The Postal Service is reminding bargaining unit employees they can use the Enterprise Leave Request Application to request unscheduled leave. The application, also known as eLRA, is accessible through LiteBlue using a computer, smartphone or other mobile device. To request unscheduled leave, the employee should log into LiteBlue, select the eLRA icon in the Employee Apps […]
Participation surged to record levels last year in a Postal Service program that helps employees and customers fulfill the holiday wishes of those less fortunate. Through Operation Santa, individuals and organizations “adopt” letters to Santa Claus from families in need and fulfill their requests, which often involve basic necessities like food and clothing. More than […]
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rate was 97.55 percent during the week ending Jan. 3, down less than 1 percent from one week earlier. After dropping to second place during the week ending Dec. 27, Western (97.81 percent) reclaimed its frequent perch as the top-rated area, while Dakotas (98.88 percent) continued to lead […]
The Postal Service will release its Year of the Rat stamp, the first entry in a new Lunar New Year series, on Saturday, Jan. 11. Lunar New Year, an important holiday for many Asian communities, is celebrated primarily by people of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan, Mongolian, Malaysian and Filipino heritage. The rat is the first […]
The Postal Service wants employees to know about Federal Employee Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), the life insurance program available to federal workers. For example, did you know that FEGLI rates increase every five years? Any time your age ends in a 0 or 5, your life insurance premiums will increase. You can use the FEGLI […]
Sarah Andrews has had a passion for helping animals for as long as she can remember. This is why Andrews, an associate instructional designer at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC, contributes to two Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charities that support her favorite cause: Anti Animal Cruelty Campaign, which provides food for neglected animals, and Animal […]
Tammy Edwards believes in the power of positive communication. In her role as Northern Virginia District’s acting district manager, one of Edwards’ primary duties is delivering important information to employees. Perhaps no topic is more crucial than workplace safety. “You can’t just talk about safety. You have to walk the walk,” Edwards says. “You have […]
The Postal Service is rolling out its roster of Strategic Learning Initiatives for the new fiscal year. The initiatives are training courses designed to provide employees with essential information, help them achieve the organization’s business objectives and comply with its legal obligations. Employees can complete the courses through HERO, the Postal Service’s online learning portal. […]
Sustainability excellence. The Postal Service is still seeking nominations for the 2019 Postmaster General Sustainability Excellence Awards. The annual awards recognize areas, districts, facilities, teams and individuals who help foster sustainable workplaces. A recent call to action asks nominators to share stories from fiscal year 2019 (Oct. 1, 2018-Sept. 30, 2019) that “demonstrate innovation, leadership […]
I enjoyed “Hooray for Hollywood,” the article about the new book featuring letters, memos and telegrams from legendary movie stars. I was pleasantly surprised to see a letter from Colonel Parker, Elvis Presley’s manager. I recognized that covered wagon letterhead immediately. As an Elvis fan, I received letters from Parker’s office through the years. […]
Letter Carrier Kelly McKenna was recently delivering mail at an apartment complex in Tacoma, WA, when he heard someone yelling for help. McKenna soon found a customer who was on the floor of her unit after collapsing due to complications from diabetes. The woman told McKenna she had been stranded overnight and was desperate for […]
Race for a $Billion, a campaign to raise $1 billion in estimated annualized revenue for the Postal Service through sales leads from employees, is underway. The Small Business Sales team is organizing the effort, which began in the fall and will continue through the end of the current fiscal year on Sept. 30. The campaign […]
The Postal Service has announced two more additions to its 2020 stamp lineup. Presorted Star, intended for use by business mailers, will be available in coils of 3,000 and 10,000. The stamp will feature an asymmetrical design that includes one large white star, two white and three red stripes, and a blue background with letters […]
My name is Bob Hammes and I’m an electronic technician at the National Printing Center in Topeka, KS. I provide general maintenance on all the equipment we use at the facility, which serves as an internal printer for the Postal Service. My job is unique because I work on equipment unlike anywhere else in USPS. […]
The Postal Service wants employees to drive safely during winter, a time of year that presents unique challenges. Here are some tips: • Allow yourself extra time to stop and turn. Slow down well in advance of traffic lights, traffic signs and intersections. • Leave extra space between your vehicle and other traffic. Reduce speed and increase […]
Postmaster Shannon Ferraro was on duty in Bellevue, ID, one day last summer when she spotted a motor home on fire near the Post Office. While 911 was called, Ferraro rushed outside to the vehicle, which was occupied by a man, who was hindered by recent knee surgery, and his dog. The Postal Service employee […]
Same time, next year. Link’s first scanning snapshot of 2020 looks a lot like the last snapshot of 2019. The data shows the national score for the week ending Dec. 27 was 97.6 percent, down from 97.78 percent during the week ending Dec. 20. The top three areas last week were Great Lakes (97.94 percent), […]
Eric Maramba has a new look for 2020. The Gardena, CA, letter carrier recently traded in his satchel and joined the Postal Police, which patrols USPS premises to prevent loss or damage to mail and postal assets. “I liked being a carrier,” said Maramba, who joined USPS in 2013. “Once I knew what to do, […]
Want to know when you’ll be paid this year? The calendar image that accompanies this article shows the 26 paycheck dates for Postal Service employees. Every month this year will have two paydays, except for May and October, which will have three each. To print the calendar, click the image, then select “Download” under the […]
Link is looking back at the year in “Heroes’ Corner” with a countdown of the five most-viewed articles. Coming in at No. 1 is “Public defender,” the story of Bryan Thompson. The Chicago acting customer services supervisor bravely rushed to a co-worker’s defense when her former boyfriend gained access to the building and attacked her. […]
The Postal Service entered peak season during the final three months of 2019. In October, Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan dedicated the Holiday Wreaths stamps, and in November, USPS released this year’s holiday volume projections, which showed the organization will deliver 13 billion mailpieces, including 800 million packages, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. USPS […]
If a picture is worth a thousand words, Link is a daily treasure trove. Here’s a roundup of some of the best images we published this year, including shots from stamp dedication ceremonies, workplace events and community activities. Select each thumbnail to see a larger version of the image. […]
You won’t hear anyone on the Link team utter the old showbiz adage, “Never work with children or animals.” We love stories about kids and critters — and so do our readers. The past year brought several opportunities to highlight how both bring out the best in all of us. In Kenosha, WI, a 12-year-old […]
This was another year in which Postal Service employees offered valuable peer-to-peer advice through Link’s “Best Practices” column. Here’s a roundup of some of the best tips: • Show customers you care. “If you don’t care about your job, it shows.” — Carmel, IN, Retail Associate Courtney Wells • Treat them with respect, too. “Help […]
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 “Out of order,” the story of Bertie Faulkner. The New Albany, IN, retail associate played a crucial role in helping authorities solve a case involving $2 money orders altered to appear […]
The Postal Service continued its focus on delivering excellent customer service and strong community outreach during the spring. In April, the organization rolled out Customer 360, a tool that helps employees resolve consumer inquiries faster, and opened the Mailing and Shipping Solutions Center to better serve commercial mailing and shipping customers. The following month, Gallup […]
Postal Service employees continued to go above and beyond for customers in 2019. Jeffery Miller, a general clerk at the Milwaukee Processing and Distribution Center, pulled out all the stops to locate a Priority Mail Express package containing the wedding ring for a customer — who also was his cousin. Lorenzo Games, an express clerk, […]
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.78 percent during the week ending Dec. 20, up from one week earlier. Great Lakes (98.09 percent) led the areas, while Dakotas (99.14 percent) topped the districts. Scanning allows customers to track their packages and mail, and it helps USPS improve efficiency and network management. To […]
Here’s a special year-end edition of Link’s weekly “News Quiz” feature. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. True or false: The price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp increased this year from 54 cents to 55 cents in 2019. a) True b) False 2. In April, USPS released its annual list of places […]
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.74 percent during the week ending Dec. 13, down from one week earlier. Western (98.08 percent) led the areas, while Dakotas (98.86 percent) topped the districts. Scanning allows customers to track their packages and mail, and it helps USPS improve efficiency and network management. To see […]