The Combined Federal Campaign’s cause of the week is environmental protection. The campaign quotes 19th-century naturalist Henry David Thoreau: “What is the use of a house if you haven’t got a tolerable planet to put it on?” Two centuries later, young environmentalist Greta Thunberg put it even more bluntly: “Our house is on fire.” It […]
Here’s a look at some recent changes in the Postal Service leadership ranks: • Steve E. Laird was named plant manager at the Northern New Jersey Metro Processing and Distribution Center in Teterboro. He previously served as the Westchester, NY, Processing and Distribution Center’s in-plant support manager. • Michael C. Mitchell was named plant manager […]
Link is looking back at the year in “Heroes’ Corner” with a countdown of the 10 most-viewed articles. Coming in at No. 7 is “FedEx flip,” the story of Kara Dahl. The city carrier assistant was delivering mail in Menomonee Falls, WI, when she came upon the scene of an accident that left a FedEx […]
If you want to change your health benefits or enroll in a new plan, you must act now. The annual open season benefits enrollment period ends Monday, Dec. 13, at 11:59 p.m. EST. This is the last chance most Postal Service employees will have until next November to consider new health, vision, dental or flexible […]
The USPS Ethics Office has created a 2021 Holiday Ethics Guide to help employees comply with the rules about giving and receiving gifts. The guide covers gifts from outside sources as well as gifts between postal colleagues. The guide also details the rules about holiday office parties: • Food and refreshments may be shared in […]
A new piece of technology is changing how letter carriers can pass on sales leads. It was a big help for Roel Garza of Glendale, AZ. He noticed that one of the businesses on his route was using competitors for some of its shipping. Garza asked the customer if they would be interested in speaking […]
Link is looking back at the year in “Heroes’ Corner” with a countdown of the 10 most-viewed articles. Coming in at No. 9 is “Perplexing Rx,” the story of Robert Williams. The Bluefield, WV, letter carrier was on duty when he grew concerned about a customer who had not promptly retrieved a prescription delivery as […]
The Combined Federal Campaign’s cause of the week is human rights. The campaign quotes former President Jimmy Carter: “Everyone has a right to peaceful coexistence, the basic personal freedoms, the alleviation of suffering and the opportunity to lead a productive life.” Unfortunately, these rights are far from guaranteed, and their restriction can be catastrophic. One […]
Thrift Savings Plan specialists will offer webinars and live question-and-answer sessions in December on the ins and outs of the program, also known as TSP. Here’s an overview of the webinars and when they’ll be offered (all times are Eastern): • TSP Early to Mid-Career Course: An overview of how TSP contributions work, the difference […]
Here’s a look at Postal Service employees who received appointments or recognition recently: • Michelle K. Blagmond was named succession and internal talent manager at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC. She previously served as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s talent management and development director. • Roslyn Y. Bowens was named the Philadelphia Processing and Distribution […]
The Postal Service has presented Safety Leadership and Vision Awards to seven district managers in recognition of their efforts to foster and sustain safe working environments. The awards were presented Nov. 22 during a virtual ceremony. USPS created the Safety Leadership and Vision Awards in 2019 to honor managers who exceed requirements for maintaining safe […]
Link is looking back at the year in “Heroes’ Corner” with a countdown of the 10 most-viewed articles. Coming in at No. 10 is “Dramatic roll,” the story of Joshua Murray. The rural carrier associate was making deliveries in East Bernstadt, KY, when he saw an older customer chasing after her vehicle, which was rolling […]
“Suddenly, Seymour,” the “Heroes’ Corner” column about Letter Carrier Robert Dillon’s efforts to aid a man who had collapsed, was awe-inspiring. Dillon exemplifies the many conscientious postal workers who go above and beyond the call of duty to save lives in their community. […]
A newly updated video about the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program reminds employees to conduct a “health plan checkup” during this year’s open season. The three-minute video — “FEHB Health Plans: Your Changing Life,” available on LiteBlue — encourages employees to evaluate their health care options to ensure they have the coverage they need. […]
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, an annual commemoration of the 1941 attack, will be observed Tuesday, Dec. 7. Postal Service facilities are required to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff this day. To fly the flag at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak for an instant and then lower it to the half-staff position. […]
The Postal Service wants to remind employees that there are guidelines about giving and receiving gifts from colleagues. An employee can give a gift to a manager or to a higher-paid colleague if it is a noncash gift valued at $10 or less. There are no limits on gifts from managers to subordinates, but managers […]
USPS has teamed with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for a pilot program that allows customers to renew their vehicle registration and access other services in select Post Offices. The California DMV has installed special self-service kiosks in five Post Office locations: Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Paradise, Oakland and Los Angeles. A sixth site […]
“Classroom connection,” the article about the USPS Pen Pal Project, reminded me of when I was a youngster and had a pen pal who lived in Norway. That was so much fun. […]
Rural Carrier Associate Monica Castillo was recently making deliveries in Riverbank, CA, when she came upon an older customer experiencing a crisis. Castillo heard the woman screaming for help because her motorized wheelchair had gotten stuck in the doorway of her home, leaving her stranded for several hours. The Postal Service employee safely transferred the […]
The Combined Federal Campaign’s cause of the week is global health. The World Health Organization declared 2020 “a devastating year” for health care worldwide, with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic jeopardizing hard-fought advances in maternal and child health and in non-COVID infectious disease. Many parts of the world suffer with illnesses that are easily […]
National Handwashing Awareness Week, held annually the first full week in December, will be observed Dec. 1-7. Handwashing is the first line of defense against the bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa that cause illness. It prevents the spread of colds, flu, gastroenteritis and viruses such as the coronavirus. Follow these five steps every time you […]
Alaska is “a very big small state,” in the words of Adam Fisher. The in-plant support manager at the Anchorage Processing and Distribution Center explains it this way: Overlaid over the Lower 48, Alaska would stretch from the Atlantic Ocean to Indiana and from Miami to New York, with the Aleutian Islands reaching beyond the […]
Joana Cole, a letter carrier from Peoria, IL, was recently delivering mail when she spotted smoke billowing from an attached garage at a residence. While a bystander called 911, Cole rushed to the front door and banged on it to alert the homeowner, who opened it just as the windows of the garage shattered. The […]
In his latest video message, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy says the Postal Service is in good shape for the coming holiday season. “We told the country and our customers that we are ready for their holiday mail and packages,” DeJoy says. “I am proud to say that we are all delivering on that promise.” The […]
The Combined Federal Campaign’s cause of the week is food and nutrition. “We have a hunger crisis in America,” chef José Andrés proclaimed in January, calling for “longer tables, not higher walls.” Andrés, the founder of the food relief nonprofit World Central Kitchen, said the coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated the problem. The statistics bear […]
Here’s a look at some recent changes in the Postal Service leadership ranks: • Charlesten E. Anderson, senior distribution operations manager at the South Suburban Processing and Distribution Center in Bedford Park, IL, was named acting plant manager. • Christopher E. Johnson was named New York Metro Division’s logistics operations director. He previously served as […]
“Red letter day,” the story about a letter carrier filming an episode of “Sesame Street,” made me realize that working for USPS is not only a rewarding career, it can also be an exciting one. […]
Rural Carrier Thomas Bentham was recently delivering mail in Cattaraugus, NY, when he came upon the scene of a motorcycle accident that left the rider lying in the roadway. Bentham stopped to check on the man, called 911 and comforted him until emergency responders arrived. The victim was flown to a hospital to receive treatment […]
The Postal Service is ready to deliver for customers this holiday season, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy told the public radio program “Marketplace” this week. “We started early this year with our planning and we’ve expanded capacity in people, facilities, automation and transportation,” DeJoy said. “So tell all your listeners to send us their packages. We’re […]
You still have time to change your health coverage or enroll in a new plan. Open season, the annual period when USPS employees can make benefits changes, ends Monday, Dec. 13. Employees can choose from a variety of health, vision and dental coverage through the following programs and plans: • Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) […]