By October, most of the Postal Service’s preparations for peak season were already underway, leaving only a few finishing touches. Employees could brush up on protocols with the first-ever peak prep tutorials, all 44 of them, and Analytics University offered a new Peak Operations course to explain how data can help in the high season. […]
As summer began, the Postal Service was basking in the glow of a remarkable achievement: 50 years as an independent entity. An oral history featuring 25 current employees who were there from the beginning, and a retrospective of Postal Service Day, declared by President Richard M. Nixon in 1971 to mark the inauguration of the […]
Spring began with a new message from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy about Delivering for America, the 10-year plan designed to put the Postal Service on more solid financial footing. “We are just at the beginning of a process of transformation,” DeJoy said. USPS did not let any grass grow under its feet as the season […]
As 2021 began, the Postal Service was catching its breath after the triple whammy of a record-breaking holiday peak season, a historic surge in election mail and the continuing coronavirus pandemic. In a video message to employees on Jan. 4, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy acknowledged the hardships but focused on better days ahead. “I want […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Fill in the blank: USPS expected to deliver nearly (blank) First-Class Mail pieces from Dec. 13-19, peak season’s busiest week. a) 2.3 billion b) 3.2 billion c) 12 billion d) 21 […]
The Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) have reached a tentative negotiated agreement on a new 36-month contract. Upon ratification by the union membership, a process that will take several weeks, the agreement will run through Sept. 20, 2024. “This is a fair and responsible agreement that serves the best interest of […]
President Joseph R. Biden has extended the order to fly flags at half-staff to honor Robert J. Dole, the former U.S. senator who died this week. Flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset on Dec. 11, two days later than initially planned. To fly the flag at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak […]
President Joseph R. Biden has ordered U.S. flags flown at half-staff to honor Robert J. Dole, the former U.S. senator who died this week. Flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset on Dec. 9. Additionally, Postal Service facilities are required to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff on Dec. 7 to mark National Pearl […]
Retail Associate Bobby Broder was on duty one day recently in Appleton, WI, when he grew suspicious that an older customer was being victimized in a sweepstakes scam. Broder called police, and the responding officer persuaded the woman to keep her money. The Appleton Police Department later praised Broder on social media for his “observant […]
Do you wear eyeglasses, contact lenses, or visit the dentist more than twice a year? If so, experts say a flexible spending account (FSA) is likely a good option for you. FSAs can help your health care dollars go further — but only if you plan accordingly. FSAs allow you to set aside money on […]
Now that the holiday season is here, the Postal Service wants to remind employees to be mindful of the rules concerning gifts from outside sources. Employees generally cannot accept gifts given because of the employee’s official position or from customers, vendors, suppliers, mailers, contractors, business partners, local businesses or other outside entities. A gift is […]
The Postal Service is helping customers get ready for Cyber Monday. Online purchases on the Monday after Thanksgiving are expected to hit $11.3 billion, becoming the busiest day of the season, according to projections from market researcher Adobe Analytics. Shoppers who have their Cyber Monday gift purchases shipped to their own home before sending them […]
After months of preparation, the Postal Service’s Logistics management teams are confident the organization is ready for the busy peak season that begins this week. Together with Processing Operations, Logistics focuses on processing and moving mail and packages efficiently to delivery units. Managers have met several times this year, including a three-day gathering in Salt […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Fill in the blank: On the latest Postal Pulse employee survey, the grand mean score — the average score on the first 12 questions — rose to (blank), up from last […]
Letter Carrier Sarah Stevens was recently making deliveries in an Oskaloosa, IA, neighborhood when she grew concerned about an older customer whose mail was piling up unusually. Stevens alerted the local Post Office, and police were asked to check on the man. Officers found him stranded on the floor inside his home, where he’d fallen […]
Thank God for good people like Chal Kim, the Los Angeles Postal Police officer profiled in “Semper Fidelis.” Our veterans are our best assets. Semper Fidelis from an Air Force vet. […]
The Postal Service wants employees to remember that relocation expense requests submitted after Nov. 19 will be processed for payment on Jan. 3, 2022. This deadline will ensure that the organization has adequate time to record and report all relocation expenses for 2021 tax purposes. Employees should refer any questions to their relocation counselor or […]
Do you understand the different types of health plans available to you? You can enroll in one of four types of plans during open season, the annual period when Postal Service employees can make changes to their health coverage. The plan types are: • Health maintenance organizations, which provide care from in-network plan physicians and […]
With the start of the winter season just weeks away, the Postal Service wants employees to be aware of potential hazards posed by wet, icy and uneven surfaces. USPS National Slip, Trip and Fall Prevention Week is the organization’s annual campaign to raise awareness of how uneven surfaces or distracted walking can lead to injuries. […]
The Postal Service has reported its financial results for fiscal year 2021 (Oct. 1, 2020-Sept. 30, 2021). Here are some highlights: • Revenue. Operating revenue was $77 billion, an increase of 5.3 percent from the previous fiscal year. Shipping and packages revenue increased 12.2 percent, while Marketing Mail revenue increased 4.9 percent. First-Class Mail revenue […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Which program or service does Texas popcorn company owner Debra Moore use to ship products to her customers? a) Click-N-Ship b) Every Door Direct Mail c) Priority Mail d) USPS Connect […]
Informed Visibility has added a new feature that allows employees using USPS-issued mobile devices to receive alerts. The Informed Visibility Real-Time Messaging Program allows qualified internal postal applications and data analysis tools to use Informed Visibility’s connectivity and framework to securely send alerts in near-real-time to registered users. “The name of the game is speed […]
The Postal Service has introduced an online news hub to help employees and customers learn more about the organization and Delivering for America, its 10-year plan to achieve financial sustainability. Newsroom, part of usps.com, features three new resources: • “Mailin’ It!,” a podcast that will cover a variety of topics, such as the importance of […]
The Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) have agreed to extend contract negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. Although the contract with the APWU expired at midnight Sept. 20, USPS and the union mutually agreed to extend negotiations. The APWU represents more than 200,000 postal employees nationwide. […]
The Postal Service will implement new service standards for First-Class Mail and Periodicals on Oct. 1. The new standards will increase delivery reliability, consistency and efficiency for customers across the USPS network. Most First-Class Mail (61 percent) and Periodicals (93 percent) will be unaffected by the changes. Standards for single-piece First-Class Mail traveling within a […]
USPS and the Human Resources Shared Service Center (HRSSC) bargaining unit have reached a tentative agreement on a 36-month contract. The HRSSC unit is under the umbrella of the American Postal Workers Union and covers approximately 218 employees represented by the union. “This agreement is economically responsible and fair to our employees,” said Deputy Postmaster […]
To help customers better prepare for a new market-dominant price adjustment schedule, the Postal Service will not raise prices on market-dominant products, including Forever stamps, in January 2022. Instead, the next market-dominant price adjustment is scheduled to happen in July 2022. Beginning in January 2023, market-dominant price adjustments will occur twice a year — January […]
President Joe Biden has ordered U.S. flags flown at half-staff Saturday, Sept. 11, to honor victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. USPS facilities are required to fly the flag at half-staff this day, also known as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance. To fly the flag at half-staff, hoist the flag to […]
Hurricane Ida made landfall Aug. 29, bringing destructive winds, heavy rain and life-threatening storm surges to the Louisiana coast. To ensure the safety of customers and employees, the Postal Service temporarily suspended operations at facilities in some areas. The organization is monitoring conditions and will work to restore service as soon as it is safe […]
Thanks for “Off balance,” the article about vertigo. My wife has dealt with this condition for years. Fortunately, she has been able to control her symptoms through medication and diet. The article included great resources for people who want to learn more. […]