Operation Santa is going digital. The popular program, which began in 1912, allows Postal Service employees and customers to help people in need by “adopting” their letters to Santa Claus and granting their holiday wishes. This year, USPS will test a digital version of the program that will allow participants to go online to search, […]
Postal Service employees who want to save money for future medical expenses have several options during this year’s open season, which runs from Nov. 13-Dec. 11. If you enroll in a high-deductible health plan, you may be eligible to contribute to a health savings account (HSA). An HSA allows you to pay for current health […]
Flag notice. National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, an annual commemoration of the 1941 attack, will be observed Thursday, 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 […]
Postal Service employees in Florida and Iowa recently responded to emergencies they encountered while delivering mail. Madison, FL, City Carrier Assistant Kristin Blue stopped to assist a man who’d fallen when his wife was getting him out of their car and into a wheelchair. Blue called 911 and stayed with the couple until emergency responders […]
Read More… from Kristin Blue, Madison, FL; Mary Conway, Albia, IA
My dad worked on a Railway Post Office like the one mentioned in “Past life.” On the night I was born, he was on a train. Who would have thought years later I would work for USPS? […]
The Ram ProMaster 2500, a recent addition to the USPS fleet of vehicles, is helping the organization meet its delivery needs. The extended capacity vehicles, introduced in 2016 to replace aging minivans, are more fuel efficient than their predecessors. USPS uses the vehicles for “park and loop,” when carriers park a vehicle and make door-to-door […]
They call her the “iron woman.” Yolanda Habal, a custodian at the Greenville, SC, Main Post Office, has accumulated more than 3,000 hours of sick leave. USPS recently recognized Habal for this achievement. “The attainment of this award puts Yolanda in an elite group,” said Postmaster Stephanie Banks. “Her reliability, dependability and strong work ethic […]
More USPS teams have created positive workplace environments during the past year, according to the results of the latest Postal Pulse survey. Almost 540 teams earned “certified engaged” status during the survey, which concluded in September. This is a 14.7 percent increase from the number of certified teams identified during the previous survey in October […]
You can learn more about the advantages of high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) through a 2-minute video. The segment, titled “A Closer Look,” explains that an HDHP, combined with an HSA, can save Postal Service employees money when compared to traditional plans. HDHPs allow users to spend less on insurance premiums […]
Postal Service employees in Iowa and Illinois recently helped others in moments of crisis. Cedar Rapids, IA, Letter Carrier Timothy Kriz was delivering mail when a customer with Alzheimer’s disease fell while he and his wife were walking to their car. The distressed woman feared she wouldn’t be able to get her husband to his […]
Read More… from Timothy Kriz, Cedar Rapids, IA; Vickey Brown Jr., Rockford, IL
I loved the “Following footsteps” story about Owensboro, KY, Letter Carrier Josh Hayden, who’s following in his grandfather’s footsteps by delivering mail. I hope my son will follow in my footsteps and find a career with USPS. He has a lot of postal knowledge just from hearing me talk about my job. […]
The following message is from PMG Megan J. Brennan: As Thanksgiving Day approaches, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to you. This year has brought with it many challenges and has given many of us new reasons to be thankful. Co-workers in the Eastern and Great Lakes areas weathered storms […]
Nicolas Benrey is using the radio to help USPS serve Spanish-speaking customers. The Lexington, KY, customer relations coordinator hosts a Spanish-language local radio show that addresses a variety of mailing matters. The program’s title: “Un Correo Para Ti,” which translates as “The Post Office for You.” “The show is a good way for me to […]
The Postal Service’s new holiday television campaign is receiving praise from employees and the advertising industry itself. “Biggest Gift,” which follows a young boy wishing to replace his teddy bear’s missing nose, debuted this month. The child is played by Jeremy Maguire, who appears on “Modern Family” as the son of Ed O’Neill and Sofía […]
Do you know a child writing a letter to Santa Claus this year? The Postal Service’s Letters from Santa program allows children to mail notes to St. Nick and receive personalized responses bearing a special North Pole postmark. To participate, parents and guardians should follow these steps: • Have your child write a letter to […]
A newly updated video about the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) reminds employees to conduct a “health plan checkup” during this year’s open season. The 3-minute segment encourages employees to evaluate their health care options to ensure they have the coverage they need. The video also explains how employees can use the Open Season […]
I just love the Postal Service’s new holiday TV commercial — especially the line, “Because we know sometimes the smallest things are the biggest.” […]
Postal Service employees delivering mail in Indiana and Illinois recently went out of their way to look out for others. Muncie, IN, Letter Carrier David Young Jr. checked on an older customer who hadn’t picked up her previous day’s mail as usual. After knocking on the woman’s door and getting no answer, Young contacted one […]
Read More… from David Young Jr., Muncie, IN; Darrell Lewis, Clay City, IL
The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has approved the price changes that USPS proposed in October. The changes will raise Mailing Services product prices approximately 1.9 percent, while most Shipping Services products will average a 3.9 percent price increase. Here are the current and new prices, which will take effect Jan. 21: Letters (1 ounce): 49 cents […]
The Postal Service honored employees who served in the armed forces at Veterans Day events across the nation last week. PMG Megan J. Brennan addressed employees at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC, where she noted the postal workforce includes more than 100,000 veterans, making the organization one of the nation’s largest civilian employers of veterans. […]
Do you know the difference between a deductible and a copayment? If not, don’t feel bad. Many people are confused by health insurance terminology. To help you navigate your way through this year’s open season, here are some important definitions: Deductible: The amount you pay for covered health care services before your health plan starts […]
It’s your move. USPS employees who seek authorized relocation expenses from Nov. 20-Dec. 31 will not receive disbursements or reimbursements until Jan. 2. The Postal Service has set Nov. 22 as the expense cut-off date for 2017 relocation expenses. Relocation expense reimbursement requests must be emailed to customer.usgovt@bgrs.com, faxed to 866-629-1563 or mailed to: Brookfield […]
Postal Service employees delivering mail in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania recently came to the aid of older customers in moments of need. In Racine, WI, a woman collapsed in front of City Carrier Assistant McClarney Bell as he was handing mail to her. Bell immediately called 911 and comforted the customer until emergency responders arrived and […]
Read More… from McClarney Bell, Racine, WI; Leigh Ann Burleigh, Tionesta, PA
Kudos to Picayune, MS, Carrier Technician Quiana Whitehead on her quick thinking and presence of mind to call 911 before using the Heimlich maneuver to save a choking child. […]
Sears is turning to the mail to boost its holiday sales. The department store chain is reviving its Wish Book, the iconic publication that was a holiday staple for millions of families for almost 80 years. Select customers will receive a 120-page Wish Book — last printed in 2011 — in their mailboxes this year. […]
It’s going to be a busy season for everyone in the delivery business. Like the Postal Service, UPS and FedEx are also expecting seasonal shipping increases. Package deliveries in the United States are projected to surge as online sales jump 18-21 percent from last year, according to one estimate. USPS expects to deliver 850 million […]
The Postal Service retiree who recently appeared on “Family Feud” went home a champion. Michael Bulbuk, who retired last month from his Novi, MI, customer services supervisor position, and his family appeared on five episodes over five days. Their winnings: more than $42,000 and a new car. “Watching it on TV was different, but it […]
Flag notice. Saturday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day, one of six days each year that Postal Service facilities are required to fly the POW-MIA flag. Because Veterans Day is a designated USPS holiday, the POW-MIA flag should be raised Friday, Nov. 10. The flag honors the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces held as prisoners of […]
For almost 30 years, Albuquerque, NM, Letter Carrier Nestor Duran has served his country in one uniform or another. Duran was in the Navy for four years before joining the Postal Service in 1993. He continued in the Navy Reserve for 20 more years. Despite the contrast between serving in the Navy and working for […]
The “Heroes’ corner” story about Oakland, CA, Letter Carrier Farid Ait Djebara rescuing a woman who was shot was inspiring. He’s truly an amazing man — a real hero. […]