Postal forms
If you need help completing and submitting online postal forms processed by Accounting Services, go to the eIWS OnLine Forms Toolkit for training resources, job aids and access to the application. […]
Mike Milligan
Posts by Mike Milligan
Washington, DC, Business Mail Entry Supervisor Doriane Harley
“I always strive to provide the customers with a positive experience. Even if you have to say no to a customer, there’s still a way to do that in a positive light.” […]
Read More… from Washington, DC, Business Mail Entry Supervisor Doriane Harley
Hire power
People seeking temporary work this holiday season have more options than ever — especially in the shipping sector. There will be more seasonal job growth in delivery and warehousing this year than any other industry, according to new estimates from the Challenger, Gray and Christmas research firm. “We continue to move from brick-and-mortar toward click-and-order. […]
One more week
USPS employees have one more week to complete the Postal Pulse survey before the Nov. 4 deadline. The latest participation rates show the national leader is Caribbean District, where 56.98 percent of employees have completed the survey. Among the districts, Albany (47.69 percent) ranks second, followed by Long Island (47.02 percent). The areas with the […]
Ready to POP
USPS recently shipped this year’s holiday point-of-purchase (POP) kits to Post Offices. The kits contain promotional retail items for both domestic and international shipping, mail-by dates, stamps, cards and more. The materials feature images of St. Louis employees Sahaar Webb and Eric Kazee and include the Postal Service’s seasonal messaging, which underscores the reliability of […]
Postal Bulletin
With the start of the holiday season just weeks away, the Postal Bulletin’s latest issue previews the busiest time of year for USPS. The cover story offers an overview of available products and services, including information on gift and greeting cards sold at Post Offices. Suggested shipping dates for domestic and international customers are listed, […]
In remembrance
The Postal Service has dedicated a memorial to the two employees who died as a result of inhaling anthrax in 2001. The memorial honoring Joseph Curseen Jr. and Thomas Morris Jr. is located at the Washington, DC, processing and distribution center where the men worked. USPS named the facility in their honor in 2003. The memorial […]
Columbia, SC, Occupational Health Nurse Jessica Wilson
“Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May. Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others.” […]
Read More… from Columbia, SC, Occupational Health Nurse Jessica Wilson
Wayne Hankins, Bluefield, WV
Mail delivery time in a Bluefield, WV, neighborhood recently coincided with a mishap for a customer. The man took a spill while working in his garage and cut his head when he hit the ground and his eyeglasses shattered. City Carrier Assistant Wayne Hankins was passing by at the same time and rushed to man’s […]
What’s a JVT?
What’s a JVT? A journal voucher transfer (JVT) allows field and headquarters offices to process transfers of existing revenue and expenses between financial numbers. […]
Vanaja Thiyagarajan, Eagan, MN
I was impressed by the “How to Pack a Box” video. It’s a great educational tool for our typical customers. […]
‘Best in class’
The top executive at a fast-growing company that ships healthy snack boxes to customers is praising the service provided by USPS. Gautam Gupta, chief executive officer of NatureBox, says the Postal Service takes the worry out of shipping. “It allows us to focus on the things we’re good at,” Gupta says in a new video. […]
Hot shot
The power of Political Mail has once again made USA Today’s front page. The newspaper has published a snapshot graphic Oct. 21 based on the recent Postal Service study that found direct mail is more helpful than other media in helping people decide how to vote. The snapshot, which appeared on the front page, shows […]
Think pink
Reminder: The Postal Service is inviting employees to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink Oct. 26. Wear Pink Day aims to raise awareness of the disease, along with the Breast Cancer Research stamp that has raised more than $83 million since its inception in 1998. Employees who participate are required to follow their facility’s dress […]
Rule of thumbs
Did you know only USPS-issued portable devices can be used to transfer some forms of postal information? Non-encrypted portable devices, such as personal flash or thumb drives, shouldn’t be used to store, process or transmit non-publically available postal information. Similarly, personal laptops, tablets and mobile devices are not permitted on the postal network. Contact your […]
Brian Halbakken, Minnetonka, MN
Customer Services Supervisor Aricka Sundstrom was recently eating at her desk in Minnetonka, MN, when she began to choke on a piece of chicken. As soon as she motioned for help, Letter Carrier Brian Halbakken stepped in to assist her. He performed the Heimlich maneuver several times until he dislodged the obstruction. When Sundstrom caught […]
Ruthann Storr, San Diego
I enjoyed the “Rail mail” article about Noel Beaudette, the retired postal employee. I remember rail mail. […]
Columbia, MD, Custodian Reginald Mitchell
“I always position ‘wet floor’ signs and rope off the area I’m mopping with high-visibility tape to prevent any injuries. In my opinion, ‘deliver the brand’ means working safely every day and following all procedures while performing your duties.” […]
SIC PO Box closed
Postal forms are no longer mailed to the Scanning and Imaging Center (SIC) at PO Box 5212, Janesville WI 53547-5212. Postal forms must be completed and submitted through the new eIWS OnLine Forms application. […]
Making changes
USPS is making changes within its Marketing and Deputy Postmaster General organizations to better serve customers. “Although the entire organization is responsible for delivering excellent service and customer experiences, the following changes will sharpen our focus to more effectively reach and engage our customers, and bring their voices and rising expectations more prominently into our […]
Time of need
When Logan Grillot lost her home in a flood last year, she turned to the only place she knew that could help — the Postal Employees’ Relief Fund (PERF). The organization, which assists USPS employees who are affected by natural disasters, helped the Elgin, SC, rural carrier get back on her feet. “I get emotional […]
Pink solidarity
The Postal Service is inviting employees to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink Oct. 26. Wear Pink Day aims to raise awareness of the disease, along with the Breast Cancer Research stamp that has raised more than $83 million since its inception in 1998. Employees who participate are required to follow their facility’s dress code […]
Home shopping network
Before there were real estate sites and apps, you could order your dream home through the mail. The Sears department store chain once operated a mail-order homes business that allowed customers to choose the house they liked and have it shipped to them. About 70,000-75,000 homes were sold during a 32-year period, according to the […]
Tammy Ernst, York, PA
A toddler’s mother recently thought he was in the backyard of their York, PA, home, but the child had gotten out and was heading straight for the street. Letter Carrier Tammy Ernst was driving by at just the right moment to avert a potential disaster. She stopped, intercepted the boy and guided him back toward […]
Defusing angry customers
If you encounter an angry customer, try to defuse the situation with a pleasant demeanor. Be courteous, calm and avoid getting into arguments. If necessary, refer the customer to a supervisor. […]
Harietta Finley, Orlando, FL
Thank you, USPS, for celebrating Diwali. The artist also is to be commended for the beauty and serenity of the stamp. […]
Pricing and Costing VP Sharon Owens
“The Postal Service is keeping mail affordable by using data and analytics to improve service and hold back costs. We always want to be the shipper of choice.” […]
Answering the call
Trine Longaker has a special message for postal employees: “Thank you for making my little boy’s day.” Last month, Link shared Trine’s request for postcards for her five-year-old son, Skyler, who has a birth defect that has affected his brain’s growth. Trine recently contacted Link to express her gratitude for all the mail Skyler has […]
Good spirits
Another survey is pointing to a big year for holiday shopping — and shipping. Sixty-two percent of consumers plan to shop online this year, up from 56 percent in 2015, according to a report this week from NPD Group, a business research firm. Online sales spikes often drive big increases in shipping. Two in 10 […]
Finding a cure
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the Postal Service is reminding customers that a special stamp purchase can help fund breast cancer research. The 60-cent Breast Cancer Research semipostal stamp is available year-round and sold in sheets of 20. Semipostal stamps are sold at a surcharge to raise money for specific causes. More than 1 […]