within the framework established by the Board but also set the tone at the top of the organization. Accordingly, they must always follow established Guidelines to set an excellent standard for the rest of the Postal Service.
Alcohol Purchases
On four separate occasions of 68 reviewed, officers claimed wine or hard liquor as a reimburseable expense. In one instance, three officers were attending the National Postal Forum and purchased a bottle of wine with their meals while at dinner together after the conference. We did not find any documentation provided with the reimbursement claim indicating their meals were part of a working meeting. Had this documentation been provided, the expense would have complied with Postal Service policies.9
In two instances, officers were reimbursed for wine or beer purchased with their meals while on official travel although the purchases were not related to any officer-approved internal or external event. Postal Service policy allows purchases of wine and beer to be served with officer-approved internal or external events
Finally, an officer claimed hard liquor purchased at a representation function that did not include international guests. At the time of this event, the Guidelines did not allow for purchases of hard liquor for any officer-approved functions related to a business activity. When officers do not follow established Guidelines for alcohol purchases, they are not setting a standard of excellence for the rest of the organization.
Guidelines, dated April 13, 2009, page 5, Meals, item number 4, did not allow for purchase of hard liquor. Revised Guidelines, dated July 29, 2011, page 7, Representation, item 4, allow hard liquor only if there are international guests, as appropriate for the occasion
See full USPS OIG Audit Officers’ Travel and Representation Expenses for Fiscal Year 2011
These high play paid corporate whatever maintain their halucinated narcissitic fantasy imagined corporate life styles as Fortune 500 exectives in lieu of the reality is they worked for a government service that is ceasing to exist int its present structure as an outdated need with diminishing returns as services and products are in decline with no recovery for what is know an obsolete primitive past need of the 20th century. The demand for services and products is diminishing in the 21st century with decreasing revenue with no means to create new products to replace no demand for historical means of outdated written messaging in the caveman era which has been replaced by electronic instant mesaging. Headquarters needs less managers to off set outdated processes to create revenue. Give these high salaried no longer needed adhoc headquarters staph a bottle of Jack Daniels and send them on their way postage due.
Big surprise! While they are crying that the USPS has no money and MUST take away from the craft workers (who do the actual work), here they are, not only collecting huge salaries but also living high-on-the-hog as if no doomsday predictions that they purport are true! They don’t do the jobs they are paid to do, they get perks out the wahzoo, they cry that they need to change things for the “lower-class” workers and the American public – yet, they do not make ANY compensations on their part, whatsoever! Hmmmm! Reminds me of our Congressional buddies! Actions speak louder than words and the actions (or in-actions) of these people say it ALL!
Big surprise! While they are crying that the USPS has no money and MUST take away from the craft workers (who do the actual work), here they are, not only collecting huge salaries but also living high-on-the-hog as if no doomsday predictions that they purport are true! They don’t do the jobs they are paid to do, they get perks out the wahzoo, they cry that they need to change things for the “lower-class” workers and the American public – yet, they do not make ANY compensations on their part, whatsoever! Hmmmm! Reminds me of our Congressional buddies! Actions speak louder than words and the actions (or in-actions) of these people say it ALL! Bend over everybody, ’cause we’re getting a stiff one right where the sun don’t shine!
The answer is obvious…. See the job they are doing?…….They must be drinking.
These Harry Potters, John Potter clones, have narcissitic complexes as they consider their positions as being in the corporate world and they are important decision making wall street hedge fund decisions when in reality they are water boys on the sidelines at the super bowl. They are not in the game but spending money gives them self importance as they consider their actions of spending money on whatever as an exective decision. Eddie Murphy would do a good job in protraying these character in a comedy movie.
All headquarters ever does is coverup, coverup, coverup. But I guess if the chief postal attorney is quoted saying that there are two sets of rules, one for them (employees) and one for us (management) then that must be the right thing way to operate.
Unfortunately, postal management recognizes that Congress is being bribed to the point of being out of control, so postal behavior has rn amuck.
Any objective assessment of postal management would have to conclude that managerial practices counterproductive methodologies and lacks any kind of interior controls concerning their own managers.
Essentially they have no oversight and no one to answer to and they know it. How can this turn out well?
What a crock ! Messed up enough witout booze ! !