To help mark USPS Ethics Awareness Week, the Postal Service is reminding employees they may not use the organization’s property for any unauthorized purpose. Misusing postal property violates federal ethics rules and can result in discipline, fines, garnishment of wages and termination of employment. Here are some things employees should keep in mind: • Although […]
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy traveled to Richmond, VA, last month to speak with employees about the state of the Postal Service. DeJoy met with about 650 employees in several locations, including the Richmond Main Post Office and the Richmond Processing and Distribution Center. He also swore in 10 new postmasters and spoke at a town-hall-style […]
Flexible spending accounts, or FSAs, can pay for more than just medical care. They can be used to cover health care products and child care services, too, depending on the account. Summer expenses such as sunscreen and first-aid kits are eligible for reimbursement under a health care FSA, and a kid’s camp fee can be […]
The Postal Service will release its Thinking of You stamps on Aug. 11. The stamps come in five designs featuring whimsical images, including flowers, balloons, cute animals, sweet treats and symbols of good luck. The pane also has die-cut stickers that can be used to decorate envelopes and stationery. Greg Breeding, an art director for […]
Dozens of college students got a crash course in direct mail marketing at the recent Direct Effect Innovation Challenge in Charlotte, NC. This USPS initiative aims to teach the value of direct mail, part of the Delivering for America plan to educate the next generation of marketers. The students had three hours to create a […]
I enjoyed “ZIP-ing along at 60,” the article about Mr. ZIP and the ZIP Code. I had no idea there was a ZIP Code lunch box or that Ethel Merman did a public service announcement to promote the ZIP Code. […]
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar to learn about mindfulness: the act of being fully present, aware and not feeling overwhelmed. The session, “Mindfulness Matters,” will be held Aug. 14 at noon Eastern. Representatives from GEHA, a not-for-profit provider of health plans for federal employees, will conduct the webinar. Participants must register […]
The Postal Service wants employees to remember it collects and maintains a variety of personally identifiable information about customers, employees and outside businesses in order to carry out its mission. Under the Privacy Act of 1974, a federal law, USPS employees and contractors have a legal and ethical obligation to hold personal information in confidence […]
Rhoshonda Jones, an address management systems manager in Bellmawr, NJ, shared her approach to fitness in the summer issue of The Eagle magazine. Wanting to improve her health with exercise, Jones recruited friends and family to get her “off the couch.” Encouraged by her success and wanting to help others get fit, Jones founded Goals […]
The Postal Service wants to remind employees to safeguard the mailstream from improperly wrapped or damaged packages containing hazardous materials. Once packages containing damaged, leaking or nonmailable hazardous materials are identified, they should be brought to a designated rewrap or hazardous material mail staging area for assessment. Hazardous items that are disposed of locally could […]
Postal Service nonbargaining employees are required to complete training on political activity and the Hatch Act by Sept. 30. The Hatch Act law prohibits federal workers — including Postal Service employees — from engaging in political activity while on duty, while wearing a uniform, while on federal property or while inside a federal vehicle. Nonbargaining […]
USPS employees are doing their best to ensure that colleagues stay healthy during the hottest summer on record thus far. Several facilities have set up hydration stations, where employees can get a cold drink and read tips on heat safety. The Pacoima Post Office in Los Angeles has both in-office and traveling hydration stations, with […]
Excellent article about the ZIP Code’s 60-year history! For more ZIP Code fun facts, readers and listeners can check out “How the ZIP Code Got Its Groove” in The Eagle magazine, volume 1, issue 3, page 20; or “An Ode to the ZIP Code” on the “Mailin’ It!” podcast. […]
The Postal Service is reminding employees to keep their USPS-issued cellphones, tablets and laptop computers secure. Here are some tips for protecting mobile devices from hackers: • Always use a virtual private network, or VPN, to connect to the internet. • Use only USPS-approved storage devices. • Back up data stored on mobile devices. • […]
The Postal Service is reminding employees who are interested in supporting their communities to ensure that any activity they propose follows the community service activities policy. The policy, also known as CSAP, addresses the use of Postal Service money, property or time for a community event, project or cause. Under CSAP rules: • Employee participation […]
Are you interested in becoming a Postal Police officer? Postal Police officers protect USPS employees, customers, facilities, property and the U.S. Mail. The Postal Inspection Service is looking to hire in select locations around the country. Positions are available in Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Cleveland; Dallas; Detroit; Los Angeles; Memphis, TN; Miami; New Orleans; New […]
Rural Carrier Ronda Layson was at the Coco River Post Office in Naples, FL, when she spotted a colleague in distress. Layson found the employee unconscious and not breathing. As she began CPR, another employee held the hand of their ailing colleague until paramedics arrived. “Ronda went above and beyond the call of duty for […]
Before Barbie was a movie star, she was a model for a stamp. The new “Barbie” film, directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie as the title character and Ryan Gosling as boyfriend Ken, set a record last week as the best opening for a film with a female director. It also had the […]
The ZIP Code was launched 60 years ago this month as part of a program of improvements to increase postal delivery speed. At the time, Americans were already struggling to adapt to three-digit area codes for long-distance telephone calls, so promoting the five-digit ZIP (short for Zone Improvement Plan) Code was a tough sell. To […]
The Postal Service celebrated the John Lewis stamp release at Morehouse College in Atlanta on July 21. Lewis (1940-2020), a longtime U.S. House representative, was a key figure in some of the most pivotal moments of the Civil Rights Movement. He was the face of the Nashville Student Movement, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating […]
All USPS employees with an ACE ID must complete cybersecurity training in HERO by Sept. 26. Protecting employee, customer and supplier data from digital threats is a priority for the Postal Service. The CyberSafe Fundamentals course shows the best practices for handling sensitive and sensitive-enhanced data for the safekeeping of electronic USPS records. While the […]
USPS wants to ensure the accuracy of Postmaster Finder, the organization’s national historical database of postmasters. The database is maintained by the USPS Historian’s Office, which relies on the receipt of PS Form 8020, Report of Installation (Postmaster or Officer-in-Charge), to keep it current. Employees who conduct office transfers should submit a Form 8020 whenever […]
Kyle Mailman, a letter carrier, was recently making deliveries in a Wichita, KS, neighborhood when he detected the odor of leaking gas at a customer’s residence. Mailman shared his concern with the homeowner, and the gas company was contacted. Utility workers responded to the scene and repaired a leak. The customer later visited the local […]
A sales lead from a customer services manager in California has resulted in a shipping deal worth nearly $2.3 million in new revenue for the Postal Service. Samuel Johnson, who works at the Vernon Post Office, visited a new business in the area and asked the owner if she was interested in information about shipping […]
In September, the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum will celebrate 30 years in the City Post Office, a beaux-arts-style building across from Union Station in Washington, DC. In the past, when the building served as a mailing hub, proximity to one of the country’s first major train stations facilitated mail processing and delivery. Today, easy access […]
Portland, ME, Letter Carrier Sarah Faulkner was recently delivering mail when she heard a smoke detector going off inside a residence. Seeing no vehicles parked outside the home, Faulkner rushed to the front door and got no response when she knocked. The Postal Service employee immediately called 911 and remained on the scene until emergency […]
The Postal Service will release its John Lewis stamp July 21. Lewis (1940-2020) was a key figure in some of the most pivotal moments of the Civil Rights Movement. For more than three decades, Lewis represented Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was hailed as the “Conscience of the Congress.” He was […]
The Postal Service has published the latest issue of The Eagle magazine and mailed it to employees’ homes. This summer edition explores USPS Ground Advantage, the organization’s new shipping option. “The real spark for Ground Advantage was looking at our processing, logistics and delivery network changes and realizing that we will have a fantastic 2- […]
Here’s a look at Postal Service employees who received appointments or recognition recently: • Gabriel H. Magdaleno, WestPac Area’s operations integration manager, was named the acting Portland, OR, postmaster. • Richard H. McGurk, commerce services manager, was named acting commerce and marketing technology services director. • Kevin V. Romero, Nevada-Utah District manager, was named acting […]
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar on how to make small changes to cooking and shopping habits to create healthier meals. The session, “Swap-ortunities for Health,” will be held July 25 at noon Eastern. Representatives from GEHA, a not-for-profit provider of health plans for federal employees, will explore how tools such as […]