The world didn’t just lose one of its biggest movie stars when Kirk Douglas died last week. It also lost a prolific letter writer. Handwritten correspondence played a significant role throughout the life of the 103-year-old star of such classics as “Spartacus” and “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.” Douglas and his wife Anne Buydens, an […]
Tax time is prime time for scams. Cybercriminals steal millions of dollars each year by conning filers into revealing their names, birthdates and Social Security numbers, then using that information to file fraudulent tax returns. To protect yourself, the CyberSafe at USPS team offers the following tips: • File early. Filing taxes early with the […]
Connect four. USPS recently recognized four employees for their contributions to Business Connect, a program that encourages managers to promote postal products and services to their customers. The honorees are Acting Customer Services Manager Melony Ackey (Atlanta) and Postmasters Robert Bazan (Rio Grande City, TX), Oscar Gonzalez (Victorville, CA) and Jessica Labrecque (Elkview, WV). Each […]
Letter Carrier Brian Steik was delivering mail in Las Vegas one day last summer when he saw something that worried him: A visually impaired customer who lives alone was inexplicably sitting on her porch in scorching desert heat. Steik stopped to check on the woman, who said she had been outside most of the day […]
I love the “Full circle” article about Martha Deitrich and her family’s decades-long letter-writing tradition. […]
A few movies with mail themes are contenders for Academy Awards this weekend. The best animated feature category includes “Klaus,” the story of Jesper, a hapless mail carrier who is sent to work in a frozen town in the north where he discovers Santa Claus is hiding out. The film — which features the voices […]
Looking to show your significant other how much you care this Valentine’s Day? The Postal Service has you covered. A variety of unique gifts are available at usps.com, including stamps and stationery, as well as a few items that might surprise you. The offerings include a 14-karat gold necklace from the 2018 Love Flourishes stamp […]
“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 did the Postal Service dedicate Made of Hearts, this year’s Love stamp? a) Alpine, TX b) Memphis, TN c) Monterey Park, CA d) Washington, DC 2. Where are proceeds from […]
The Postal Service has introduced USPS Premium Tracking, an online tool that allows customers to extend their access to the tracking history for domestic packages on usps.com. Currently, customers using usps.com have limited access to tracking information for non-signature (120 days) and signature items (two years). Customers who purchase USPS Premium Tracking will have access […]
Michael J. Elston was recently appointed as a Postal Service officer and named secretary of the USPS Board of Governors. In this role, he will serve as the communication link between the governors and Postal Service management. Additionally, Elston will ensure compliance with legal requirements, supervise the board’s staff, provide legal advice in consultation with […]
Presorted Star, a stamp intended for business mailers, was released Feb. 3. The stamp features an asymmetrical design that includes one large white star, two white and three red stripes, and a blue background with letters and three small stars in gold. Greg Breeding served as art director and Matthew Pamer designed the stamp, which […]
Elvin Mercado sees safety as a matter of employee engagement — for every member of his team. The Westchester District manager strives to create a “safety culture” within the district, which is part of Northeast Area. “We want every employee to care deeply about their own safety and that of their colleagues. Building a safety […]
Employee deals update. Postal Service employees can further their education through the organization’s partnership with Liberty University, which offers 400 degrees — from associate’s to doctorate degrees — online. USPS employees and their spouses are eligible for a 15 percent tuition discount from Liberty. Employees who are first responders can receive an additional 25 percent […]
While football fans are getting ready for Super Bowl LIV in Miami this weekend, the Postal Inspection Service is working to secure the mail arriving at Hard Rock Stadium before the big game. “We do our part to keep the players, spectators and employees safe by ensuring the mail and packages going to the stadium […]
Area maintenance technicians Eric Coutcher and Dennis Danko were recently traveling together from the Toledo, OH, Processing and Distribution Center to the Napoleon, OH, Post Office when a fuel tanker heading in the opposite direction lost control and flipped over on its side. Coutcher and Danko safely parked on the side of the highway, immediately […]
I agree with Darryl Johnson who, in the “Best Practices” article “All in the delivery,” encourages his fellow letter carriers to scan each package at the delivery point. It makes a real difference for those of us who have to respond to “where’s my package?” inquiries every day. […]
Postmasters and other managers will receive new Business Connect kits this week. The kits contain information about small and lightweight shipping options for business customers. Also included: a survey for Postmasters, station and branch managers and customer services supervisors. “The Business Connect kits are a valuable tool for our field managers,” said Mary Anderson, small-business […]
Postal Service employees can participate in National Wear Red Day, which is held annually to raise awareness of heart disease. This year’s National Wear Red Day is Friday, Feb. 7. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, accounting for approximately 1 in every 4 deaths, […]
“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 USPS employees are covered by the organization’s new tentative agreement with the National Postal Mail Handlers Union? a) 430 b) 4,300 c) 43,000 d) 430,000 2. Why did […]
The Postal Service has resumed selling the Save Vanishing Species semipostal stamp. All Post Offices, stations, branches and contract postal units have been reauthorized to begin selling the stamps and related products again. The stamps will also be sold through Stamp Fulfillment Services and usps.com. The stamps, which feature an Amur tiger cub, were first […]
Malik Jackson knows each day brings opportunities to introduce USPS products and services to the public. “I love helping customers with any service they need, whether that’s shipping packages, letters and flats, address changes, scheduling pickups, or anything else,” says Jackson, a retail associate at the Manassas, VA, Post Office. USPS encourages all employees to […]
The Postal Service has released a video that lists the price changes that took effect Jan. 26. Under the changes, Mailing Services product prices increased by approximately 1.7 percent. Shipping Services price changes vary by product. The video, which debuted this week, lasts about 1 minute, 30 seconds. A 2020 price change kit and other […]
The Postal Service is committed to cultivating a positive and safe work environment that’s free of threats, intimidation, bullying and violence for all employees. To help fulfill this commitment, a threat assessment team is available to respond to threats, assaults and potential violence at all USPS locations. These teams are located at district and area […]
Employee deals update. Postal Service employees can further their education through the organization’s partnership with Southern New Hampshire University, which now includes access to the school’s College for America program. The university’s program offers specialized degrees that are designed to meet the needs of the USPS front-line workforce with approachable, competency-based learning. The current term […]
“Birthday boss” was a heartwarming story about a business leader who has written personalized birthday cards annually for every employee in his company. It’s a nice example of just how personable the mail can be. […]
Letter Carrier Mark Palmer was delivering mail one day last spring in a Decatur, GA, neighborhood when he came upon a customer experiencing a medical emergency. Mabel Walls, 79, had stumbled on her front steps and sliced an artery when she fell onto a lawn ornament, nearly splitting her foot in two. On a quiet […]
“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 blanks: The Postal Service workforce includes about (blank) letter carriers and (blank) city carrier assistants. a) 42,100; 166,300 b) 166,300; 42,100 c) 633,000; 42,100 d) 633,000; 166,300 2. […]
The Postal Service now offers a free benefit that makes it easier for employees who use H&R Block to file their taxes. Employees can now automatically upload information from their W-2 and 1095-C forms to the H&R Block tax preparation company. The tax information — secured with USPS information systems — is uploaded to H&R […]
Doris “Dorie” Miller has made U.S. naval history again. During a Martin Luther King Jr. Day ceremony last week, the U.S. Navy named an aircraft carrier after the World War II-era sailor, whom the Postal Service honored with a stamp in 2010. This marks the first time an aircraft carrier has been named for an […]
I loved the “Birthday boss” article about the chief executive officer who writes thousands of birthday cards to his employees each year. Having a boss who truly appreciates his employees and is so humble is a godsend. […]