Thursday, February 15, 2024
Wintry weather has an icy grip on much of the U.S.
Snowstorms delivered a one-two punch in the Northeast and Midwest this week
Clipper snowstorms delivered the first of an expected one-two punch in the Northeast and Midwest on Feb. 13, and heavy rain and mountain snow are expected to bring flooding and mudslides this week in the West.
Areas of the Plains will see up to 6 inches of snow.
The Postal Service is continuing to deliver where it is safe to do so, including Waterbury, CT, which received almost a foot of snow this week.
“I was looking like a snowman out here,” Tom Huria, a letter carrier who has been delivering mail for almost 40 years, told a TV news crew.
USPS is asking customers in regions affected by inclement weather to clear snow and ice from sidewalks, stairs, porches and areas near mailboxes.
Carriers who “cannot reach your mailbox … cannot deliver your mail,” said New York 2 District Manager John Tortorice.
The Service Alerts and Newsroom pages on usps.com have the latest updates on service disruptions and operational adjustments.
Off the Clock
Turning back the ‘Clock’
Catch up with recent stories — and let us know if you have recommendations
“Off the Clock” is taking the week off.
Link’s column on Postal Service employees and their after-hours pursuits won’t have a new edition this week, so take some time to catch up with stories you may have missed.
In recent weeks, we profiled Theresa Smith, a Maryland postmaster who volunteers as a Chesapeake Bay storyteller; Jacob Howley, a Washington, DC, attorney who performs in a band; Valarie Faria, a New York postmaster who raises butterflies; Christian Johnston, a Utah customer services coordinator who performs in musical theater; and Douglas Lowe, an Idaho postmaster whose passion is coral reef restoration.
If you have recommendations for future “Off the Clock” columns, email the Link team.
Hail to the chiefs
The annual observance of presidents is Feb. 19
Washington’s Birthday, also known as Presidents Day, will be observed Monday, Feb. 19.
The annual observance began in the early 19th century. After George Washington’s death in 1799, his birthday — Feb. 22 — was celebrated informally across the young nation.
In 1879, Congress declared Feb. 22 a federal holiday.
A 1968 law moved the Washington’s Birthday holiday to the third Monday of each February.
With the holiday no longer attached to the former president’s date of birth, the day came to celebrate all U.S. commanders in chief.
In addition to observing Washington’s Birthday, the Postal Service salutes presidents through its stamp program.
Every deceased U.S. president has appeared on at least one stamp.
The most recent stamp to feature a president was a 2019 release honoring George H.W. Bush, the 41st president, who served from 1989 to 1993 and died in 2018.
February 22, 2024
Datebook
‘USPS: Medicare + FEHB’
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar that will examine how Medicare works with the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.
The session, “USPS: Medicare + FEHB,” will be held Thursday, Feb. 22, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from GEHA, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will lead the discussion.
Participants must register before the event on the webinar website.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must be off the clock or on authorized breaks.
Employees who have questions can email the Benefits and Wellness team.
WestPac, California 6 lead in scanning data
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.44 percent during the week ending Feb. 9, down 0.11 percent from one week earlier.
The data was collected Feb. 14.
WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 96.84 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 95.81 percent rating.
Among the 50 districts, California 6, part of WestPac Area, ranked first with a 97.82 percent rating, while South Carolina, part of Southern Area, ranked last with a 91.78 percent rating.
Scanning data allows customers to track their mail and packages, which helps USPS deliver excellent service, boost loyalty and drive revenue.
To see the latest data, go to the Informed Visibility website and select “Customer Experience,” followed by “DES 2 Scan Performance.” Postal Service employees must request Informed Visibility access through eAccess.
View past printouts
Printout details
What's included
-
Wintry weather has an icy grip on much of the U.S.
-
Off the Clock
Turning back the ‘Clock’
Catch up with recent stories — and let us know if you have recommendations
-
Hail to the chiefs
The annual observance of presidents is Feb. 19
-
February22Datebook
‘USPS: Medicare + FEHB’
-
Brief
WestPac, California 6 lead in scanning data