Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Here’s what you should know before updating your benefits
The annual open season enrollment period began this week
The Postal Service wants employees to know some important things concerning the open season benefits enrollment period that began this week.
Here’s a rundown:
• The flexible spending account (FSA) program is administered by Inspira Financial and includes health care, dependent care and limited-purpose flexible spending accounts. There is a debit card option to pay for eligible expenses.
• The Postal Service Health Benefits Program does not affect the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). Employees can enroll in or change their dental and vision coverage during open season through FEDVIP.
• Employees must use PostalEASE to participate in the Annual Leave Exchange program or to enroll in or make changes to the USPS Health Benefits Plan for eligible precareer and casual employees.
PostalEASE is available on the MyHR website’s open season page or by calling the USPS employee service line at 877-477-3273 (select option 1). The Federal Relay Service number is 800-877-8339.
• USPS is encouraging employees to use Checkbook’s Guide to PSHB Plans, an online tool available on MyHR’s open season page, to review health plans and premiums for 2026.
• There are new pretax limits for FSAs and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). To learn more about FSA expense caps and TSP contribution limits, go to IRS.gov.
Employees can use MyHR to make changes to their TSP contributions at any time during the year.
The MyHR open season page has more information on plans, premiums and this year’s virtual benefits fair.
Milestones
Appointments, awards and retirements
Here’s a look at recent USPS announcements
• Brian M. D’Autrechy was named delivery operations business support manager. He previously served as a management associate.
• Karen L. Garber was named Ohio 2 District manager. She previously served as Cincinnati postmaster.
• Anthony A. Impronto, Post Office operations director, was named Virginia District’s acting manager.
• Debra L. Mills, strategic complement reassignment manager, retired Sept. 30 after 37 years with the Postal Service.
• Lori A. Smith was named Carbondale, IL, postmaster. She previously served as officer in charge.
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November 18, 2025
Datebook
‘Essential Workers and Stress’
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar on stress, its potential effects and strategies for managing it in the workplace.
The session, “Essential Workers and Stress,” will be held Tuesday, Nov. 18, at noon Eastern.
Representatives from United Health Care, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will lead the discussion.
Participants must register before the event on the webinar website.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must participate off the clock or during authorized breaks.
Employees with questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
November 19, 2025
Datebook
‘Emotional Eating and Stress’
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar that will explain why eating is often a response to stress.
The session, “Emotional Eating and Stress,” will be held Wednesday, Nov. 19, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from Kaiser Permanente, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will lead the discussion.
Participants must register before the event on the webinar website.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must participate off the clock or during authorized breaks.
Employees with questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
Deadline for system access review is Nov. 19
The Postal Service is reminding managers and functional systems coordinators to review employee and contractor access to the organization’s applications and systems by Wednesday, Nov. 19.
The periodic reviews are required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act accounting law.
Managers and functional systems coordinators should receive emails with instructions on how to perform the reviews using both eAccess and ARIS. Guidance can be found on the USPS ServiceNow website by searching “periodic review.”
More information is available in Handbook AS-805, Information Security, section 9-3.2.5.
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Here’s what you should know before updating your benefits
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Milestones
Appointments, awards and retirements
Here’s a look at recent USPS announcements
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Mail
Featured reader quote
“Thank you for promoting ‘Ambush in Andrews,’ the new Postal Inspection Service documentary about the murder of Rural Carrier Irene Pressley. I’m the former postmaster of...”
— Sharon Cameron , Blanco, TX
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November18Datebook
‘Essential Workers and Stress’
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November19Datebook
‘Emotional Eating and Stress’
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Brief
Deadline for system access review is Nov. 19