The Postal Service is asking employees to adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for social distancing and face coverings as coronavirus infections surge across the United States. The latest data show that the number of people with COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, tops 1 million per week. USPS employees […]
Rural Carrier Associate Troy Boswell was recently delivering mail in Ronceverte, WV, when he spotted a fire in a customer’s backyard. Boswell immediately called 911, honked his horn and rushed to knock on the front door of the residence. The customer — a recovering stroke victim who relies on a wheelchair — answered the door, […]
I got three correct answers on last week’s “News Quiz.” I need to read Link more often! […]
“Dear Santa,” a documentary about USPS Operation Santa, will be released in select theaters and through video-on-demand on Friday, Dec. 4. The film shines a light on the annual program that allows Postal Service employees, customers and organizations to “adopt” letters to Santa Claus and fulfill holiday wish lists from children and others who are […]
The South Dakota girl whose appreciation for the Postal Service captured headlines at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic has written a children’s book about the experience. “Sincerely, Emerson: A Girl, Her Letter and the Helpers All Around Us” will be published Dec. 8 by HarperCollins. “It’s kind of crazy,” said the author, Emerson Weber. […]
Do you wear eyeglasses, contact lenses or visit the dentist more than twice a year? If so, experts say a flexible spending account (FSA) is likely a good option for you. FSAs can help your health care dollars go further — but only if you plan accordingly. FSAs allow you to set aside money on […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. What is the title of this year’s USPS holiday commercial? a) “Home” b) “Home for the Holidays” c) “Home Is Where the Heart Is” d) “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” 2. […]
I love the Postal Service’s “Home” TV commercial. I’ve watched it six times. It touched me on so many levels. […]
Now that Election Day has passed, the Postal Service is providing employees an update on the rules surrounding political activities under the Hatch Act. Under the law, political activities are defined as those directed toward the success or failure of a political party, partisan political group or candidate for partisan political office. Since the election […]
Elvin Mercado has been named Atlantic Area’s acting retail and delivery operations vice president. He replaces Sal Vacca, who is on extended leave. Atlantic Area has 19 districts, more than 121,000 employees, and 29.8 million delivery points that are serviced from more than 8,600 Post Offices. Mercado had been manager of Westchester District in New […]
Do you have questions about high-deductible health plans (HDHPs), one type of health insurance coverage available during this year’s open season? Here’s what you should know: • HDHPs generally offer lower premiums than other plans. This means you’ll have less money taken out of your paycheck. • HDHPs give you greater flexibility. While HDHPs have […]
A new video shows how customers can participate in USPS Operation Santa. The program allows Postal Service employees, customers and organizations to “adopt” letters to Santa Claus and fulfill holiday wish lists from children and others who are less fortunate. The one-minute animated video is hosted by Holly, the program’s “spokeself.” She offers instructions for […]
USPS is offering savings on Mastercard gift card purchases at select Post Office locations this month. From Nov. 28-Dec. 11, 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. […]
I enjoyed reading the article about how the Postal Service is recycling undeliverable Marketing Mail. It’s great to see the organization thinking outside of the box with sustainability initiatives that generate revenue. […]
The Postal Service’s training and conference properties in Maryland and Oklahoma are working to recoup lost revenue as result of the coronavirus pandemic. The Bolger Center in Potomac, MD, and the National Center for Employee Development (NCED) in Norman, OK, both have hotels and restaurants, in addition to conference rooms. Before the pandemic, both properties […]
Timothy Costello has been named Southern Area’s retail and delivery operations vice president, succeeding Shaun Mossman, who plans to retire from the Postal Service on Dec. 31. The area has 18 postal districts spread across 11 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee, as well as […]
Postal Service employees who want to save money for future medical expenses have several options to choose from during this year’s open season, which runs from Nov. 9-Dec. 14. 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 […]
The Postal Service’s policy limiting business travel during the coronavirus pandemic has been extended until at least Jan. 19, 2021. The policy affects all business trips, including in-person training. Only travel that is deemed critical to the organization’s mission and trips that cannot be postponed will be approved. However, certain travel will be necessary in […]
The USPS Ethics Office has redesigned its Blue page to give employees easier access to ethics-related information. The page is laid out with several blue boxes, each covering a topic, such as “Gifts from Outside Sources,” “Misuse of Time” and “Political Activity.” Clicking on a box will take the visitor to a secondary page that […]
I’m so proud of the efforts of the Postal Service employees who are working to recycle undeliverable Marketing Mail for home insulation. I hope this will be a requirement across the organization. […]
A safety meeting held one morning earlier this year at the Erie, PA, Processing and Distribution Center turned into a scene of crisis when an employee experienced a medical emergency. Maintenance Operations Support Supervisor Lee Huhta immediately called 911 when Electronic Technician Paul Kircher complained of physical discomfort. As Kircher’s symptoms worsened, Huhta was joined […]
The Postal Service’s new holiday television commercial began airing Nov. 13. The commercial, titled “Home,” shows holiday mail and packages working their way through a mail processing center and being loaded onto trucks while mail carriers get ready to start their delivery rounds. Carriers are then shown making deliveries in rain and snow. The commercial […]
Do you know the difference between a deductible and a copayment? If you don’t know, 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: This is the amount you pay for covered […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. The Postal Service is working with the Sandboxx app to help customers use Informed Delivery to connect with whom? a) College freshmen b) Kindergarteners c) Military recruits d) None of the […]
The Postal Service’s collaboration with Sandboxx, an app that helps families and friends send physical letters to military recruits in basic training, is excellent. […]
In this week’s all-employee video message, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy discusses the significance of the holiday shipping and mailing season. “Many customers will be ordering more gifts online this year than they normally would. With fewer people traveling for the holidays, those cards and gifts will mean more. That is why our role in connecting […]
The Postal Service has announced additional price changes for next year. If reviewed favorably by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), the changes would take effect Jan. 24, 2021. Here’s a list of current and planned prices: Priority Mail small flat-rate box: $8.30 (current), $8.45 (planned) Priority Mail medium flat-rate box: $15.05 (current), $15.50 (planned) Priority […]
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. Checkbook has information about all plans available through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The comparison tool allows you to find the right health plan for you and your […]
The Postal Service is reminding facilities to have sufficient coronavirus pandemic-related supplies on hand — and to accurately and regularly report their inventories in the organization’s field surveys. Each facility should have a 30-to-45-day supply of COVID-19 materials, including face coverings and gloves; cleaning and disinfectant products; and hand soaps, sanitizer and paper towels. Having […]
Do you have a co-worker who could use a little cheer this holiday season? Maybe it’s someone who deserves recognition for a job well done, or someone who simply embodies the spirit of postal pride. Whatever the situation, why not send them a Hollygram? The Postal Service has created six templates that employees can use […]