With election day right around the corner, politically-energized federal and postal workers have only a few days (that’s only a few hundred waking hours) to screw up their careers. Maybe even get fired. It won’t be easy, but there is still time…

Most feds are probably familar, to some degree, with the Hatch Act. But to be sure, take this quick test. The Hatch Act is:

1. A 1939 law originally designed to protect federal workers from arm-twisting by their bosses. Or,
2. A popular 1920s show biz review featuring handsome singing roosters and scantily-clad pullets that toured the East Coast touting the merits of an alcohol-free America.

If you picked number 1 you will probably be okay. The Hatch Act is a much-modified law that limits the partisan political activities of federal and postal workers, and many state employees paid in whole or part with federal funds. The bottom line of the Hatch Act is: Don’t Do Anything Stupid At Work!

Those who picked Number 1 may proceed with their more pressing duties.

But if you picked Number 2, or are unclear on what the Hatch Act means to you and your career, listen up.

The Hatch Act permits feds to participate in political activities. But not at the office. You can support candidates, write letters to the editor (as a private citizen), etc. But not at the office.

What you can’t do, although people do it, is politick at the office. As in sending out partisan e-mails (on government time and a government computer) to friends or coworkers. Or mailing pro or anti-candidate messages, cartoons or the like to people in hopes of winning their hearts, minds and votes for your candidate.

Every election a number of feds, some innocently, run afoul of the Hatch Act. And get reprimands, suspensions or in extreme cases, the boot.

During the 2008 presidental race, for example, an apparently well-meaning supervisor called his team together to talk about a work assignment. During the session, he mentioned that he was supporting a particular candidate. He asked for a show of hands from his employees, as to whether they favored Democratic Sen. Barrack Obama of Illinois or Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona for the presidency. And who they were going to vote for.

Interesting: yes! An exercise in civics: maybe! Stupid: definitely!

Some of his staff rolled with the question. Others reported him. Suffice to say he had some explaining to do.

Is this a rare case? Yes. It is unique or unprecedented? No.

Thanks to e-mail and now texting, the opportunities for feds to make a career-threatening mistake are limitless and can be executed at nearly the speed of light.

Before you e-mail, text, twitter, or tweet colleagues on a political matter, think very hard.

Hatch Act violations are bipartisan in that both pro-Democrat and pro-Republican feds (and supervisors) make them. They are not limited to one group or agency.

(Note: Employees of most news organizations have their own version of Hatch Act restrictions. Some – like political bumper stickers on personal cars or attending partisan events as a participant – are even tougher than the rules covering feds.)

If you are in doubt about what the Hatch Act covers, who it covers and what you may and may not do, click here.

Be active, participate and vote by all means. But don’t blow your daytime job!

$250 Shot For Retirees

Federal-postal-military and Social Security retirees won’t be getting a cost of living adjustment in 2011. And they didn’t get one this year either. Meantime health insurance premiums are going up. To help out, Congress and the White House are likely to okay a one-shot $250 for retirees. But how would it work and who would get it? And when? Today on our Your Turn with Mike Causey radio show (10a.m. EDT) Dan Adcock and David Snell of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees will talk about what may happen to feds, postals and retirees during the upcoming lame duck session of Congress. That includes the special payments, the possibility of a pay freeze, furloughs and RIFs in the federal service. Listen if you can. Call in if you like (202.465.3080) or email questions or comments to me at: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com

To reach me: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com

Nearly Useless Factoid
by Suzanne Kubota

From The Nautical Roots of 9 Common Phrases by MentalFloss, “by and large” refers to a sailing vessel’s abilities. If it “could sail both ‘by’ (into the wind) and ‘large’ (with the wind,)” it was seaworthy.

MORE PAY AND BENEFITS NEWS
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