The federal government has approved a new round of free COVID-19 tests for the public. Tests can be ordered through covidtests.gov or special.USPS.com/testkits, or by calling 800-232-0233 (TTY 888-720-7489). Customers will receive four rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. They will be sent by Ground Advantage to addresses in the contiguous United States. Customers in Alaska, Hawaii, […]
The Postal Service will release its Ruth Bader Ginsburg stamp Oct. 2. Ginsburg (1933-2020) was the 107th U.S. Supreme Court justice and the second woman on the court. In a distinguished career that began as a lawyer fighting gender discrimination, Ginsburg blazed a trail in the late 1950s and 1960s — when there were few […]
The Delivering for America plan is helping the Postal Service move into a promising future, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy told more than 1,000 employees recently. “Going forward, we need to be nimble, agile and move in alignment with the plan,” DeJoy said. He spoke in Denver at the United Postmasters and Managers of America’s seventh […]
The Postal Service dedicated its OSIRIS-REx stamp in Salt Lake City on Sept. 22. The stamp commemorates the seven-year NASA mission that studied, mapped and collected a sample from the asteroid Bennu. The return of the sample to Earth on Sept. 24 marked the mission’s successful completion. The name OSIRIS-REx is an acronym for the […]
During National Preparedness Month, the Postal Service is encouraging employees to prepare or refresh their home emergency supply kit. Such a kit is a collection of basic items to meet the needs of your family — including pets — for at least 72 hours. These items should be packed in a portable container, such as […]
With election season around the corner, USPS is reminding employees of the do’s, don’ts and not-while-in-uniform rules of the Hatch Act, which limits political activity among the federal workforce. Postal Service employees may engage in the following activities while off duty, not in uniform, not in a Postal Service vehicle, and not on USPS or […]
“A name or a calling” was a great story about USPS employees with postal-themed names. […]
The USPS Operation Santa program is accepting letters from people in need as the man up North gets a head start fulfilling wishes this holiday season. The Postal Service made the announcement on Sept. 18. The 111-year-old program provides an online way people can safely and securely help children and families have a magical holiday […]
Postal Service employees who are military veterans or presently serving in the military can submit photos for possible inclusion in a video honoring Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Email submissions — including the veteran’s name, rank and USPS district — to Military Program Specialist Marty Mieras at military@usps.gov by Friday, Oct. 13. The photos may be […]
The Postal Service will release its Snow Globes stamps on Sept. 19. Adults and children alike enjoy the whimsical nature of snow globes — the flurry stirred up by a flick of the wrist that gradually settles to reveal a world in miniature. The four stamps depict icons of the holiday season among flakes of […]
Rural Carrier Lisa Ann Wagner was making deliveries at a home in Kerrville, TX, when she noticed the customer’s mail starting to pile up. Wagner grew concerned because she knew the woman lived alone and had minimal contact with her neighbors and family. The Postal Service employee tried contacting the customer by phone and text, […]
All Postal Service employees with an ACE ID must complete the annual CyberSafe at USPS training by Sept. 26. The course, called CyberSafe Fundamentals, presents the skills and knowledge needed to follow cybersecurity policy and practices to protect the organization’s electronic information. This training is mandatory, but employees can opt out if they pass a […]
During National Preparedness Month, the Postal Service is reminding all employees to be ready at a moment’s notice. All employees should: • Update their emergency contact information. • Review posted emergency procedures and evacuation routes. • Be familiar with the USPS National Employee Emergency Hotline: 888-EMERGNC (888-363-7462). Employees can call the hotline after an emergency […]
The Postal Service will observe National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is held each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The commemoration honors the cultures and contributions of people of Spanish, Mexican, Central American, South American and Caribbean ancestry. Approximately 13 percent of USPS employees report Hispanic ancestry. The Postal Service has honored Hispanic peoples […]
I enjoyed “ZIP-ing along at 60,” the article that offered a historical perspective of the ZIP Code. […]
The Postal Service will hold its final virtual supervisory job fair on Sunday, Sept. 17. More than 10,800 employees registered for the first three fairs, held in March, May and July. The fairs are part of Focus on the Front, an initiative to fill more than 2,800 Executive and Administrative Schedule Level 17 supervisory positions […]
The Postal Service wants employees and contractors to know that threats to the organization’s information can come from the inside. The key to preventing these threats is to know what the risks are and how to report them. The organization works with the Postal Inspection Service and the USPS Office of Inspector General to prevent, […]
Netflix is ending its DVD-by-mail service at the end of the month. Now known primarily as a video streaming service and content producer, the company started in 1997 by renting DVDs by mail in red envelopes that became iconic. By 2009, the company had more than 10 million subscribers to its DVD service and was […]
“Gift of life,” the article about Rochester, NY, Letter Carrier Michael Ashley who donated a kidney to a family member and partial liver to a stranger was very moving. What a beautiful soul to give the gift of life. […]
Letter Carrier Andre Scott was nearing the end of his route in Addison, IL, when he encountered a slumped-over driver inside a stopped vehicle at a busy intersection. Scott checked on the unresponsive man, speaking and clapping his hands to try to provoke a reaction. None came. The Postal Service employee called 911 and waved […]
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar on managing stress. The session, “Stress Management 101,” will be held Sept. 13 at noon Eastern. A representative from Blue Cross Blue Shield will discuss the biology of stress and explain how to respond when it becomes overwhelming. Participants must register beforehand on the webinar website. […]
The Postal Service will release its Piñatas! stamps on Sept. 8. A traditional Mexican party favorite, piñatas are hollow figurines filled with candy. Blindfolded players take turns striking the piñata until it breaks, scattering the treats to be gathered by the guests at the celebration. The stamp artwork features four illustrations of two traditional piñata […]
Letter Carrier Eric Ketter was delivering mail in Mount Lebanon, PA, when he spotted a man lying in the street. Jim Brophy, a disabled Vietnam War veteran, had been installing lights outside his home when he fell down his concrete front steps and rolled into the middle of the street. He couldn’t move and couldn’t […]
September is National Preparedness Month, and the Postal Service is encouraging employees to take time to prepare for the unexpected. “Disaster professionals suggest scheduling time on your calendar to create an emergency plan,” said USPS Corporate Affairs Vice President Judy de Torok, who oversees the organization’s continuity and preparedness team. Here are some tips for […]
While attending a recent Kentucky-West Virginia District career conference, Cristal Blank entered her name to win a “shadow day” with a district leader. Luck was on the Postal Service employee’s side: She later received a call from Mark Reed, acting manager of employee development, letting her know she was chosen to follow him for a […]
Registration for the Aug. 31 “Medicare and FEHB” webinar has filled and is now closed. A recording of the webinar, which offers early insights into the Postal Service Health Benefits Plan coming in 2025, will be posted on the Benefits and Wellness LiteBlue page after the event. The recording can be viewed on demand by […]
The Postal Service is reminding employees and contractors to use only approved business-related apps on USPS-issued mobile devices. Unapproved apps could contain malicious software and pose a cybersecurity risk to USPS. Mobile apps should only be downloaded from the USPS app store. To receive approval for a mobile app that has not been authorized, users […]
The Postal Service and the U.S. Labor Department are conducting a pilot program that allows unemployment insurance claimants to confirm their identities at select Post Offices. The in-person proofing pilot is operating in four states but will soon expand to 19,000 Post Offices across the country that use Retail Systems Software, or RSS. Additionally, the […]
Stephen M. Dearing has been named vice president and chief data and analytics officer, a new permanent position he has held on an acting basis since March. Dearing will be responsible for reporting service performance, managing enterprise data sources, leading transformational analytics and performing advanced modeling throughout the organization. He most recently served as business […]
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar to learn about Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. The session, “Medicare and FEHB,” will be held Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. Eastern. Representatives from GEHA, a not-for-profit provider of health plans for federal employees, will conduct the webinar and explain how Medicare […]