It’s the most wonderful time of the year — and for USPS, the busiest. Employees across the nation are delivering holiday cards, letters and packages as peak season draws to a close. As of Dec. 21, the Postal Service had delivered more than 10 billion letters and packages since Nov. 24, according to the organization’s […]
The Postal Service has a running tally of the holiday season’s mail and packages. The annual online counter returned Nov. 25, displaying the latest number of letters, cards and packages that USPS has accepted since Thanksgiving. The seasonal tab also factors in two of the busiest days of the season — Black Friday and Cyber […]
The Postal Service is reminding employees and contractors to use caution when receiving emails with phrases such as “It’s urgent, respond immediately.” Phrases encouraging an immediate reply are one example of a red flag indicating an email could be suspect. Other email red flags include: • An email address not matching the sender’s name. This […]
The Postal Service has named Lisa Bobb-Semple stamp services director, overseeing all aspects of the organization’s stamp program. This includes stamp services at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC and stamp fulfillment services in Kansas City, MO, and Dulles, VA. Bobb-Semple, who has been with USPS for 19 years, has served as acting stamp services director […]
The Postal Service wants employees to remember the ethics guidelines for group gifts, especially during the holidays. While employees are generally prohibited from giving a gift to a supervisor or a colleague who earns more money, there is an exception for special, infrequent occasions. These occasions include marriages, births, illnesses, retirement, resignation and transfers. Group […]
Link is looking back at the year in “Heroes’ Corner” with a countdown of the 10 most-viewed articles. Coming in at No. 6 is “The ‘miracle’ workers,” the story of an Oregon dynamic duo — Postmaster LeEtte Duncan and Michelle Leonard, a complaints and inquiry clerk. When an older couple sought Duncan’s help last summer […]
The Internal Revenue Service recently announced the 2024 contribution limits for the Thrift Savings Plan, or TSP. Postal Service employees can contribute up to $23,000 in 2024, an increase of $500 from this year. Employees over the age of 50 can take advantage of the TSP catch-up option if they wish and contribute an additional […]
The Postal Service has added new self-development content to the Learning Library, part of the HERO learning management system. The new content, which became available Oct. 30, expands the library to include more than 120,000 resources, such as videos, books and audiobooks. The updates are designed to offer a structured path for employees’ personal growth […]
I really enjoyed reading “A new chapter,” the article on Jenny Lynch and her retirement. It is really neat that there is someone preserving the history of USPS. […]
The Postal Service is reminding employees that they have access to Hollygram message templates, as well as a variety of holiday-themed Zoom backgrounds. Hollygrams feature Holly, the USPS Operation Santa elf, and are available in six templates. The Zoom backgrounds feature scenic backdrops, as well as previously released Holiday Elves, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa stamps. Both […]
The USPS Ethics and Legal Compliance Office has published the latest edition of its annual Holiday Ethics Guide to help employees comply with regulations. The publication explains certain guidelines that apply to receiving gifts from outside sources: • Employees may never accept a cash or cash equivalent gift from an outside source. • Soliciting a […]
The Postal Service has a lot of information to share with customers during the holidays — and one group of employees strives to ensure every message is received loud and clear. The USPS holiday committee, made up of about 40 representatives from virtually every department in the organization, is focused this year on spreading the […]
Link is looking back at the year in “Heroes’ Corner” with a countdown of the 10 most-viewed articles. Coming in at No. 9 is “Alarm reaction,” the story of Danita Brooks-Poindexter. The letter carrier was delivering mail in Watertown, MA, when she spotted smoke and flames at a house. As a bystander called 911, Brooks-Poindexter […]
Postal Service employes who want to change their health coverage or enroll in a new plan must act now. Open season, the annual period when USPS employees can make benefits changes, ends Dec. 11 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time. This is the last chance most employees will have until next November to consider new health, […]
USPS-branded toys, apparel, home decor and collectibles are available for the holiday season. Most of the popular licensed products are under $100 and can be purchased from The Postal Store, which is part of usps.com, and other retailers. Honoring Mr. ZIP. Postal employees and customers can continue celebrating 60 years of the USPS mascot, who […]
I just finished reading “A new chapter,” the article about Jenny Lynch’s retirement. I was fascinated. I did not know that USPS has a historian. I wish Lynch well and I hope that the next person is as dedicated as she was to educating the public about the Postal Service. […]
The Postal Service has announced holiday plans for Post Offices and blue collection boxes. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve: This year, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 both fall on a Sunday, when normal closures apply. There are currently no plans for limited hours on Saturday, Dec. 23, or Saturday, Dec. 30. There are no […]
I absolutely love “A Kid’s History of the United States Postal Service,” the book created by Jenny Lynch, who recently retired as the Postal Service’s historian. It has given me a new appreciation for our organization and a joy to be able to pass it on to the next generation. Thanks for all your hard […]
John J. DiPeri has been named Western Region vice president, a role he has filled on an acting basis since Oct. 1. He is responsible for processing and maintenance operations in 24 states and oversees 50,000 employees. DiPeri has previously served as Pacific Northwest Division’s senior processing operations director; district manager and plant manager in […]
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 position. […]
Employees can watch a Postal Service video to learn how to reduce their taxable income and save on yearly health and dependent care costs. The video, “2023 Flexible Spending Accounts,” is four minutes long and explains the different types of FSAs. It also offers tips on which ones might fit an employee’s current needs. More […]
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar on keeping stress at bay and enjoying the season. The session, “Healthy Holidays,” will be held Dec. 6 at noon Eastern. Representatives from Kaiser Permanente, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will offer tips on exercise, food choices and making the holidays more enjoyable […]
Link is interested in writing about Postal Service employees who pursue interesting activities in their free time. In recent years, we’ve profiled employees such as Gregory Huff, an Edison, NJ, general clerk who enjoys dancing in his free time, and Jeff Kyer II, a Washington, DC, change management director who performs in community theater. Other […]
Rural Carrier Brandon White was driving along his Russell Springs, KY, route on a sweltering day in August when he noticed a customer lying on the ground in her backyard. White parked his postal vehicle and found that the woman had injured her ankle after falling. He called 911 and comforted her until an ambulance […]
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar on the benefits of keeping a journal. The session, “Introduction to Reflective Journaling,” will be held Dec. 4 at noon Eastern time. Representatives from Kaiser Permanente, a provider of health plans for federal workers, will offer tips and techniques to document emotions and reactions to stressful […]
The Postal Service has announced four additional stamp releases for 2024: • Dungeons & Dragons, marking the 50th anniversary of the role-playing game; • John Wooden, honoring the UCLA basketball coach; • Carnival Nights, celebrating the spirit of summertime fairs and carnivals; and • Ansel Adams, honoring one of the nation’s most renowned and influential artists. […]
To help Postal Service employees compare health plans during this year’s open season, the organization offers access to Checkbook’s Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees. The guide has details about all plans available through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. The comparison tool includes information on copays, deductibles, prescription drug costs, and whether […]
The Veterans Day video — highlighted in the “A salute to service” article — was an excellent presentation. Grateful for employees who have served in the military. […]
The “Paint and sacrifice” article highlighted a great way for the USPS artists to showcase their talent and express their gratitude to the military veterans who sacrificed for the country. I hope there will be more murals in the USPS facilities to salute the diverse USPS work force and show appreciation for their dedication to […]
A newly updated video about the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program reminds Postal Service employees to conduct a health plan checkup during this year’s open season. The three-minute segment, “FEHB Health Plans,” encourages employees to evaluate their health care options to ensure they have the coverage they need. The video also explains how employees […]