“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: The price of a Forever stamp increased from 55 cents to 56 cents in 2020. a) True b) False 2. How much operating revenue did the Postal Service […]
Link is looking back at the year in “Heroes’ Corner” with a countdown of the five most-viewed articles. Coming in at No. 3 is “Fraud freeze,” the story of Troy Wiseman. The Idaho Falls, ID, retail associate grew concerned about an older customer who wanted to send two money orders totaling $900 with blank “pay […]
The Postal Service demonstrated its indispensability during the spring as the coronavirus pandemic upended daily life across the United States. Employees offered a lifeline to people who were quarantined at home, ensuring uninterrupted deliveries of medicine, supplies, checks and other essential mail and packages. “People are depending on us,” said Joseph Kittles, a mail handler […]
The eyes of the nation turned this year to USPS employees, including several who captured attention for their steadfast service during the coronavirus pandemic. Cincinnati Letter Carrier Kyle West, aka Mailman Kyle, left notes with his phone number at hundreds of homes on his route, offering help. He was honored in May by President Donald […]
If you think mail was old news this year, you weren’t paying attention. Customers captured headlines throughout 2020 for their Postal Service patronage, underscoring the enduring appeal of the U.S. Mail. Sheldon Yellen, chief executive officer of Belfor Holdings, a Michigan-based disaster-relief corporation, continued his annual practice of mailing personalized birthday cards to every employee […]
This year, Postal Service employees offered tips for one another through Link’s “Best Practices” column. Here’s some of their best advice: Remember that customers are counting on you. “Many people — especially older customers who live alone — look forward to their daily mail delivery.” — Gordonsville, VA, Rural Carrier Tyler Balint Share information.“Sometimes customers […]
Link is looking back at the year in “Heroes’ Corner” with a countdown of the five most-viewed articles. Coming in at No. 5 is “Door to floor,” the story of Joseph Kepling. When the Napoleon, OH, letter carrier grew concerned about an 87-year-old customer whose front door was open with a dead kitten nearby, he […]
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy rang the opening bell at the Nasdaq stock exchange during a virtual ceremony Dec. 23. In brief remarks, DeJoy discussed the Postal Service’s vital role in the nation’s economy, including its service to the public throughout the coronavirus pandemic. He also highlighted the organization’s holiday efforts, including USPS Operation Santa, the […]
The Postal Service has entered peak season’s home stretch, with employees working hard to accept, process and deliver the nation’s holiday mail and packages. This is always the organization’s busiest time of year, but 2020 has presented unique challenges. Among them: Coronavirus cases are surging, which has created employee shortages for USPS and other shippers […]
Security camera systems are a popular feature for homeowners and can be a useful tool in helping to safeguard your mail. In a new holiday public service announcement, the Postal Inspection Service says if you have a home security camera, make sure it captures activity at your front door and mailbox. If you catch mail […]
Scanning snapshot. A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 91 percent during the week ending Dec. 18, down 4.28 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected Dec. 23. Western-Pacific led the four areas with a rating of 94.53 percent, followed by Southern (91.88 percent), Central (89.69 percent) and […]
I commend the Postal Service for selecting Leslie Odom Jr. to sing “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” in this year’s holiday TV commercial. The ad gives viewers the enduring hope that despite a challenging year, USPS continues to provide a service that our customers trust. […]
Postal Service employees are giving two thumbs up for “Dear Santa,” a new documentary about the USPS Operation Santa program. The film, released in select theaters and through video-on-demand on Dec. 4, simultaneously showcases the spirit of giving and postal pride. “‘Dear Santa’ will make you feel good, which is what we need right now,” […]
The Postal Service has upgraded Informed Delivery to better serve customers who have more than one address. The free feature allows users to digitally preview their mail and manage incoming packages from their computers, smartphones and other devices. Until recently, customers with more than one address had to create separate Informed Delivery accounts for each […]
The Postal Service is encouraging all employees to complete their HEROProfile, an online space where they can showcase their talents and learn more about their colleagues. HEROProfile, part of the HERO system, allows employees to present a consolidated view of their professional information that managers and supervisors can use to review employees’ skills, talents and […]
The Postal Service’s limit on business-related travel has been extended until at least March 22, 2021. Under the policy, only trips that are deemed critical to the organization’s business, require the traveler’s physical presence and cannot be postponed are permitted. The policy recognizes that under limited circumstances, travel will be necessary to maintain the efficiency […]
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 92.76 percent during the week ending Dec. 11, down more than 3 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected Dec. 16. Western-Pacific led the four areas with a rating of 95.45 percent, followed by Southern (92.69 percent), Central (91.31 percent) and […]
I loved the story about 11-year-old Emerson Weber’s children’s book inspired by her letter carrier. It’s always nice when the Postal Service gets positive media attention. It’s even more refreshing when the positive comments come from children. […]
The Postal Service will release a stamp next month honoring August Wilson, the award-winning playwright of “Fences” and other African American dramas. The stamp — the 44th entry in the Black Heritage series — will be released Jan. 28 and dedicated that day during a virtual ceremony on the USPS Facebook and Twitter pages. Hailed as […]
The Postal Service was recently recognized for its contributions as an employer of wounded military veterans. USPS received the Wounded Veteran and Military Caregiver Employment Award during a virtual awards ceremony on Nov. 18. The award, presented by the Hiring Our Heroes initiative, is awarded to a company or organization that demonstrates leadership in addressing […]
The Grinch isn’t the only one trying to ruin the holidays. With the promise of exclusive deals, flash sales and similar promotions, online scammers are busy attempting to con holiday shoppers into purchasing bogus items in order to gain access to credit card and other personally identifiable information. Many of these offers come in the […]
USPS is offering a promotion on greeting cards at select Post Offices. Customers and employees will save $1 when they purchase two Hallmark cards. A coupon, available wherever Hallmark greeting cards are sold, is required. This promotional offer cannot be combined with other offers. The promotion began Nov. 28 and will continue through Dec. 24 […]
Scanning snapshot. A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 94.8 percent during the week ending Dec. 4, down more than 2 percent from one week earlier. The data was collected Dec. 9. Western-Pacific led the four areas with a rating of 96.41 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 94.09 […]
The “Home” TV ad is great. Watching it gave me goosebumps. […]
Postal Service employees with ACE computers can request access to Microsoft Teams, an application that integrates an array of tools on a single platform to foster collaboration and increase efficiency. Teams can help people work together on one or more projects. It brings together chat, video conferencing and file storage functions, allowing users to work […]
The Postal Service has announced holiday hours for Post Offices and blue collection boxes: • Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Some Post Offices may have extended hours leading up to the holidays, while others may have limited hours on Thursday, Dec. 24. Although there are no plans for limited hours on Thursday, Dec. 31, […]
With the holiday season underway, the USPS Ethics Office wants to remind employees about the rules regarding gifts. Employees may not accept gifts from contractors, vendors, suppliers or customers. Employees also may not accept gifts given to them because of their Postal Service positions. Here are some guidelines about gifts from outside sources: • An […]
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, an annual commemoration of the 1941 attack, will be observed Monday, 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. […]
Scanning snapshot. A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.69 percent during the week ending Nov. 27, down about one-quarter of a percentage point from one week earlier. The data was collected Dec. 2. Western-Pacific led the four areas with a rating of 97.43 percent, while Central ranked last with […]
Letter Carrier Rosemarie Tanner was delivering mail at a condominium complex in Fort Myers, FL, one day last year when she came upon several customers in a moment of crisis. An older man recovering from leg surgery had toppled over in the parking lot while operating a mobility scooter, and his wife and two neighbors […]