The latest Combined Federal Campaign, the federal government’s annual workplace charity drive, will begin Monday, Sept. 21, and continue until Friday, Jan. 15. The campaign, also known as the CFC, allows individuals to contribute to more than 7,000 charitable organizations. All Postal Service workers, contractors and retirees can participate. “Through the Combined Federal Campaign, USPS […]
Retail Associate Terricita Scott was on duty one day last December in Rochester, NY, when she grew concerned about an older customer who was seeking to purchase and mail money orders worth several thousand dollars. After the man explained that a stranger had sent him a check to deposit, expecting a portion of the value […]
I loved the article “To the letter” about promoting literacy through letter writing. When I was in high school in the 1980s, I participated in a similar program in Hawaii called Aloha in a Letter Lasts Forever. I still write to many of my pen pals and, coincidentally, I’m now a USPS employee. […]
In his latest video message, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy updates employees on the organization’s recent activities. Topics include service improvements; the ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the response to Hurricane Laura, wildfires and other emergencies; and the Postal Service’s commitment to deliver election-related mail. DeJoy, who became Postmaster General in June, […]
You know it’s important to protect your email, but what about your videoconferencing calls? Platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams also present cybersecurity risks. Listeners who are unannounced could learn sensitive information, which could cause harm to the Postal Service. Here are a few tips from the CyberSafe at USPS team to help you […]
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar on long-term care insurance and retirement planning. The session, “Understanding FLTCIP 3.0,” will be held Thursday, Sept. 24, at 2 p.m. EDT. The administrators of the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) will conduct the webinar, which will explore the realities of long-term care, family […]
“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 will the Postal Service resume selling the Alzheimer’s semipostal stamp? a) Sept. 30 b) Oct. 1 c) Oct. 5 d) Nov. 1 2. True or false: The new Mayflower in […]
“Certainty 2” is a nice commercial celebrating USPS employees for serving customers during the coronavirus pandemic. Now is an ideal time to do a commercial on Informed Delivery to reinforce that message. […]
Informed Delivery has reached 30 million subscribers, another milestone for the free online feature. Customers who subscribe to Informed Delivery can digitally preview their incoming mail and manage their packages from computers, smartphones and other devices. Businesses and other organizations can use Informed Delivery to add interactive content to the notifications that consumers receive. When a customer […]
Postal Service employees are remembering Mike Spates, a beloved USPS retiree who died Aug. 28 at age 77. Spates joined the organization as an operations records analyst in 1972 and served in a variety of roles during his 37-year career, including managerial positions in delivery, retail, processing, transportation, pricing and stamps. Under Spates’ leadership, the […]
Jorge Vaquera is all about the conversation. The Tehachapi, CA, Postmaster regularly meets with his employees to conduct “next-level connection” discussions, which allow them to share observations about their workplace environment. “We always need to recognize all of our people. We need to know what’s going on,” he says. The Postal Service wants all managers and supervisors […]
USPS is offering savings on Mastercard card purchases at select Post Office locations this month. From Sept. 5-18, 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. […]
To help mark National Preparedness Month in September, the Postal Service wants employees to keep their technology updated in case of an emergency. Mobile phones, computers and tablets can be lifesavers if disaster strikes, but only if they are reliable and work properly. Poor battery life and outdated operating systems can render mobile phones and […]
I hate that the “Thank You for the Thank-You’s” videos series is ending. The videos offered good news during a time when we all could use some. […]
Rural Carrier Associate Hannah Parks was delivering packages to a residence in Payette, ID, one day last winter when she saw an alarming sight through the window beside the front door: A woman was sprawled out motionless on the floor in her kitchen. The customer roused when Parks knocked on the glass, but she was […]
Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar to learn about the practice of mindfulness. The session, “Modern Day Mindfulness,” will be held Thursday, Sept. 17, at noon EDT. CareFirst and the Virginia Hospital Center will conduct the webinar and provide an overview of the art of mindfulness, including what it is and exercises […]
“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 business customer received the Postal Service’s Partnership for Growth Award during a recent National Postal Forum webinar? a) Citibank b) Macy’s c) Poshmark d) State Farm Insurance 2. Fill in […]
Rural Carrier Arthur Corey had just delivered a package to a residence in Green Bay, WI, one day last year when he spotted something amiss as he drove away. Customer Pat Van Dyke slipped as she went to retrieve the package, and Corey saw her through a storm door, sprawled out on the floor. Corey […]
With the 50th anniversary of Postal Reorganization Act, highlighted in the article “On hand for history,” we are reminded that U.S citizens here and abroad rely on us to perform our duty in the manner we have for more than 200 years. No other agency or private company can provide service like postal employees, who take […]
USPS has released a television commercial that celebrates the organization’s employees and their commitment to serving customers during the coronavirus pandemic. The 30-second spot — “Certainty 2,” a follow-up to a commercial that debuted in the spring — shows real-life employees working to make deliveries happen. “We live in uncertain times,” the narrator says. “However, […]
An educational publisher, an Illinois library and a local Post Office came together this summer to promote literacy through letter writing. The Eureka Public Library’s summer reading program encouraged young readers to become writers by sending letters of encouragement to teachers, grandparents, veterans, nursing home residents or long-distance friends. The kids were encouraged to use […]
USPS employees who haven’t completed the Postal Pulse employee survey must do so before Friday, Sept. 4, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. The survey, which began last month, is a tool to help the Postal Service become a better place to work. It takes about five minutes to complete the survey, which has 14 questions and […]
The Postal Service has honored Poshmark with its prestigious Partnership for Growth Award. Poshmark, a social commerce platform for retailers and shoppers, uses technology to help people build thriving retail businesses. In a statement last week, the Postal Service said the company “embodies forward-thinking, innovative solutions and has made significant achievements to excel in the […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Approximately how many custodians belong to the Postal Service workforce? a) 137 b) 1,370 c) 13,700 d) 137,000 2. True or false: USPS employees shouldn’t create and post their own posters […]
I appreciate the custodians recognized in the article “Keeping it clean.” They do important work. However, it would be nice to also recognize USPS retail associates, who perform cleaning duties, too. […]
The Postal Service is continuing to experience dramatic shifts in its business due to the coronavirus pandemic, Chief Financial Officer Joe Corbett reports in his latest “Dollars and Change” video. Quarantines, stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions have affected customers and businesses, leading to deep declines in First-Class Mail and Marketing Mail volumes during fiscal year […]
Larry Garrett never misses his opportunity to participate in the Postal Pulse. The Manassas, VA, letter carrier completes the USPS employee survey every year. “The survey provides a good avenue of communication between employees and management,” he says. The Postal Service encourages all employees to follow Garrett’s lead and participate in the survey. The latest […]
September is National Preparedness Month, a reminder that emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere without notice — and that the time to prepare is before a disaster happens. Before a natural disaster or another emergency strikes at work, it’s important for Postal Service employees to know their facility’s emergency action plan. Talk to your manager or supervisor if […]
September is National Cholesterol Education Month, a time to learn more about cholesterol and how it affects your health. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in the body and meat, seafood, dairy, eggs and other food products. Lifestyle behaviors, family history and health conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, can adversely affect cholesterol levels. […]
Rural Carrier Associate Jacqueline Rimmer was delivering mail on a rainy day last winter in Stone Mountain, GA, when she spotted a 93-year-old woman lying on the ground in a wooded area near her home. Rimmer rushed to check on the woman, who had fallen — sustaining cuts and bruises — and become stranded after […]