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. […]
Mike Milligan
Posts by Mike Milligan
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 […]
Write out
The Postal Service’s latest “Shipping Tips” video demonstrates how to properly write an address on a package or envelope. The 2-minute, 30-second segment reviews the basic format for addressing letters and packages, including writing out the recipient’s full name and address, including the ZIP Code. The sender should also include a return address and avoid […]
Atlanta Postal Support Employee Joseph Fisher
“My daily goal is to deliver a clean, well-kept environment.” […]
Read More… from Atlanta Postal Support Employee Joseph Fisher
Michele Eskridge, Grant Park, IL
I enjoyed the “Mail to Mars” article, especially since both my sons are engineers for SpaceX. I just hope neither will want to be the first to travel to Mars. […]
Ransomware attacks
Report suspected ransomware attacks immediately to the CyberSecurity Operations Center at CyberSafe@usps.gov and your manager. […]
Rebeckah Gold, Sacramento, CA
When Sacramento, CA, Letter Carrier Rebeckah Gold noticed an unusual accumulation of mail recently at a customer’s home, she and a neighbor checked on him and found him with a seemingly bruised face and brusque demeanor — but apparently OK. Several days later, though, the pile had grown. Gold asked the sheriff to check on […]
Over there
The Postal Service is offering suggested mail-by dates for customers planning to send holiday packages to military members serving abroad. The dates are listed in an Oct. 11 news release, along with information on ordering USPS military care kits and guidelines for addressing packages to Army/Air Post Offices, Fleet Post Offices and Diplomatic Post Offices. […]
Pack mentality
The latest entry in the Postal Service’s “Shipping Tips” series shows customers how to pack a box before shipping. The 2-minute, 10-second segment offers tips on selecting the right box, packing materials and reinforcements. The video also suggests including a card with the package’s “to” and “from” information inside the box in case it gets damaged […]
Going super strong
Now that USPS has released its four Wonder Woman stamps, do you know just what makes her so, well, wonderful? Few characters have the longevity and influence of Wonder Woman, who debuted 75 years ago in a 1941 issue of All Star Comics. She was introduced in a backup story meant to test her appeal […]
Safe everywhere
The CyberSafe at USPS team is reminding employees to remain vigilant against security threats no matter where they go online. Here are tips for different locations: Workstations. Use your office workstation only for business purposes, and lock your workstation or mobile devices when not in use. Always remember to erase whiteboard walls that contain sensitive […]
Debra Holdsworth, Sherrard, IL
Rural Carrier Debra Holdsworth’s route in Sherrard, IL, recently brought her to the scene of a one-car accident that left the driver seriously injured after hitting a fence. She called 911 and stayed with the young man until emergency responders arrived. He was cut out of the car, flown to a trauma center, and faces […]
What’s PFS?
Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) allows residential customers to receive their mail at a temporary address while away from their permanent residence for an extended period. […]
Gregory Huff, Newark, NJ
Thanks for reminding us to celebrate the diversity within the Postal Service. […]
Owings Mills, MD, Rural Carrier Latice Douglas
“I want to give my customers the best service I can. Many of them are seniors and unable to make it to the Post Office, so I bring the Post Office them.” […]
Read More… from Owings Mills, MD, Rural Carrier Latice Douglas
Making your voice heard
All employees are being encouraged to complete the next Postal Pulse survey, an important tool in the organization’s efforts to improve its workplaces. The twice-a-year survey measures engagement, which describes employees’ involvement, enthusiasm and commitment to their work. The latest survey will be conducted from Oct. 4-Nov. 4. “The feedback we gather helps us improve […]
First fruits
The Postal Service dedicated the 2016 Kwanzaa stamp Oct. 1 at a festival celebrating African-American and Caribbean arts in Charleston, SC. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Kwanzaa, a non-religious holiday that is observed annually from Dec. 26-Jan. 1. “Kwanzaa celebrations focus on the importance of family, community and culture, and reflect some of […]
Help wanted
The Postal Service is seeking recently retired employees who are interested in becoming temporary employees during this year’s holiday season. Retired employees who participated in last year’s peak season are invited to again work this year as city carrier assistants, holiday clerk assistants or motor vehicle operators. In addition, this year the Postal Service is seeking […]
No pollution
The Postal Service has established policies to reduce pollution to stormwater and snowmelt, which can cause oil and other hazardous chemicals to enter the environment. USPS requires employees to do the following: • Never allow vehicle wash water or other equipment wastewater to enter stormwater drains. National contracts require suppliers who wash vehicles to use […]
Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which honors the contributions of employees with disabilities and promotes a diverse workforce inclusive of their talents and skills. Along with other federal agencies, the Postal Service is observing the annual effort, which began in 1945. This year’s theme is “#InclusionWorks.” The hashtag is intended to spur individuals […]
Employee Resource Management VP Nancy Rettinhouse
“Hispanic employees are a vital segment of our employee population. We recognize their contributions and those of the Hispanic community. We proudly honor this observance.” […]
Read More… from Employee Resource Management VP Nancy Rettinhouse
Refunds
Retail units can issue local refunds for a maximum of $1,000. Refunds for $25 or less can be paid in cash. Retail units cannot locally refund balances from customer trust accounts, regardless of the amount. Some offices are limited to cash refunds of $25. Go to eIWS OnLine Forms and read the Job Aid eIWS […]
Shaun Mitcham, Brooklyn, NY
When a postal customer slipped and fell recently on the steps outside her Brooklyn, NY, home, she insisted to Letter Carrier Shaun Mitcham that she was OK. It was clear to him that she was not. Mitcham helped the woman get up and stayed with her until she regained her balance and could get inside […]
Sheryl Key, Dwight, KS
Congratulations to Platte City, MO, Rural Carrier Associate Eric Lan on his recent U.S. citizenship. […]
‘We will give him a family’
A New York state boy has learned the power of what a letter can do — especially if it’s mailed to the White House. Six-year-old Alex Myteberi was so moved by the image of a Syrian boy photographed following an August airstrike that he wrote to the president to help the boy, the White House […]
No ordinary pumpkins
The Postal Service dedicated its first-ever Jack-o’-lantern stamps Sept. 29 in a fitting location — the “Halloween capital of the world.” Chief Financial Officer Joe Corbett dedicated the stamps before an enthusiastic crowd in Anoka, MN, which is said to be the first American city to officially celebrate Halloween, dating back to 1920. “Here in […]