My name is Kevin Rayburn and I’m an attorney with the Postal Service’s Ethics Office. A lot of what we do is provide guidance to postal employees regarding ethics rules and other federal compliance matters. On any given day, I might give structured training, assist with processing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and decide […]
The Postal Service wants employees to know they can have second jobs, but there are certain types of employment that are not permitted. Employees cannot engage in any outside work that conflicts with or affects their postal duties. Ethics regulations also prohibit employees from: • Working for an entity that delivers mailable matter that could […]
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar on going back to school or beginning work on a college degree. The session, “Going Back to School 101,” will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m. Eastern. Representatives from Carlow University, a USPS educational partner, will lead the webinar. Participants must register before […]
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has extended the suspension period for all new Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program applications. The agency, also known as OPM, initially suspended applications for two years beginning in 2022. This suspension has been extended until Dec. 19, 2026. In a statement, OPM said the suspension is needed because […]
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A team of USPS tricycle mechanics recently rode into the spotlight in Philadelphia. A local TV news crew produced a segment on the mechanics, who respond to calls for equipment repairs at the Philadelphia Processing and Distribution Center. Because the center has almost 1 million square feet, the tricycles allow the maintenance mechanics and electronic […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. According to the Postal Service’s 2025 payroll schedule, there are three paydays during what two months? a) January and August b) March and September c) May and October d) June and […]
My name is Mike Porter and I’m a communications specialist for the chief processing and distribution officer’s organization at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC. When I’m not at work, I manage an Illinois-based 1980s tribute band, BoomBox, and spend my time traveling to our weekend gigs. I also play keyboards and provide lead vocals for […]
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 97.43 percent during the week ending Jan. 3, down 0.04 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected Jan. 8. WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.74 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 97.13 percent rating. Among the […]
My name is Sal D’Angelo and I’m a retail associate at the Manhasset, NY, Post Office, which is on Long Island. I’m here at 4:30 a.m. every day when the first truck from the local processing and distribution center is dropping off mail, and I prepare the mail for the carriers. Then I do clerical […]
The Postal Service will offer four virtual job fairs for supervisory positions this year, starting in February. Topics to be covered during the fairs include: • The supervisory role, including responsibilities, potential career paths and how to find and apply for positions. • How to effectively respond to knowledge, skills and abilities questions to demonstrate […]
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The Postal Service is reminding employees and contractors to be aware of online scams that can pose a threat or cause harm to the organization. While individuals can fall victim to many different types of scams, cybercriminals commonly prey on their intended targets — via texting or email — for financial gain. Some of these […]
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar on setting resolutions to improve your life. The session, “Setting Your Wellness Resolutions and Goals,” will be held Tuesday, Jan. 14, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern. Representatives from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will lead the discussion. Participants must […]
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The Postal Service will dedicate Year of the Snake, its latest Lunar New Year stamp, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, in Boston. The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Eastern at the Wang Theatre at the Boch Center, 270 Tremont St. The speakers will include Luke Grossmann, the Postal Service’s chief financial officer. Attendees are […]
The mid-Atlantic and Central Plains regions have experienced heavy snow, freezing rain and icy conditions in recent days. The Postal Service will continue to deliver where it is safe to do so. The usps.com Service Alerts and Newsroom pages have the latest updates on service disruptions and operational adjustments. […]
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A handwritten letter recently arrived at the USPS Remote Encoding Center in Salt Lake City, but it didn’t need to be deciphered. The center, also known as the REC, receives digital images of letters and packages with illegible addresses. The employees there do the detective work of determining where the mailpieces are supposed to go. […]
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USPS employees have pledged $1.7 million and 1,454 volunteer hours so far during the latest Combined Federal Campaign, the government’s annual workplace charity drive. The Postal Service’s fundraising goal is $3 million. A virtual event to encourage employees to participate in the campaign, also known as the CFC, will be held Wednesday, Jan. 8. The […]
After 37 years in the Postal Service, San Diego’s new postmaster is right where she wants to be. Tanya Toedt Fitzharris joined USPS in 1987 as a part-time flexible letter carrier in Encinitas, CA. She steadily climbed the ranks, finally landing in her dream job last fall. At her swearing-in ceremony, Fitzharris encouraged employees to […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Mr. ZIP and several Postal Service employees recently appeared on a special featuring the popular children’s character Blippi. Where can you watch it? a) Cartoon Network b) Nickelodeon c) PBS Kids […]
Many people still turn to the U.S. Mail for their communication needs, but perhaps none more so than John Coffer. Coffer is a “wet-plate artist,” which means he uses a photographic technique that dates to the 1850s. He operates Camp Tintype in Dundee, NY, where people from around the world come to attend workshops and […]
Like always, Link published its share of memorable images in 2024. Here’s another look at some of the best photos, including shots from delivery routes, postal facilities and stamp dedication ceremonies. Select each image below to see a larger version. […]
Throughout the year, Link’s “On the Job” feature spotlighted Postal Service employees and their contributions to the organization. Among them: Kobi Logan, a Simpsonville, MD, retail associate who takes pride in meeting customers’ needs. “Customer service is not what you think it is. It’s whether the customers believe you are giving it,” he said. Likewise, […]
New Year’s Day, a time of reflection and renewal for people around the world, is Wednesday, Jan. 1. The celebration of a new year is a custom that can be traced to ancient civilizations, although the date often varied. The Julian calendar established Jan. 1 as the start of the new year, a practice that […]
The Postal Service has published biographies of two former postmasters general — Joseph Habersham, who served from 1795 to 1801, and John A.J. Creswell, who served from 1869 to 1874. Habersham, the sixth postmaster general, was nominated by President George Washington. He picked up where his predecessor, Timothy Pickering, left off, implementing the provisions of […]
Each week, Link’s “People” feature turns its attention to interesting employes in the Postal Service. This year, there was no shortage of subjects. Consider Gaylend “Zee” Zahn, a San Diego letter carrier who has a special assistant: Roman Toriello, a young man with special needs who enjoys helping Zahn on his route. Each day, Roman, […]
This special year-end edition of “News Quiz” will test your knowledge of Link stories published in 2024. 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 […]
Postal Bulletin’s latest edition, published Dec. 26, goes over the process of handling post-holiday returns. 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. […]
The Postal Service has entered the final days of this year’s peak delivery season, with employees across the nation working to ensure customers receive their holiday cards, letters and packages. The organization had accepted 9.65 billion mailpieces and packages by 8 a.m. Eastern on Dec. 24, according to an online counter that has been running […]
Christmas, the annual commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, is Wednesday, Dec. 25. Historians believe the holiday originated in Rome in the year 336. As Christianity spread across the world, the celebration of Christmas became more widespread and the holiday evolved to include both religious and cultural traditions, such as exchanging gifts, decorating trees […]
Johnnie McRae-Stephens made one of the most memorable deliveries of her career last Christmas. The Savannah, GA, letter carrier brought gifts to the home of a young military wife who had turned to the USPS Operation Santa program for help fulfilling the holiday wishes of her two children. Through USPS Operation Santa, generous people grant […]
As it has done for years, the Postal Service will implement a no-refund policy for Priority Mail Express packages shipped from Sunday, Dec. 22, through Wednesday, Dec. 25, under the following two conditions: • The one-day shipment was mailed between Dec. 22 and Dec. 25 and was delivered, and • Delivery was attempted or achieved […]
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