Mike Milligan

For some Postal Service employees, the fight against breast cancer is personal. Carl Junction, MO, Postmaster Sharon Clark — a survivor of the disease — strives each year to be a top seller of the semipostal Breast Cancer Research stamp. “It became really important to me to do something and not just sit back and […]

Read More… from Survivors’ stories

USPS employees can contribute more money to health care flexible spending accounts (FSAs) next year. FSAs allow employees to set aside money before taxes to cover eligible medical, pharmacy, dental and vision expenses. The Postal Service will increase the maximum employee contribution to FSAs from $2,500 to $2,550, as allowed under the latest IRS regulations. The […]

Read More… from Greater flexibility

Shipping costs are preventing many consumers across the world from shopping online, according to a new survey by mailing services company Pitney Bowes Inc. Sixty-four percent said they don’t shop online because shipping costs are too high. Forty-eight percent of respondents also cited additional shipping fees, while 39 percent said product deliveries take too long. […]

Read More… from Buying barriers

Grant City, MO, Rural Carrier Mark Abplanalp delivered mail to a farm on a recent Tuesday. When he returned two days later, he noticed the mail was untouched. That’s when Abplanalp’s instincts kicked in. He called the sheriff, who began searching for the farmer with help from the man’s son-in-law. They found the farmer about […]

Read More… from Heroes’ corner

After writing letters to each other for 51 years, two pen pals recently cemented their friendship in person. Kathy Drake of Pascack Valley, NJ, and Christine Dalton of Brighton, England, met for the first time this month. The cross-Atlantic friendship began when Dalton sent a letter to Drake in 1964. “I should very much like […]

Read More… from Lifelong letters

USPS is marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month by highlighting its semipostal research stamp, which has raised $80.9 million since it was issued in 1998. The Postal Service is featuring the stamp on usps.com and social media. Facilities also are hosting events to raise awareness of breast cancer. “Our employees … are all people who know […]

Read More… from Funding the fight

The Postal Service has improved Collect on Delivery (COD), aiming to make it easier for business customers to get paid for merchandise they mail. Businesses can now have payments transferred electronically to their financial institution. Additionally, these mailers can continue to use postal money orders to transfer payments. Both methods ensure companies get paid for […]

Read More… from Paid in full

Employees have the option to pay medical expenses on a pre-tax or tax deductible basis if they opt for high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) during this year’s open season enrollment period. HDHPs offer lower premiums and greater flexibility and discretion on how to use health care dollars. The plans also offer possible tax savings. HDHPs combine […]

Read More… from ABCs of HDHPs

Three employees at the Springfield, MA, Network Distribution Center recently sprang into action when a co-worker collapsed in the vehicle operations office. Mail Handler Leonard Giannetti, a member of the medical team, received the emergency call, grabbed his equipment and rushed to the office. He was joined by two team members, Mail Handlers Samanta Glazebrook […]

Read More… from Heroes’ corner

Reminder: Self Plus One, a new health care enrollment type, will be available during this year’s open season. Self Plus One offers coverage for you and one eligible family member that you designate, such as a spouse or a child. The other enrollment types available are Self Only and Self and Family. Taking time to […]

Read More… from Self Plus One

Online shopping has gone mobile — and women are leading the way. For the first time, women are more likely to shop on their smartphones and tablets than men, according to a new report from the Business Insider Intelligence research service. Approximately 66.5 percent of consumers who said they completed a purchase on a mobile […]

Read More… from Gone mobile

Online lenders are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to lure customers away from traditional banks — and the upstarts are using mailboxes as their main marketing channel. “Mail is not dead by any stretch of the imagination,” R. Mark Graf, chief financial officer of Discover Financial Services, told an industry conference in September. The average […]

Read More… from Financial aid

A Postal Service employee who helped a gunshot victim was one of several heroes honored by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) last week. Carmichael, CA, City Carrier Assistant Scott Gallegos received the National Hero of the Year Award at a ceremony in Washington, DC. Gallegos was delivering mail in April when he was approached by […]

Read More… from Time for heroes

Several USPS employees were recently recognized for their efforts to help boost international services. The employees participated in a competition to promote services such as Global Express Guaranteed (GXG), which provides fast international shipping to about 180 countries. Participants hosted lobby events, trained retail associates, helped establish Contract Postal Units to sell international services and […]

Read More… from Global greats

More than 200 Postal Service employees received advice on moving forward in their careers at a recent conference organized by Ohio Valley District. The meeting included workshops on topics such as career path development, job interviewing skills and understanding the eCareer application process. Also, during several “Spotlight on You” sessions, employees shared their professional accomplishments […]

Read More… from Rising to the top