Because the Postal Service is committed to the health and well-being of its workforce, the organization is reminding employees of certain rights they have under the recently enacted Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The legislation is meant to ensure that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed […]
The Postal Service is providing employees and contractors with an “essential service provider letter” they can show to law enforcement officers in case they’re stopped and questioned during the coronavirus pandemic. The letter explains that USPS is part of the nation’s critical infrastructure and is continuing normal operations during the pandemic. The letter also affirms […]
USPS is offering a promotion on Visa gift cards at select Post Office locations. From April 4-17, employees and customers will receive $3.95 off the purchase fee of a Visa gift card valued at $100. Variable load gift cards are excluded from this offer. No coupon is needed. […]
The Postal Service is again educating employees about the Hatch Act by providing examples of co-workers who broke the law. The Hatch Act aims to keep politics out of federal workplaces by prohibiting workers from engaging in political activity while on duty, while wearing a uniform, while on federal property or while inside a federal […]
Durice Washburn knows a thing or two about safe driving. Last year, the National Safety Council recognized the Old Town, ME, rural carrier for driving at least 30 years, or approximately 1 million miles, without causing an accident. Washburn has spent most of her 36-year postal career on the same route, which covers 72 miles […]
Action star. Hung Bui, a USPS enterprise computing support manager and 23-year employee, is profiled in the latest edition of Diversity in Action magazine. Bui oversees 35 employees who provide telephone, computer and other technical support to workers at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC. “I define my success by the success of those in my […]
I was extremely happy to read “Remove and discard,” the article reminding employees to remove all labels and tags from mail sacks, trays and tubs. It’s a very important step in the correct processing of mail. […]
An older customer in Coatesville, PA, recently faced a dire situation: The woman had fallen in her bedroom overnight and couldn’t reach her phone or her medical alert device. The customer knew Rural Carrier Pamela Irwin would bring mail to the front door in the afternoon, so she dragged herself to the kitchen in hopes […]
Gwen Ifill was co-moderating a 2016 Democratic presidential primary debate when she turned to one of the candidates, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and raised a provocative topic. “When we talk about race in this country, we always talk about African Americans, people of color,” Ifill said. “I want to talk about white people, OK?” “White people?” […]
The Postal Service has introduced the Intelligent Mail Barcode Generator (IMbg), an application that allows employees to generate barcoded mailpieces from any USPS workstation. IMbg is web-based and lets users print barcoded addresses on labels, envelopes, postcards and letter-size inserts. The application also lets users create or upload address lists, validate addresses with the Address […]
Link has published many stories recently about the coronavirus pandemic. You can stay up to date by reading our overview of COVID-19 Command Response, the group leading the Postal Service’s response to the pandemic, and watching Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan’s video update. Other stories focus on efforts to encourage USPS employees to sign up […]
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. True or false: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization and other public health authorities have indicated there’s no evidence that the new coronavirus, which causes […]
Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan has established COVID-19 Response Command, a group within the Postal Service that will help ensure the organization takes a comprehensive approach to its response to the coronavirus pandemic. The group is led by Kristin Seaver, who has stepped away from her regular duties as chief information officer to serve as […]
The Postal Service has canceled the dedication ceremonies for four stamps. The organization is following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has advised people to avoid gatherings of 10 people or more, because of the coronavirus pandemic. Typically, USPS stamp ceremonies attract 200 or more attendees. Here’s a list of […]
USPS will conduct all passport application services by appointment only, beginning March 25. Customers can use a computer or mobile device to go to usps.com/scheduler to make appointments. This feature, also known as the Retail Customer Appointment Scheduler, guides users through four easy steps, allowing them to choose a day, location and time, and to […]
Gerald Ramos is such a fan of Informed Delivery that he wants everyone to use it. “I’m surprised when I meet people who still have no idea what Informed Delivery is,” he says. The Suncoast District business development specialist is always busy promoting the free feature, which allows users to receive digital previews of their […]
The Postal Service is transitioning to Zoom, a new teleconferencing platform that will eventually replace WebEx, the organization’s current online meeting tool. Zoom offers reliable, user-friendly online video conferencing and teleconferencing. “Our goal is to reduce in-person meetings and emails in favor of personalized video meetings,” said Acting Chief Information Officer Scott Bombaugh. “This will […]
Congratulations to Link on the well-deserved Ragan’s Employee Communications Award, highlighted in the “Our ‘Heroes’” article. Thank you for inspiring readers like me. […]
Chester, PA, Letter Carrier Joseph Ho was recently delivering mail when he spotted an older customer, Robert Dreisbach, who has Parkinson’s disease, lying on a sidewalk near his residence. Ho rushed to check on Dreisbach, who was bleeding profusely from a head wound. The Postal Service employee immediately called 911; alerted Dreisbach’s wife, Maryann; rendered […]
The Postal Service used Informed Delivery last week to provide subscribers with helpful information about the coronavirus pandemic. Informed Delivery is a free notification feature that allows consumers to receive digital images of their incoming mail. Users can see the images in a digest emailed to them or through an online dashboard. On March 14, […]
The Postal Service is limiting all business-related travel. USPS leaders will only approve travel requests that are critical to the organization’s mission, require the traveler’s physical presence and cannot be postponed. The policy took effect March 17 and will last until May 11, although it could be extended. The Postal Service instituted the policy following […]
The Postal Service wants employees to remember the differences between Election Mail and Political Mail. Election Mail refers to mail that allows individuals to participate in the voting process, such as ballots for domestic or international delivery. Political Mail falls into two different categories: Political Campaign Mail and Political Message Mail. Political Campaign Mail 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. Fill in the blank: Approximately (blank) USPS employees are covered by the organization’s new contract with the American Postal Workers Union. a) 100,000 b) 200,000 c) 300,000 d) 400,000 2. True […]
The dedication ceremony for the Maine Statehood Forever stamp, scheduled for March 15, has been delayed. The stamp was released on that date as planned, and customers can purchase it at Post Offices and usps.com. The Maine Bicentennial Commission, the host of the dedication ceremony, postponed its Statehood Day ceremony amid concerns about large gatherings […]
Due to the spread of COVID-19, the disease associated with the coronavirus pandemic, the Postal Service is requiring advanced written approval for business travel for all officers, executives and non-bargaining employees. This precautionary measure, which took effect last week, is consistent with recent guidance from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. USPS is encouraging employees […]
Laura Tapia understands the importance of scanning to Postal Service customers — and to the organization itself. Scanning data allows customers to track their mail and packages, which helps USPS deliver excellent service, boost consumer loyalty and drive revenue. “The customer needs to know where and when we will deliver the parcel. That’s why scanning […]
The Postal Service is again reminding employees about the proper handling of mail transport equipment (MTE) tags and labels. The labels identify the destination for each mail container, which means a misplaced label can send the mail to the wrong destination. Employees are responsible for removing all labels and tags from sacks, trays and tubs […]
“Delivering for the nation” shows the great opportunity the Postal Service will have when it handles this year’s historic census mailing. […]
Letter Carrier Terry Hackelton was recently delivering mail in a Clarendon, AR, neighborhood on a hot day when he spotted a customer in distress. The woman, who is her 80s, had fallen in her backyard and tried unsuccessfully for a half-hour to flag down other passersby. Hackelton, who is also a trained first responder with […]
Every few months, Postal Service employees receive an Area Update newsletter in their mailboxes. It will soon arrive in their inboxes, too. Beginning this month, employees who subscribe to Informed Delivery will receive a digital preview of the latest Area Update before it arrives in the mail. The preview, which will appear in Informed Delivery […]