Black Friday — the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season — arrives this week. Taking a few minutes now to plan your holiday spending could help you avoid taking on debt that stretches into the new year. Here are some tips for planning your spending during holiday season: • Create a holiday spending plan. […]
The Combined Federal Campaign encourages USPS employees to contribute to thousands of charitable organizations — and as with other forms of workplace giving, ethics rules apply. The campaign, also known as the CFC, allows federal and Postal Service employees, retirees and contractors to easily donate to thousands of charitable organizations under one umbrella. It consolidates […]
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Thanksgiving, a federal holiday, will be observed on Thursday, Nov. 28, this year. The holiday began as a day of giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest and is celebrated in various forms around the world. Brazil, Canada, Germany and the Philippines are among the countries that celebrate Thanksgiving. In America, the first Thanksgiving […]
To help USPS employees navigate their way through this year’s open season benefits enrollment period, here are some important definitions for sometimes confusing health insurance terminology: • Copayment: This is a fixed amount paid for certain covered health care services. • Coinsurance: This is similar to a copayment but refers to a percentage paid for […]
USPS employees may participate in an upcoming virtual seminar on the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program. The session will be held Tuesday, Dec. 3, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern. PSHB — which takes effect in 2025 — is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and will be […]
“Dear Santa, The Series,” a TV show about the USPS Operation Santa program, will begin its second season soon. The series will air on ABC-owned television stations, beginning Sunday, Nov. 24, and will stream on Hulu, beginning Friday, Nov. 29. Like the critically acclaimed documentary “Dear Santa” — which streamed on Hulu in 2020 — […]
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The Postal Service’s recent Equipment Scavenger Hunt proved to be a bigger success than a previous competition held in 2022. The contest, which ran from Aug. 12 to Sept. 8, encouraged employees to locate, return or properly dispose of unused computers, furniture, and retail, delivery and networking equipment. More than 15,000 returns were received during […]
“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 reported total operating revenue of (blank) during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. a) $1.8 billion b) $9.5 billion c) $79.5 billion d) $89.5 billion […]
In a new video, Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale and USPS Inspector General Tammy Hull warn Postal Service employees about the importance of not using the mail to distribute narcotics. The video is the second in a three-part series from the Postal Inspection Service and the USPS Office of Inspector General that aims to educate […]
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A flexible spending account may be a good option for Postal Service employees who wear eyeglasses, visit the dentist more than twice a year, or have other needs. Flexible spending accounts, or FSAs, allow employees to set aside money on a pretax basis to pay for health care and dependent care expenses. USPS employees can […]
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My name is James Chong and I’m a letter carrier in Barrigada, a community of about 8,000 in the U.S. territory of Guam. I joined the Postal Service in 1994 because of its retirement and other benefits, but I quickly gained a respect for all the behind-the-scenes efforts of my fellow employees. Over the course […]
Joseph Bruce has been named acting human resources vice president for the Postal Service. He succeeds Simon Storey, who retired Sept. 30. Bruce previously was national human resources senior director, responsible for the organization’s hiring and selection policy; the Human Resources Shared Service Center in Greensboro, NC; and human resources activities for all headquarters and […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. True or false: Metallic mercury and items containing metallic mercury are prohibited in the mailstream. a) True b) False 2. To mark Veterans Day this year, what did the Postal Service […]
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar to learn more about health, dental and vision plan options within the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program. PSHB — which takes effect in 2025 — is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and will be administered by the U.S. […]
Postal Bulletin’s latest edition, published Nov. 14, offers information about USPS Hazmat Awareness Month. Updates to the organization’s policies, procedures and forms are also included. Employees can go to usps.com to read and download the latest Postal Bulletin, along with past issues. […]
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USPS employees will have to 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 employees. Employees can access PostalEASE from the MyHR website’s open season page or by calling the USPS employee service line at 877-477-3273 (select option […]
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The Postal Service has released this year’s Veterans Day video honoring employees who have served, or are serving, in the military. The video includes remarks from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy; Carroll Harris, a deputy chief inspector for the Postal Inspection Service and a retired U.S. Marine colonel; and Martin Mieras Jr., a USPS military program […]
The Postal Inspection Service and the USPS Office of Inspector General have produced a three-part video series to educate Postal Service employees about the dangers of colluding with criminals. The first video, released this week, warns employees to never use their arrow and modified arrow lock keys in illegal activities. The video features Chief Postal […]
USPS employees may participate in upcoming webinars to learn more about health, dental and vision plan options within the new Postal Service Health Benefits Program. The program — also known as PSHB — is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and will be administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel […]
Read More… from Learn more about the new Postal Service Health Benefits Program
The phrase “steady as she goes” is an apt description of Alice Bowman, a retail associate in Taylorsville, IN. The USPS employee has showed up for every scheduled workday for the past 12 years. That’s 3,120 days, if you’re counting. “I know, as I was once a postmaster, the importance of having staff show up, […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. What is the name of the latest comic book drawn by Brett Swanson, a Mystic, CT, letter carrier? a) “Captain Power” b) “Power Gal” c) “Power Guy” d) “Power Kid” 2. […]
The Postal Service will honor active military and veteran employees from all branches of service with a certificate of appreciation to mark Veterans Day on Monday, Nov. 11. The certificates will be signed by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and mailed to the homes of all employees who have self-identified as veterans. Veterans are encouraged to […]
The Postal Service has a reminder for employees and contractors: Before you click on a website, make sure it’s real. Fraudsters create fake sites that replicate real ones, aiming to trick victims into consuming malicious content. These fake sites are an ongoing cybersecurity threat for people and businesses around the world. To avoid fake sites, […]
Open season, the annual period when Postal Service employees can enroll in or change their health benefits, begins Monday, Nov. 11. A variety of health, vision and dental coverage is available through the following plans and programs: • The new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program; • The USPS Health Benefits Plan, for eligible precareer […]
A pair of Postal Service retail associates in Bellingham, WA, recently helped a longtime customer’s dream come true, earning his gratitude — and a glowing review. Mike Bridges and Chris Efta were working at Mount Baker Station when the customer, Dr. John Baker, noticed the “Junior Postmaster” stickers that are kept on hand for kids. […]
For years, customers had requested that the Post Office Department issue a Christmas-themed stamp. On Nov. 1, 1962, their holiday wish was granted. Designed by postal artist Jim Crawford, the 4-cent stamp featured a simple drawing of a wreath accompanied by two lighted tapers. The design was not overtly religious, which may have been a […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. What is the Postal Service’s fundraising goal for the latest Combined Federal Campaign? a) $1 million b) $2 million c) $3 million d) $4 million 2. True or false: Under the […]
The USPS Employee Assistance Program will hold its next online orientation on Friday, Nov. 8, from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Eastern. The orientations, held on one Friday a month, offer information on how Postal Service employees and their families can use the program. Employees must register in advance on the EAP website. […]
Daylight saving time will end Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2 a.m. In areas where the change is observed, people will “fall back” and set their clocks back one hour at bedtime on Saturday, Nov. 2. Standard time will be in effect until March 9, 2025, when daylight saving time will resume. […]
Postal Bulletin’s latest edition, published Oct. 31, previews this year’s open season benefits enrollment period that begins soon. Updates to the organization’s policies, procedures and forms are also included. Employees can go to usps.com to read and download the latest Postal Bulletin, along with past issues. […]