Wilmot, WI, Postmaster Loretta Jaffe was off duty one day in January when she and her husband, Brian, came upon a crisis in nearby Kenosha. The couple was in their vehicle when they spotted a man, Bill Karls, lying on the ground outside his residence with a snowblower — still running — on top of […]
USPS and postal organizations around the world will mark the third annual Green Postal Day on Sept. 17. On Green Postal Day, organized by the International Post Corp. (IPC), 16 posts worldwide reiterate their commitment to contribute to a more sustainable economy and society. According to an IPC survey this year, consumers are increasingly concerned […]
“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 much money does the Postal Service want to raise during the latest Combined Federal Campaign? a) $6.9 million b) $9.6 million c) $5.8 billion d) $8.5 billion 2. Fill in […]
“True blue,” the article commemorating the 20th anniversary of terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, was well written. It was an unbelievably devastating day. […]
USPS will offer a cold chain packaging service — used for shipping perishables and other items — to businesses and other customers, starting Sept. 12. The organization has been testing the packaging for several months with businesses that ship food, medical supplies and other items. Called Priority Mail Express Cold Chain Packaging, the service is designed specifically […]
The United States won seats on two international postal councils at the Universal Postal Union Congress, which ran from Aug. 9-27. The union, known as the UPU, is a specialized agency of the United Nations whose core mission is to facilitate the exchange of international mail among its 192 member countries. Remuneration (international postal payments […]
A training course on Business Reply Mail procedures and invoicing will soon be available in HERO. The course, titled Business Reply Mail, is mandatory for Level 18 Postmasters, lead retail associates, retail associates, sales and service distribution clerks, postage due clerks, postage due technicians, mailing requirements clerks, bulk mail clerks, bulk mail technicians and bulk […]
USPS is offering savings on Mastercard gift card purchases at select Post Offices this month. From Sept. 4-17, customers and employees will receive $2 off the purchase fee of Mastercard gift cards valued at $50 and $100. Variable load gift cards are excluded. No coupon is needed […]
City Carrier Assistant Justin McClanahan was on duty one day in February in Clinton, KY, when he came upon a vehicle that had flipped on an icy, isolated road, leaving the driver trapped inside. When McClanahan stopped to investigate, he found the distraught man beating on the glass and asking for help to escape. The […]
Two ZIP Codes. The terrorist attacks that turned a cloudless September morning into a nightmare 20 years ago obliterated two ZIP Codes at ground zero. 10047 and 10048 perished in the inferno and, out of respect, have not been used since by the Postal Service. It’s a quiet tribute and fitting in its quietness. It […]
The Postal Service has released its first newly designed Happy Birthday stamp in almost two decades. The Forever stamp is meant to give invitations, envelopes and cards an additional touch of good cheer. The stamp features the word “happy” prominently in capital letters, with each of the five letters inspired by a different party decoration, […]
“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 official social media accounts does USPS have? a) Two b) Four c) Six d) Eight 2. How many customers have signed up for Informed Delivery using the ID Enroll […]
Hampden, ME, Rural Carrier Elmer Wing was recently making deliveries in a nearby town, Newburgh, when he grew concerned about a customer whose mail was piling up. Wing noticed that the man’s car was in the driveway and the porch light was on during the day, so he contacted the local Post Office to recommend […]
The art highlighted in “Aiming for the heart” was fabulous. The kids did an outstanding job creating safety messages for Hawaii District postal employees. […]
Remember the sticker craze of the 1980s? It’s back. Collecting stickers has seen a revival during the coronavirus pandemic — except this time, companies are using the mail to satisfy collectors’ cravings. “At the beginning of the pandemic, people at home were feeling generally nostalgic for items sparking happiness — like stickers from their childhood […]
September is National Cholesterol Education Month, a time to learn more about cholesterol and how it affects your health. Cholesterol is a waxy, fatlike substance found in the body and animal food products, including meat, seafood, dairy and eggs. Lifestyle behaviors, family history and health conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, can adversely affect cholesterol […]
“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 of these facilities is not participating in the USPS pilot program to fill tractor-trailer operator positions? a) Brooklyn, NY, Processing and Distribution Center b) Carol Stream, IL, Processing and Distribution […]
In a video message, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy discusses the importance of ethics awareness. He highlights the organization’s Blue page, which has information for postal workers; the ethics section on usps.com; and the new ethics app for smartphones that can be downloaded through the USPS app store. “It is because of our focus on ethics […]
Christopher A. Nielsen, the Postal Service’s chief information security officer and vice president, has accepted an appointment as inspector in charge of the Postal Inspection Service’s Analytics and Cyber Group. Since joining the USPS Corporate Information Security Office in 2018, Nielsen has led several initiatives that bolstered the organization’s cybersecurity. He improved awareness and training […]
The Postal Service is reminding employees and contractors that they’re prohibited from speaking on behalf of the organization on websites, blogs and other forms of social media without permission. Under the organization’s policy, employees must receive written permission from the USPS social media and legal teams and the appropriate vice president before establishing online accounts […]
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar to learn easy ways to add more fruits and vegetables to your day in the most delicious way. The session, “Get More Plants on Your Plate,” will be held Thursday, Sept. 2, at noon EDT. Jillian Griffith, a nutritionist for the Giant supermarket chain, will conduct […]
President Joe Biden has ordered U.S. flags flown at half-staff to honor U.S. service members and other victims of the Aug. 26 terrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. Flags should be flown at half-staff until Aug. 30 at sunset. To fly the flag at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak for an instant and then […]
Postmaster Relief Amy Barber was recently on duty in Scotland, GA, when she grew concerned about a customer, Karen Murphy, whose Post Office Box was filling up. Barber requested a wellness check, and Murphy was found unconscious at home, in dire need of medical attention. The gravely ill customer was rushed to a hospital, and […]
Kudos to all the winning safety posters highlighted in “Aiming for the heart.” Kaneohe, HI, Retail Associate Gerry Nelmida’s 15-year-old son, Tyler, is a very talented artist. […]
The Postal Service is reminding employees about an important deadline involving the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is requiring all federal agencies to verify eligible family members who are enrolled in the program, also known as FEHB, by Aug. 31. To comply with this regulation, USPS employees who are […]
The Postal Service’s ACE computers will receive software updates this month that will improve security, functionality and compatibility with Office 365 products and other programs. The updates will occur in three phases: • BIOS update, which will consist of a set of computer instructions that control input and output; • Driver update, which involves a […]
“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 hurricane season end? a) Sept. 15 b) Oct. 31 c) Nov. 1 d) Nov. 30 2. True or false: Bronze2021, the new Analytics University certification program, uses BlueTube videos […]
Employees at the Anaheim, CA, Processing and Distribution Center were thrilled last year when USPS chose the facility for solar panel installation. “How did we get so lucky?” Maintenance Manager Frank Garcia remembers thinking. One asset in the site’s favor, he later found out, was the facility’s new roof. Alas, Murphy’s Law prevailed. The panels’ […]
The Postal Service is reminding managers and supervisors to protect USPS computer systems and resources by proactively approving, denying, suspending or terminating user privileges through eAccess. Access should not be granted to the organization’s systems or resources unless it’s absolutely necessary. Grant as few privileges as possible to limit user access and protect postal technology. […]
The Postal Service wants its retail locations to start preparing now for the busy peak delivery season before it kicks into high gear this fall. Retail locations should use the next few weeks to get lobby areas in order by, for instance, running diagnostics on all self-service kiosk customer display units and other equipment to […]