Reminder: The Postal Service is discontinuing production of its Priority Mail Prepaid Flat Rate Stamped Envelope. The envelope, which is only sold online at usps.com/postalstore, will remain available until January. Customers who currently use Priority Mail Prepaid Flat Rate Stamped Envelopes are encouraged to place orders before supplies are depleted. Once supplies are gone, Priority […]
The Postal Service wants employees to remember to use PostalEASE to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program or the USPS Health Benefits Plan. You can access PostalEASE from the Benefits Enrollment Changes section of the OpenSeason LiteBlue page or by calling the employee service line at 877-477-3273 (select option 1). The Federal Relay Service number is […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Which USPS-licensed Vans sneaker will be released Jan. 20 at Foot Locker? a) Authentic b) Old Skool c) Sk8-Hi MTE-1 d) Sk8-Hi Reissue 2. Through the USPS Pen Pal Project, how […]
My colleagues and I admire Link’s clever headlines. It’s almost become a game to spot the pop culture references and puns that color each edition. Thank you for brightening our days. […]
A new Informed Visibility tool allows users to see the number of packages small and midsize commercial mailers are adding to the mailstream. Called the Customer Visibility Dashboard, or CVD, the tool leverages data from mailer manifests. This data provides USPS plant and facility managers and supervisors with the information needed to make staffing decisions, […]
Now that the holiday season is here, some Postal Service teams may be planning festive events that involve employees gathering to share food and drinks in a plant or delivery unit. While there is no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted by food or drinks, close contact between individuals does increase the risk of spreading the […]
The Postal Service wants to remind all workers that it is important to complete or update beneficiary information as soon as possible. This simple task takes just a minute or two and can save a lot of heartache down the line. The Life Changes LiteBlue page, a one-stop shop for updating employee information, makes it […]
The USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) completed more than 1,500 investigations during the six-month period that ended Sept. 30. These investigations led to 520 arrests and more than $70 million in fines, restitutions and recoveries. This amount includes $17 million that was returned to the Postal Service. The data is included in […]
City Carrier Assistant Maria Corey was recently making deliveries in Marion, IA, when she witnessed a two-vehicle accident that left a woman and her child injured. While another witness called 911, Corey rushed to help the duo. She rendered first aid to the unconscious little boy and comforted his mother until emergency responders arrived and […]
USPS reported mixed results for fiscal year 2021, but fully enacting the Delivering for America plan will help put the organization back in the black, Chief Financial Officer Joe Corbett says in his latest “Dollars and Change” video. For fiscal year 2021 (Oct. 1, 2020-Sept. 30, 2021), total revenue was $77.1 billion, with total expenses […]
Do you know the difference between a deductible and a copayment? If you don’t, you’re not alone. Many people are confused by health insurance terminology. To help you navigate your way through this year’s open season benefits enrollment period, here are some important definitions: • Deductible: The amount you pay for covered health care services […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. How many packages does the Postal Service expect to deliver this holiday season? a) 800-900 million b) 825-925 million c) 850-950 million d) 875-975 million 2. President Joe Biden recently announced […]
The Postal Service has released a video that reminds employees of the importance of the open season benefits enrollment period. The video — “2021 Open Season,” available on LiteBlue — notes that employees’ circumstances may change from year to year. For example, some employees may want to add a dependent to their plan, […]
The Postal Service is reminding managers and supervisors to only grant the minimum privileges in eAccess necessary for employees and contractors to do their work. The eAccess application provides entry to important USPS systems. Controlling user access to these systems is vital to protecting the organization’s computer network. Access to a system or resource should […]
It’s time to deck the halls with Holly. The cheerful elf for the USPS Operation Santa program is back and appears in a series of new seasonal “Hollygram” messages. The Postal Service introduced Hollygrams last year to help spread cheer throughout its workplace. The organization has again created templates that employees can use to send […]
Pledging a gift through the Combined Federal Campaign on Nov. 30, also known as Giving Tuesday, benefits two forces for good — and that’s on top of the benefit to your chosen charity. Giving Tuesday began in 2012 and is observed on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. What started as a local endeavor in New York […]
A USPS-inspired line of footwear and apparel from Vans will be available in stores and online this week. The products will generate revenue for the Postal Service and help customers show their appreciation for the organization. In announcing the licensing deal, Vans praised the dedication of postal employees, saying there’s “an inherent sense of hardiness […]
President Joe Biden has announced his intention to nominate two individuals to serve on the Postal Service Board of Governors: • Derek T. Kan, former deputy director of the White House Office of Management and Budget during the Trump administration; and • Daniel M. Tangherlini, former administrator of the General Services Administration during the Obama administration. […]
With the holiday peak season around the corner, the Postal Service has created a chart to help employees quickly sort out the requirements for First-Class Package Service-Retail and First-Class Package Service-Commercial parcels. The one-page chart details the similarities and differences between the products. For instance, the maximum size for a for First-Class Package Service-Retail parcel […]
If you’re enrolled in the Commuter Benefits Program and chose the prepaid card option, you can now use the deposited funds interchangeably. Previously, transit and parking funds could not be mingled. In addition, you can use any accrued balances interchangeably that were previously earmarked for one or the other. This feature is only available with […]
Postal Service employees who want to save money for future medical expenses have several options during this year’s open season, which runs from Nov. 8-Dec. 13. If you enroll in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), you may be eligible to contribute to a health savings account (HSA). An HSA allows you to pay for current […]
USPS is offering savings on Visa and Mastercard gift card purchases at select Post Offices in November and December. From Nov. 13-26, customers and employees will receive $2 off the purchase fee of Visa gift cards valued at $50 and $100. From Nov. 27-Dec. 10, customers and employees will receive $2 off the purchase fee […]
Kudos to Washington, DC, Acting Strategic Communications Specialist Felicia Lott for having the presence of mind to act quickly to save a life. […]
Eric Smith, a letter carrier from Spencer, WV, was recently driving to work when he came upon a house fire. While another passerby called 911, Smith and others braved thick smoke and intense heat to carry two residents to safety. He remained on the scene until firefighters arrived to battle the blaze. “Had it not […]
The Postal Service has launched USPS Zone, a program for Executive and Administrative Schedule employees who would enjoy promoting the organization’s products and services on social media. These types of ambassador programs help organizations work with their employees to build a social media presence. For example: Have you ever had a great meal at a […]
The Postal Service is offering a special webinar for employees who want to learn more about their options during this year’s open season benefits enrollment period. The session, “Open Season 101,” is being offered several times throughout open season, which runs from Nov. 8-Dec. 13. Each session takes place through the Zoom videoconferencing platform; participants […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. When does this year’s open season benefits enrollment period end? a) Dec. 6 b) Dec. 13 c) Dec. 15 d) Dec. 31 2. Fill in the blank: Postal Service employees can […]
“Semper Fidelis” was a great story about Marine veteran and Los Angeles Postal Police Officer Chal Kim. He’s a fine man and a great American. God bless him. […]
The latest Postal Pulse results show a positive trend. The annual survey allows USPS employees to share feedback about their work environments, measuring their engagement on various topics using a scale of 1 to 5. This year, the grand mean score — the average score on the survey’s first 12 questions — rose to 3.36, […]
The new USPS-licensed ride-on toy is riding high heading into the holiday season. The Toy Insider, an industry website, included the product on its annual list of the toys expected to be holiday hits. “It’s exciting news to make the list, considering the hundreds of toys for this age group that are out there,” said […]