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USPS · Situational Judgment

While on your route, you find a wallet on the sidewalk containing cash, cards, and identification. What is the BEST action?

Correct answer

Pick up the wallet, do not open or remove anything, and turn it in intact to your supervisor or to local authorities so it can be returned to the owner

  1. A Keep the cash and turn in the wallet without it
  2. B Pick up the wallet, do not open or remove anything, and turn it in intact to your supervisor or to local authorities so it can be returned to the owner
  3. C Leave it where it is
  4. D Take everything and dispose of the wallet

Why this is the answer

A classic integrity test item. The exam is screening for absolute honesty in situations where no one would necessarily know if you did the wrong thing. The right approach: (1) take possession of the wallet to keep it safe; (2) do not open it, remove anything, or 'borrow' the cash; (3) turn it in intact to a supervisor or authorities so the owner can recover it. Keeping anything from the wallet is theft. Leaving it where it is may seem 'safer' but the wallet might be lost permanently or taken by someone else — taking responsibility to turn it in is the integrity-aligned answer. The exam looks for people who behave the same way when no one is watching as when everyone is watching.
Source: USPS VEA-MC, Honesty Scenarios

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