To help get you in the mood for this year’s Thanksgiving travel crunch, here are eight facts about plane, train and automobile transportation in the United States. 1. If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, you aren’t alone. More than 55 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more away from home this holiday, according […]
Online shopping isn’t just transforming the way consumers purchase goods — it’s also creating business opportunities for the Postal Service. The United States is home to an estimated 224 million people who shop online, a figure that is expected to reach 230 million during the next two years, according to research by Statista, a global […]
A newly updated video about the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) reminds employees to conduct a “health plan checkup” during this year’s open season. The three-minute segment, “FEHB Health Plans: Your Changing Life,” encourages employees to evaluate their health care options to ensure they have the coverage they need. The video also explains how […]
Lisa Doran had just given birth prematurely to twins, a boy and girl, when she received more life-changing news: Her 4-year-old son, Tom, had late-stage leukemia. This was in 1999, several years before Doran — an Essex, MA, retail associate — began her Postal Service career. In addition to being concerned about her son’s diagnosis, […]
I loved “‘Amazed’ by Grace,” the article about Cincinnati Letter Carrier Melissa Tilton, who helped Grace Flannery learn about delivering mail. Thanks to all USPS employees who made this happen. […]
It was a July day in Grand Rapids, MI, when Letter Carrier Dustin Brown spotted a 3-year-old boy walking alone on a street, wearing only a diaper. The child was unable to say where he lived, so Brown sheltered him in a USPS vehicle and called 911. The Postal Service employee comforted the boy until […]
To mark Native American Heritage Month, here are five facts about the annual commemoration and the people it celebrates. 1. The first Native American Heritage Month was celebrated in 1990. President George H.W. Bush signed a joint resolution designating November as “National American Indian Heritage Month.” The name of the commemoration later evolved into Native […]
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. For the Postal Service, it’s also the most important time — especially from a business perspective. Peak season occurs annually from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. This period — which lasts anywhere from 34 to 40 days, depending on the calendar — always includes the busiest mailing, […]
A newly updated video reminds Postal Service employees of the importance of the open season benefits enrollment period. The two-minute segment, “2019 Open Season,” notes that employees’ circumstances may change from year to year. For example, some employees may want to add a dependent to their plan, while other workers may determine they no longer […]
Raymond German Jr. says the secret to his 58-year postal career is simple: USPS has been good to him. German, a mail processing clerk at the Suburban Maryland Processing and Distribution Center in Gaithersburg, began his career in 1961, following two years with the U.S. Navy. USPS leaders and colleagues recently gathered at the facility […]
Letter Carrier Jeffrey Willis was recently delivering mail in an Alliance, OH, neighborhood when he encountered an older customer, Duane Zorger, who was in medical distress outside his residence. Willis called 911 and remained on the scene until emergency responders arrived and took Zorger to a hospital, where he was evaluated for a potential stroke. […]
I enjoy the articles in Link and the weekly “News Quiz.” Keep up the good work! […]
Here’s Link’s latest “News Quiz,” a weekly feature that invites readers to test their knowledge of recent stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Approximately how many packages per day does USPS expect to deliver through the remainder of this year? a) 8 million b) 8.5 million c) 20.5 million d) 28 million […]
Do you need help figuring out which health care, dental and vision plan is best for you during open season? If so, you can use Checkbook’s Guide to Health Plans on the Open Season LiteBlue page to compare available options. Once you’re ready to make a change, use PostalEASE to enroll in the Federal Employees […]
Do you know a Postal Service employee who is going the extra mile for customers during this year’s peak delivery season? If so, USPS wants to hear from you. The organization is collecting stories and photos of employees who do whatever it takes to get the job done during the holidays. These materials will be published […]
The Postal Service has reported its financial results for fiscal 2019 (Oct. 1, 2018-Sept. 30, 2019). Here are some highlights: • Revenue. Operating revenue was $71.1 billion, up 0.7 percent from the previous fiscal year. The increase was driven largely by price changes and continued growth in shipping and packages, where revenue increased 6.1 percent. […]
I thank Jessie Harris, the Westchester, NY, custodian and U.S. Army veteran — featured in “‘I still remember the fear’” — who was held as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam era. […]
Letter Carrier Scott Wirtz was recently delivering mail in Wisconsin Rapids, WI, when he encountered an older couple in crisis at their residence. One of the customers was incapacitated after a fall, and the other was unable to render aid. Wirtz immediately called 911 and calmed the couple. Paramedics soon arrived to provide further assistance. […]
USPS doesn’t just serve every community in the United States. The Postal Service is part of every community, too. The organization manages more than 31,000 Post Offices in the United States. This means USPS has the nation’s largest retail network — bigger than McDonald’s, Starbucks and Walmart combined, domestically. Customers know they can go to […]
To mark the start of this year’s open season benefits enrollment period, here are five facts about health care in the United States collected by the Online Medical Care information website. 1. American health care is expensive. The United States spent $3.3 trillion — or $10,348 per person — on medical care in 2016, according […]
The Postal Service wants employees to know about some important changes concerning the open season benefits enrollment period that began this week. Here’s a rundown: • The U.S. Office of Personnel Management recently announced that the average total premiums for individuals enrolled in plans under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) will increase 4 […]
The Postal Service recently honored five districts and one area with its first annual Safety Leadership and Vision Awards. During a ceremony Oct. 31 at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC, awards were presented to representatives from Appalachian, Greater Boston, Northern New England, Northern Virginia and Westchester districts and Northeast Area. The awards honor districts and […]
To Jessie Harris, the Westchester, NY, custodian and U.S. Army veteran who was held captive as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, I want to say: “Thank you.” […]
Letter Carrier Andres Rendon was recently delivering mail in an Orangevale, CA, neighborhood when he spotted a 20-month-old boy wandering into a busy street, unnoticed by his grandparents nearby. Rendon leapt into action and safely stopped traffic in both directions. The toddler’s caregivers soon realized what was happening and retrieved him. “Quick thinking by Andres […]
The Postal Service will deliver more than 28 million packages per day from Dec. 16-21, and the organization will average 20.5 million packages per day through the rest of the year, new projections show. USPS anticipates it will deliver 800 million packages between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day — more than any other shipper, according […]
Closer inspection. The Postal Inspection Service has redesigned its website to make it easier for consumers to find crime prevention tips and to learn about the agency. The site offers information on avoiding common types of crime — including mail and identify theft, lottery scams and phishing — as well as guidelines on reporting suspicious […]
A new Postal Service video features highlights from the dedication ceremony for the Winter Berries stamps. The Sept. 17 event was held at the Tulsa Botanic Gardens in Oklahoma. The stamps feature highly detailed botanical portraits of winterberry (Ilex verticillata), juniper berry (Juniperus communis), beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) and soapberry (Sapindus saponaria) plants. “Soon enough, those […]
Here’s Link’s latest “News Quiz,” a weekly feature that invites readers to test their knowledge of recent stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Fill in the blank: Approximately (blank) military veterans are employed by the Postal Service. a) 1,000 b) 10,000 c) 100,000 d) 1 million 2. What USPS service allows small-business […]
I loved “Best buddies,” the article about Springfield, PA, Letter Carrier Bette Stewart’s friendship with an 11-year-old boy who has autism. […]
Letter Carrier Matthew Toldness was on the job recently near the Wausau, WI, Post Office when he spotted a 5-year-old girl attempting to cross a busy street by herself. Toldness approached the child and guided her to safety, then walked her to the Post Office. The girl told officials she was upset over being ignored […]