“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Many USPS-themed gifts are available this holiday season, including a Mr. ZIP Christmas ornament. How much does the ornament cost? a) $27.99 b) $31.99 c) $35.99 d) $39.99 2. The Winter […]
The Postal Service is reminding employees of federal ethics rules concerning group gifts and office gatherings. Here’s some general guidance: • Employees can pool their contributions for a group gift for someone — but only for special, infrequent occasions such as a retirement, transfer, marriage or the birth of a child. Group gifts are generally […]
The Thrift Savings Plan has launched a campaign called “Grow with the TSP” to remind participants of the value of compound interest when investing and saving for retirement. The Postal Service matches employee contributions to the TSP up to 5 percent of basic pay. Participants must contribute at least 5 percent of their pay to […]
The Postal Service has announced more stamp releases for 2025: • Freshwater Fishing Lures, five stamps that will feature brightly detailed photographs of five lures; • Battlefields of the American Revolution, a pane of 15 stamps that will mark the 250th anniversary of the start of the revolution; • Powwows: Celebrating Native American Culture, four […]
Holiday movies aren’t just for getting into the spirit of the season — they also offer useful mailing and shipping reminders. Here are five examples: • Christmas cards can spark or rekindle relationships. In the 2021 Hallmark Channel movie “Open by Christmas,” a woman (Alison Sweeney) visits her parents’ home and finds an unopened holiday […]
Read More… from These holiday films are gifts that keep on giving
Postal Service employes who want to change their health coverage or enroll in a new plan must act now. Open season, the annual period when USPS employees can make benefits changes, ends Friday, Dec. 13, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. This is the deadline to enroll in or make changes to the Postal Service Health Benefits […]
Read More… from Want to change your health benefits? Act now
A group of Postal Service employees appear in the new holiday video with Blippi, a popular children’s character with his own YouTube channel, and Mr. ZIP. The employees filmed the 18-minute video in Santa Clarita, CA, in August, alongside Clayton Grimm, who performs as Blippi. “The experience was amazing,” said Lebec, CA, Postmaster Jamie Wright, […]
“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: Even though employees of Canada Post are on strike, U.S. customers can still mail items to Canada at their local Post Offices. a) True b) False 2. True […]
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on Dec. 10. The title of the hearing was “Oversight of the U.S. Postal Service.” The Postmaster General’s opening statement and full testimony are on the USPS Newsroom website. DeJoy’s full testimony from the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs […]
Read More… from PMG remarks to House, Senate committees available
Postal Bulletin’s latest edition, published Dec. 12, offers tips on dealing with ice, snow and cold weather. 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. […]
Read More… from Postal Bulletin reminds us that winter is coming
My name is RaeLee Curtis and I’m a rural carrier in Monroe, UT — where I’ve worked for 30 years. I love serving my customers. It means a lot to know people trust and respect me to deliver for them. I’m also active in my community beyond delivering mail and packages. I coach youth basketball […]
The Postal Service offers a variety of seasonal stamps for this year’s holidays. Here’s a look at 12 of them available at usps.com and many Post Offices: • Christmas Madonna and Child. This 2024 stamp features an oil painting from the workshop of the 17th century Italian artist Giovanni Battista Salvi, known as “Sassoferrato.” • […]
The Postal Service has sent a mailer to customers’ homes to promote the organization’s holiday season products and services. The highlights include an overview of shipping options, stamps and recommended mailing and shipping dates. The mailer also includes a QR code to sign up for USPS Informed Delivery. […]
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Stephen Kochersperger, the USPS historian, recently appeared on the “Real Virginia” TV show to discuss New Deal murals in the Petersburg and Strasburg Post Offices. From 1934 to 1943, the federal government commissioned nearly 850 artists to paint high-quality murals. The goal was to produce uplifting art that would be accessible to everyone. The murals […]
“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 nation’s population currently receives their mail and packages in fewer than three days? a) 75 percent b) 86 percent c) 92 percent d) 98 percent 2. The […]
The Postal Inspection Service and the USPS Office of Inspector General are concluding their three-part video series warning Postal Service employees against colluding with criminals. The final video, released this week, reminds employees to never steal mail. The previous segments focused on protecting arrow and modified arrow lock keys and keeping illegal drugs out of […]
The Combined Federal Campaign will highlight two opportunities for federal employees to make charitable contributions this week. Giving Tuesday — the biggest giving day around the world, raising an estimated $3 billion each year — is Tuesday, Dec. 3. For many charities that are part of the Combined Federal Campaign, this is the most important […]
The USPS Ethics Office wants to remind employees of the rules on the giving and receiving of holiday gifts, whether from colleagues or outside sources. Postal Service regulations prohibit employees from accepting gifts given because of the person’s Postal Service position or from customers, vendors, suppliers, contractors, business partners or local businesses. A gift is […]
Read More… from As the holidays near, here’s a reminder about gifts
Postal Service employees who want to save on future medical expenses have several options to choose from during this year’s open season, which is underway through Monday, Dec. 9. Employees who enroll in a high-deductible health plan may be eligible to contribute to a health savings account (HSA). An HSA allows an employee to pay […]
The Postal Service is reminding employees and contractors to take care when traveling with USPS mobile devices during the holiday season. Smartphones, laptops and tablets allow you to work and communicate while traveling, but the more devices that are taken on a trip, the greater the chance that one of them could get left behind […]
Read More… from Don’t lose sight of your USPS devices when traveling
The Postal Service’s marketing vice president appeared on ABC’s “GMA3” last week to promote USPS Operation Santa, the longstanding program that allows generous people to fulfill the Christmas wishes of families in need by adopting their letters to Santa Claus. Sheila Holman explained how USPS Operation Santa brings people together through holiday goodwill and highlighted […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. In what city did the Postal Service recently unveil its new retail space prototype? a) Athens, GA b) Fort Lauderdale, FL c) Waco, TX d) None of the above 2. What […]
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. […]
The USPS Employee Assistance Program will hold its next online orientation on Friday, Dec. 6, from 5 to 5:30 p.m. Eastern. The orientations, held on the first Friday of each month, offer information on how Postal Service employees and their families can use the program. Employees must register in advance on the EAP website. […]
Postal Bulletin’s latest edition, published Nov. 28, offers tips on how employees can keep their mobile devices safe while traveling. 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. […]
USPS employees and annuitants may participate in an upcoming virtual seminar on the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program. The session will be held Thursday, Dec. 5, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern and from 4 to 5 p.m. Eastern. PSHB — which takes effect in 2025 — is a new, separate program within […]
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 97.55 percent during the week ending Nov. 22, down 0.27 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected Nov. 27. WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.73 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 97.28 percent rating. Among the […]
Read More… from WestPac Area, IA-NE-SD District on top in scanning
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 […]
Read More… from With the CFC underway, keep the rules in mind
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 […]