We Must Enforce Safer Workplaces Free from Harassment and Toxicity!

(This article appeared in the January/February 2026 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine)

For years, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) had a workplace environment as horrifying as the USPS. In November 2023, the Wall Street Journal published an article that exposed then-FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg for his bad temper and ignoring “bad behavior” in the workplace. Many were appalled by the conduct described in the exposé, which prompted an investigation by the FDIC Office of Inspector General (OIG) and evaluations by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). As a result, the FDIC was forced to take meaningful action to address the serious issue of toxic workplaces. The Postal Service needs to do the same.

The USPS knows what they have on their hands.

Postal management needs to acknowledge that toxic work environments are widespread and systematic. As a federal agency, the Postal Service should follow the many steps taken by the FDIC to hold managers accountable, while providing employees who come forward with the reassurance of a review’s independence and confidentiality.

During investigations into the FDIC, the law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP authored a report known as the “Cleary Report,” which found that for far too long, far too many employees experienced sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination, and other interpersonal misconduct.

 The FDIC completely revamped the investigative process for allegations of harassment and interpersonal misconduct. They established an Office of Professional Conduct (OPC) and the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity (OEEO). The EEOC interviewed the staff for both of the director’s offices. Beforehand, managers would let other managers with egregious misconduct remain at the agency or move them from one place to another to continue their pattern. Many employees lost faith in the process and failed to report incidents due to retaliation. The OPC, not the FDIC, performs the intake, investigations and accountability and can decide the discipline, suspensions, demotions, removal and resignation, denial of awards and bonuses, while the OEEO investigates and reports complaints under the laws enforced by the EEOC. This takes away the bias and conflicts of interest, which were necessary to restore trust and credibility after years of a broken process. The FDIC has new staff who operate a hotline that provides confidentiality and anonymity. In the past, employees would report a complaint, and the harasser would be protected. In a FY 2025 audit, the OIG reported 112 subjects who had allegations substantiated that year; nearly 30 employees left the agency due to misconduct, while many of the others faced formal reprimands, suspensions, or demotions – showing the process is working.

In 2025, the FDIC improved mandatory anti-harassment training, including how to report incidents and view real world examples of harassment, and even provide town halls to address workplace culture issues and answer employee questions! After significant training, 98% of managers said they understood their responsibilities to report harassment, retaliation, and interpersonal misconduct to the OPC. A new intake process was developed for misconduct to ensure incidents did not go unreported, and staff stay engaged with the complainant throughout the process and provide support resources. Complaints are addressed in a timely manner, generally two business days, with improved recordkeeping and transparency.

Throughout 2024, based on a settlement agreement to create a special review committee, the EEOC’s vice chairman worked to ensure that the FDIC made meaningful progress addressing harassment. The APWU and USPS negotiated the creation of a similar task force (see pages 329-331 of the APWU-USPS contract) seven years ago, but meetings have been unproductive. We must hold management accountable for toxic work environments and foster workplaces free from harassment. If the FDIC can do it, so can the Postal Service. ■