2 Postal Executives Given $248,000 for Moving

The Postal Service paid more than $142,000 to move one of its vice presidents 10 miles and about $106,000 to move another 30 miles, even though both continued to report to work at the agency’s Washington headquarters.

Postal executives moving to new duty assignments usually have to relocate at least 50 miles to be eligible for a “relocation benefit,” but these two received exceptions, the Washington Post reported in today’s editions.

The two executives are M. Richard Porras, the chief financial officer and executive vice president, and John H. Ward, controller and vice president for finance. Both are advisors to Postmaster General William J. Henderson and oversee the annual budget of $63 billion.

The Postal Service’s relocation policy is deliberately generous so they can retain talented employees, spokeswoman Judy de Torok said.

De Torok said the benefit was approved after the two independently negotiated “what they could” when offered promotions in 1998.

The two executives told the Post they wanted the relocation benefits because they were tired of long commutes.

Porras moved 10 miles farther away from headquarters but closer to the Postal Service training academy and Dulles International Airport. Ward moved 30 miles and now lives three miles from headquarters.

The benefit package included $25,000 for each of the executives as a “miscellaneous allowance.”

De Torok said the allowance “covers hidden fees associated with moving,” like new carpets, drapes or a plumber’s bill for hooking up a washing machine.