Geese used to congregate around the Cincinnati Network Distribution Center the way crows congregated around Tippi Hedren in “The Birds.” Besides dive-bombing workers entering or exiting, the geese were leaving calling cards everywhere, requiring 200-plus hours of pressure-washing at a cost of more than $10,000 a year in overtime and chemical repellents. John Pittl, a […]
Wallkill, NY, Rural Carrier Austin Heller was recently delivering mail when he witnessed a collision that left a vehicle in flames. While 911 was called, Heller — who is also a volunteer firefighter — stopped and rushed to aid the victims in the car on fire. The Postal Service employee rescued two children buckled in […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. According to research, how much water should you drink every 20 minutes to protect yourself in hot weather? a) 4 ounces b) 6 ounces c) 8 ounces d) 10 ounces 2. […]
The Postal Service has launched Ask Ben, an automated bot that can help employees troubleshoot issues with USPS-issued devices and online accounts. Named after Benjamin Franklin, the first Postmaster General, Ask Ben appears as a purple-colored chat bubble in the bottom right corner of the IT Self Help welcome page. When employees click on the […]
Gene Robbins loves being on the road. “You’re on your own most of the time and need to make decisions on your own,” he said. Robbins, who works out of Madison, is one of several Wisconsin-based USPS tractor-trailer operators (TTOs). TTOs drive 18-wheel, semitractor-trailers and other trucks to haul mail, equipment and other materials between […]
Letter Carrier Cory Chapman was recently making deliveries in a Buffalo, NY, neighborhood when a customer yelled for help at her residence. Chapman rushed to aid the woman, who was going into diabetic shock and quickly weakening. She asked him to get a neighbor across the street, which the Postal Service employee promptly did, and […]
I remember the time in history highlighted in “Golden eagle,” the article about how the modern Postal Service was born. We had integrity and pride. We were committed to serving the public. We also wanted to receive a fair wage. […]
The Postal Service will mark its 50th anniversary as an independent agency on July 1. The organization traces its origins to 1775, when the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin Postmaster General of the United Colonies, predecessor to the United States. In the 19th century, the Post Office became an executive department, then transitioned to […]
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar to learn how to use mindfulness to curb emotional eating. The session, “Managing Stress Eating,” will be held Thursday, July 8, at noon EDT. Emily Massi, a nutritionist for the Giant supermarket chain, will conduct the webinar and help participants distinguish between hunger and coping with […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Where will Oshkosh Defense build the Postal Service’s next-generation delivery vehicles? a) Daleville, AL b) Oshkosh, WI c) Quantico, VA d) Spartanburg, SC 2. What was Chief Retail and Delivery Officer […]
The Postal Service is reemphasizing the importance of good work attendance in a new informational campaign. The campaign centers on this message: While it is vitally important for employees to stay home when they are ill, it is equally important — for the organization’s success — to have employees report on time for their assigned […]
The Postal Service is reminding employees about recent changes to the Federal Flexible Spending Account program that have created new options for participants. The program, also known as FSAFEDS, allows employees to make pretax payroll contributions to cover their family’s health, dental, vision and day care expenses, saving approximately 30 percent on out-of-pocket costs. Recently […]
The Postal Service wants employees to protect themselves from heat-related illnesses as summertime temperatures start to heat up. You should hydrate before, during and after work, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Research shows you should drink at least 8 ounces of water every 20 minutes. On warm days, wear light-colored, loose-fitting and breathable clothing […]
Letter Carrier Darin Chew was recently delivering mail in a Sun City, AZ, neighborhood when he heard a customer screaming for help outside her home. Chew rushed to check on the woman, who had just called 911 after finding her husband collapsed in their driveway while putting air in the tires of their car before […]
USPS has steadily improved its service performance in recent months, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy reports in his latest all-employee video message. The organization is achieving close to or better than 90 percent on-time delivery in First-Class Mail and Marketing Mail, and greater than 90 percent for first-class packages and Priority Mail. “This is the result […]
School is out and summer camp is in for many children, which means families will soon find themselves brushing up on the art of letter writing. Because a major attraction of sleepaway camp is the opportunity to power down from electronics and screen time, the U.S. Mail will be the main method many campers use […]
“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 Florida city hosted the dedication of Emilio Sanchez stamps? a) Jacksonville b) Miami c) Orlando d) Tampa 2. Which children’s book features an illustration of Brooklyn, NY, Letter Carrier Maricruz […]
I absolutely loved “Attitude of gratitude,” the article about Brian Floca, the author who wrote a children’s book about USPS employees and other essential workers. […]
The Postal Service dedicated its Sun Science stamps June 18 during a ceremony that celebrated the ongoing exploration of Earth’s nearest star. “We hope these amazing stamps will help generate the same sense of wonder and curiosity about our star that inspired our ancestors and the scientists at NASA to want to better understand the […]
USPS wants Post Offices to ensure they have an adequate supply of burial flags on hand for customers who request them. Through the organization’s Burial Flag Program, all retail Post Offices serve as a burial flag repository. Employees must use the eBuyPlus system to order U.S. flags for the program. Flags will be shipped from […]
USPS has presented its Supplier Performance Awards to 13 firms that have collaborative business relationships with the organization. The annual awards — announced May 25 during a virtual ceremony — honor suppliers that contribute to the Postal Service’s positive bottom-line savings, increased revenue or performance results. Award recipients were recognized in four categories: • Supplier […]
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar to learn techniques that combine physical exercise with the stress-reducing benefits of meditation. The session, “Walking Meditation,” will be held on Wednesday, June 23, at noon EDT. GEHA, a not-for-profit provider of health plans for federal employees, will conduct the webinar and discuss focusing on the […]
Archer, IA, Retail Associate Richard Ludeke was off duty on a spring day two years ago when catastrophe struck: He and his wife, Miriam, were traveling in their vehicle on Iowa Highway 60 in Carnes when they witnessed a collision that left a 21-year-old motorist, Mindi Wikstrom, fighting for her life in a ditch. The […]
The Postal Service will celebrate the massive, radiant star that sits at the center of our solar system with the June 18 release of the Sun Science stamps. The only star that humans can observe in detail, the sun is a vital source of information about the universe. The Forever stamps will feature 10 stunning […]
“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 the special enrollment period for the Federal Flexible Spending Account program end? a) June 30 b) July 15 c) July 31 d) Aug. 15 2. True or false: The […]
Thanks for the informative and interesting articles in Link. It’s great to be in the know. […]
The Postal Service celebrated the art of Emilio Sanchez last week by dedicating new stamps that showcase four of his colorful architectural lithographs and paintings. The Miami ceremony was held on June 10 — the centennial of Sanchez’s birth, which Roman Martinez IV, vice chairman of the USPS Board of Governors, called “a perfect occasion […]
The theme for this year’s National Dog Bite Awareness Week is “Be Aware: Any Dog Can Bite,” and with 85 million pet dogs in the United States, that is no small threat. The Postal Service wants to remind customers and employees to follow best practices when dealing with dogs. Customers with dogs should: • Keep […]
USPS is offering several promotions at select Post Offices in time for Father’s Day and graduation season. From June 5-18, customers and employees will receive $2 off the activation fee of Visa gift cards valued at $50 and $100. Variable load gift cards are excluded. No coupon is needed. Through June 20, customers and employees […]
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar to learn about how prevention and early detection is an important part of routine health maintenance. “Men’s Health” will be held Friday, June 18, at noon EDT. The session is part of National Men’s Health Week. Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Virginia Hospital Center will […]