April is EAP Awareness Month, a good time to take stock of the tools that the USPS Employee Assistance Program offers employees and their family members to address life challenges. EAP professionals offer: • Coaching and training; • Consultations; • Counseling — face-to-face, video or telephone; • Critical incident response; • Health and wellness information; […]
Cybercriminals often contact people and claim to be from a reputable company to try to get their intended victims to reveal personal information, such as passwords and financial data. When this contact is done by text message, it is called “smishing.” When it is done by a phone call, it is “vishing.” Cybercriminals often try […]
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar to learn tips for preparing healthy workday meals. The session, “Eating Well at Work,” will be held Tuesday, April 8, 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 Postal Service honored Betty White’s mischievous wit, saucy persona and passionate advocacy at her stamp dedication ceremony in Los Angeles on March 27. “Betty White was an American treasure,” said Amber McReynolds, chair of the USPS Board of Governors, who spoke at the event. “With the stamp, we honor and remember the beloved ‘first […]
In 1951, a 24-year-old Gene Espy hiked the Appalachian Trail — the second person to accomplish that feat. “I had one goal — to see God in nature,” he said. But before he took that 2,000-mile-long walk, Espy worked for the Post Office Department — the predecessor to USPS — in the late 1940s while […]
On April 1, 1845, the Post Office Department launched Samuel Morse’s telegraph into the wider world. There were telegraphs in use before Morse’s invention, but they were optical, transmitting messages visually by way of relay towers. Their operation was limited to daylight hours and clear weather. Morse’s telegraph was electromagnetic, and messages could be sent […]
Employees at the Los Feliz, CA, Station are putting a new emphasis on safety. Managers at the station, part of a Los Angeles neighborhood, recently invited local police detectives and firefighters to deliver presentations to employees, part of a fresh approach to workplace safety education. Kathrine Kasilag, a USPS occupational health nurse administrator, also gave […]
“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 percentage of the Postal Service workforce is female? a) 41 percent b) 44 percent c) 53 percent d) 61 percent 2. True or false: USPS employees who’ve been threatened or […]
A Postal Service employee who helped a motorist escape a burning vehicle along a busy Minneapolis area highway received the top hero of the year award from the National Association of Letter Carriers last week. Tesfaye Deyasso, a St. Louis Park, MN, letter carrier, was driving home after his shift when he came upon a […]
The Postal Service wants employees to remember they have a duty to conserve and protect government property — including USPS vehicles. The organization’s vehicles should not be used: • To commute between home and work; • To go on vacation; • To transport unauthorized persons such as a child, relative or friend; or • To […]
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar to learn about the organization’s commuter benefits program, including how to set aside as much as $325 each month on a pretax basis for commuting costs. The session, “Commuter Benefits,” will be held Tuesday, April 1, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern. Representatives from Edenred, which […]
Postal Service contractors must complete a cybersecurity training course by Friday, May 23. The CyberSafe Fundamentals course covers the skills, knowledge and best practices contractors need to know to keep USPS electronic data secure. There is a one-time test-out option available. Contractors who don’t complete the course by the May 23 deadline will have limited […]
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USPS released the following statements from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and USPS Board of Governors Chair Amber McReynolds on March 24: Postmaster General Louis DeJoy After nearly five years as America’s 75th postmaster general, and after informing the governors in February of my intention to retire, I have today informed the Postal Service Board of […]
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USPS and the National Association of Letter Carriers received an interest arbitration award from Arbitrator Dennis Nolan on March 21, following proceedings that took place March 17-18. The award was the result of a legally mandated binding arbitration process that is required when the parties reach an impasse, and it resolves the collective bargaining dispute […]
The Postal Service held a special dedication ceremony for the Allen Toussaint stamp in Madison, WI, last month. Diana Nygaard, Madison’s postmaster, and Wanda Prater, Wisconsin District manager, took part in the event, which brought together residents, community leaders and USPS employees to pay tribute to the New Orleans musical icon. “His influence is woven […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Where will the Goodnight Moon stamps be dedicated? a) Baltimore b) Kansas City, MO c) Minot, ND d) Santa Fe, NM 2. How many days did it take Teddy Kondrich, 24, […]
The Postal Service is implementing refinements to service standards and has launched new online tools and a fact sheet to help customers prepare for the changes. These adjustments will affect First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Marketing Mail, Package Services (including Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail and Library Mail), USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express. […]
Postal Bulletin’s latest edition, published March 20, explains what the Postal Pulse survey is and how the organization uses the results. 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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John Morgan has been appointed delivery operations vice president. He replaces Elvin Mercado, who held the role on an acting basis after Angela Curtis retired in 2024. Delivery Operations is responsible for more than 167 million addresses across the nation. Prior to assuming this role, Morgan managed Arizona-New Mexico District, where he oversaw 5,600 routes, […]
The Postal Service has released a video about its new Freshwater Fishing Lures stamps. The Forever stamps showcase five lures that exemplify the evolution of lure design, from the earliest handmade spoon lures to modern swimbaits. There are countless types of lures available, each designed to meet the specific needs of the angler and attract […]
For Teddy Kondrich, hiking the Appalachian Trail end-to-end in 2024 was the chance of a lifetime. The trail is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world, spanning 2,190 miles through 14 states — from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. On Feb. 28, the Postal Service released stamps that highlight the trail’s […]
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The Postal Service will release Vibrant Leaves, a set of postcard-rate stamps, on Friday, March 14. Each of the five stamp designs spotlights a single autumn leaf from five tree species: aspen, maple, oak, sassafras and sweetgum. The leaves’ hues range from a rich golden yellow to a deep maroon. The stamps were designed by […]
It makes sense that Dan Potwora would be the cover guy for a New York magazine called Stroll Delaware Park. The Buffalo, NY, letter carrier, dubbed “Mailman Dan” and spotlighted for his service to the neighborhood the magazine covers, walks 4.5 miles a day on his route. The article refers to Potwora as “a guardian […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. William F. Buckley Jr., who will be featured on an upcoming stamp, was the host of which of the following TV programs? a) “Crossfire” b) “Firing Line” c) “Meet the […]
The Postal Service has announced release dates for the next batch of this year’s stamps, along with the cities where dedication ceremonies will be held: • Battlefields of the American Revolution, Wednesday, April 16, Concord, MA; • Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture, Friday, April 25, Albuquerque, NM; • Dahlias, Saturday, April 26, Burlingame, CA; • […]
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My name is Michael Marazzi and I’m a correspondence analyst at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC. I help research and respond to inquiries and letters that the Postal Service receives from members of Congress and other public officials. Members of Congress are typically contacting us on behalf of a constituent who needs help with a […]
Different ethics rules apply when USPS employees receive books or other informational materials as gifts. Gifts of informational materials are educational or instructive — not primarily created for entertainment, display or decoration. Such gifts must relate to an employee’s official duties or to the Postal Service’s mission. An employee can accept an unsolicited gift of […]
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Karen Douglas, a 45-year USPS employee, was interviewed recently for a local TV news series in Charlotte, NC, highlighting people of color who serve their communities. Douglas, a customer services supervisor who was born and raised in Charlotte, began her career as a letter sorting machine operator. “We can process mail and packages so much […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Fourteen of the 15 Appalachian Trail stamps feature a photograph of each state that spans the footpath, but what is displayed on the remaining stamp? a) One of the many long […]
Daylight saving time returns Sunday, March 9, at 2 a.m. In areas where the change is observed, clocks should be set ahead one hour Saturday, March 8, at bedtime. Standard time will resume Sunday, Nov. 2, at 2 a.m. […]