John Hyatt, San Diego
Thanks for continuing to recognize LGBTQ postal proud employees with the recent LGBT Pride Month-themed edition of “The List.” […]
Mike Milligan
Posts by Mike Milligan
‘Bravery and sacrifice’
The Postal Service honored one of the Second World War’s most distinguished fighting units last week when the organization dedicated the Go for Broke: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII stamp. The Forever stamp commemorates the second-generation Japanese Americans, also known as nisei, who formed the Army’s 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team, whose motto was […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 97.2 percent during the week ending June 4, a slight uptick from one week earlier. The data was collected June 9. Western Pacific led the four areas with a rating of 97.37 percent, while Atlantic ranked last with a 97.01 percent […]
Higher and higher
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar to learn about high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) and whether the plans are right for you. The session, “The Value of a High Deductible Health Plan,” will be held Monday, June 14, at noon EDT. GEHA, a not-for-profit provider of health plans for federal employees, will conduct […]
There’s still time
If you haven’t completed your Postal Pulse employee survey, you must do so before June 11 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. The survey, which began May 11, is an important resource for USPS to obtain feedback on its efforts to improve its workplace environments. It takes about five minutes to complete the survey, which has 14 questions […]
Virtual career fair
Chief Commerce and Business Solutions Officer Jacqueline Krage Strako’s organization is holding a virtual career fair through June 4. The organization, one of three core USPS business units, was formed last year to expand and enhance postal commerce, strengthen the organization’s core shipping products and respond to customers’ challenges and needs. The group is focused […]
MDD update
The Postal Service has added a feature to mobile delivery devices (MDDs) that allows mail carriers to electronically file PS Form 3575Z, Moved, Left No Address (MLNA). The forms report instances where customers have moved without submitting a change-of-address (COA) form. Postal procedures, in part, require carriers to complete the form, checking the “Moved, Left No […]
New CISO
The Postal Service has named Christopher A. Nielsen chief information security officer and vice president. Nielsen, who had been serving in the role on an acting basis since March, is responsible for directing the USPS cybersecurity program, securing the postal network against cyberthreats and protecting the organization’s technology assets. His duties also include leading a […]
Go for Broke
Go for Broke: Japanese Americans Soldiers of WWII, a stamp that recognizes one of the Second World War’s most distinguished fighting units, will be released June 3. The 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team — whose motto was “Go for Broke” — was composed primarily of second-generation Japanese Americans, also known as nisei. After Japan […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.93 percent during the week ending May 28, down almost one-third of a point from one week earlier. The data was collected June 2. Western Pacific led the four areas with a rating of 97.2 percent, while Atlantic ranked last with […]
Judy Bailey, San Ramon, CA
The new Otters in Snow stamps feature my favorite animals. I’ll buy hundreds of those stamps. […]
Framework for the future
A coronavirus pandemic-fueled surge in package deliveries has not been enough to offset the Postal Service’s increased operating costs and declining revenue from mail services, Chief Financial Officer Joe Corbett reports in his latest “Dollars and Change” video. During fiscal year 2021’s second quarter (Jan. 1-March 31), the organization’s total revenue was approximately $18.9 billion […]
Timely deliveries
USPS has a new service that ensures timely deliveries for customers who request expedited packaging supplies (EPS). These supplies — including corrugated containers, envelopes, pressure-sensitive labels and decals — are specially designed for use with domestic and international Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail services, at no additional cost to customers. Starting May 21, all […]
New VP
Shavon Keys has been appointed sales vice president. Keys will be responsible for the Postal Service’s $58 billion account portfolio, as well as the acquisition of new customers for the Delivering for America plan’s $26 billion growth target. She was named to the position on an acting basis in March. Keys was most recently Great […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.98 percent during the week ending May 21, down 0.18 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected May 26. Western Pacific led the four areas with a rating of 97.22 percent, while Atlantic ranked last with a 96.71 percent […]
Priority Mail Express
USPS is reminding employees that the new, streamlined service for Priority Mail Express will be effective Sunday, May 23. As of that date, there will be just one commitment time for all Priority Mail Express deliveries nationwide: 6 p.m. The 10:30 a.m., noon and 3:30 p.m. options will cease. However, on May 23; Monday, May […]
Preserve and protect
USPS dedicated its Heritage Breeds stamps May 17 at George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate in Virginia — the first in-person stamp ceremony of 2021. “The stamps beautifully represent the priceless genetic diversity of heritage breeds in the United States,” said Steve Monteith, the Postal Service’s chief customer and marketing officer. “Understanding their history and their […]
Phish bait
Are you sure the urgent email you just received from Human Resources requesting your employee ID number was legitimate? Cybercriminals know that office workers receive an average of 100 emails a day. The more emails people receive, the more they let down their guard, creating opportunities for phishing attacks. Phishing involves fraudulent emails that appear […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.86 percent during the week ending May 14, down one-third of a point from one week earlier. The data was collected May 19. Central led the four areas with a rating of 97.11 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 96.63 […]
Shirl Iacono-Younkman, Gradyville, PA
I love the Espresso Drinks stamps, highlighted in the “Espresso delivery” article. They’re fun. […]
Kansas City and the chief
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy visited Kansas and Missouri late last month, stopping — and sometimes shopping — at Post Offices, plants and other facilities. His first stop was the Kansas City, KS, Surface Transportation Center, followed by the Shawnee Mission Main Post Office in Mission, KS. In both locations, DeJoy addressed workers and fielded questions. […]
Postal Pulse
USPS is conducting its latest Postal Pulse employee survey from May 11-June 11. The annual survey allows employees to share observations about their work environments, providing the organization with feedback to make positive changes and improvements. “Now more than ever, the Postal Service wants to hear from its employees,” said Diane Gagne, the organization’s acting […]
Road-mapping retirement
Online courses on leveraging the offerings of the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to best meet your retirement goals are available to all federal employees this month and next. Here’s an overview of the courses and when they’ll be offered (all times are Eastern): • TSP to Retirement and Beyond (parts I and II): This presentation […]
Scanning snapshot
Scanning snapshot. A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.82 percent during the week ending May 7, down almost one-third of a point from one week earlier. The data was collected May 12. Central led the four areas with a rating of 97.1 percent, while Atlantic ranked last with a […]
Brian Hassett, Albany, NY
“Bravery under fire,” the article about Postal Inspector Brian Hess receiving a congressional honor for helping to capture a cunning counterfeiter, was outstanding. The fact that several encrypted computers used by the counterfeiter haven’t been cracked yet was amazing, too. […]
Star Wars Droids
The Postal Service has released stamps featuring some of the most beloved personalities in the “Star Wars” galaxy: the droids. The 20-stamp pane, announced earlier this year, features 10 of the best-known “Star Wars” characters, including C-3PO, R2-D2 and BB-8. The stamps were released May 4 — a nod to “May the Force be with […]
Military Appreciation Month
In observation of Military Appreciation Month in May, the Postal Service is distributing tokens of appreciation to employees who are veterans of the U.S. armed forces. “The Postal Service is proud to offer opportunities for veterans looking to continue their service to the American public,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Doug Tulino. “Let us never […]
Help 24/7
The Postal Service wants to remind workers that the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available around the clock, 365 days of the year. The service is free, voluntary and confidential. Sessions are offered in several formats, including: • Video counseling, allowing employees to meet with an EAP counselor through a video call; • Online counseling, […]
Scanning snapshot
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.88 percent during the week ending April 30, down about a quarter of a point from one week earlier. The data was collected May 5. Western Pacific led the four areas with a rating of 97.14 percent, while Atlantic ranked last with a […]
Elizabeth Kernes Krause, Johnson, NE
Rochester, NY, City Carrier Assistant Anthony McMillon demonstrated excellent awareness of his surroundings, as well a caring attitude, when he responded to a woman who had collapsed on his route. I’m proud to serve with people like him. […]