Friday, November 8, 2024
A salute to those who serve
USPS releases this year’s Veterans Day video
The Postal Service has released this year’s Veterans Day video honoring employees who have served, or are serving, in the military.
The video includes remarks from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy; Carroll Harris, a deputy chief inspector for the Postal Inspection Service and a retired U.S. Marine colonel; and Martin Mieras Jr., a USPS military program specialist and a retired Army command sergeant major.
Don’t use arrow keys in criminal activities
A new video warns employees on the dangers of collusion
The Postal Inspection Service and the USPS Office of Inspector General have produced a three-part video series to educate Postal Service employees about the dangers of colluding with criminals.
The first video, released this week, warns employees to never use their arrow and modified arrow lock keys in illegal activities.
The video features Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale and Inspector General Tammy Hull.
USPS managers will show the video to employees throughout the organization this week and next. The other videos in the series will be released during the next few weeks.
Learn more about the new Postal Service Health Benefits Program
CareFirst to offer daytime and evening webinars
USPS employees may participate in upcoming webinars to learn more about health, dental and vision plan options within the new Postal Service Health Benefits Program.
The program — also known as PSHB — is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and will be administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
USPS employees, annuitants and eligible family members are required to enroll in the PSHB Program, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2025.
The “Blue Product Overview” webinars will be led by representatives from CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Daytime sessions will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern on the following Fridays: Nov. 15, Nov. 22 and Dec. 6.
Evening sessions will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Eastern on the following Mondays: Nov. 18, Nov. 25, Dec. 2 and Dec. 9.
To participate, employees must register on the daytime webinars or evening webinars websites.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must be off the clock or on authorized breaks.
Employees who have questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
People
You can count on her
Two retail associates are honored and a Post Office shows employees the importance of safety
The phrase “steady as she goes” is an apt description of Alice Bowman, a retail associate in Taylorsville, IN.
The USPS employee has showed up for every scheduled workday for the past 12 years. That’s 3,120 days, if you’re counting.
“I know, as I was once a postmaster, the importance of having staff show up, and when they don’t, the challenge it is to find a replacement for that day,” Bowman said.
Her consistency has not gone unnoticed. She recently received a certificate of appreciation for perfect attendance.
“I want to be an employee that can be relied upon,” Bowman said. “I value my job and my work ethic.”
Rock on
Williamsport, MD, Retail Associate Rob Sothen-Sterling recently received his 10th Rock Star Award for delivering excellent customer service.
The award honors Maryland District retail associates who achieve perfect scores on the USPS Retail Customer Experience survey. Southen-Sterling is one of hundreds of employees who’ve been recognized since the award’s introduction in 2022.
“It means a lot, but truly I am just doing my job and giving each customer the best customer service that they deserve,” he said.
Safety first
Managers at the Whiteland, IN, Post Office make sure new employees understand the importance of working safely.
New hires receive a safety “welcome tray” that includes a USPS reflective vest, dog repellant spray, a headlamp and hand warmers, among other items. The tray also includes a welcome message signed by “Team Whiteland.”
“It is important to start employees off with a focus on safety and instill those habits early on. By providing this kit to the employee, we start them off with the necessary tools to perform in a safe manner,” said Brad Oxendine, a letter carrier who serves as the office’s safety champion.
“People” appears regularly in Link. Got news to share? Email us.
News Quiz
Win, lose or draw
How much do you know about this employee’s hobby?
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end.
1. What is the name of the latest comic book drawn by Brett Swanson, a Mystic, CT, letter carrier?
a) “Captain Power”
b) “Power Gal”
c) “Power Guy”
d) “Power Kid”
2. What is the subject of The Eagle magazine’s latest cover story?
a) The enduring value of mail
b) USPS environmental sustainability
c) USPS Ground Advantage
d) USPS next-generation delivery vehicles
3. Where has Bruce Schnittker worked the same route as a letter carrier for 41 years?
a) Garden City, NY
b) Oyster Bay, NY
c) Port Washington, NY
d) Syosset, NY
4. Where can employees access the new USPS Operation Santa Compliance Training course?
a) Blue
b) LiteBlue
c) MyHR
d) USPS Operation Santa website
5. The first U.S. Christmas stamp was released Nov. 1, 1962. By the end of that year, approximately how many stamps had been sold?
a) 860 million
b) 861 million
c) 862 million
d) 863 million
Answers: 1) d. 2) a. 3) a. 4) c. 5) c.
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A salute to those who serve
USPS releases this year’s Veterans Day video
-
Don’t use arrow keys in criminal activities
A new video warns employees on the dangers of collusion
-
Learn more about the new Postal Service Health Benefits Program
-
People
You can count on her
Two retail associates are honored and a Post Office shows employees the importance of safety
-
News Quiz
Win, lose or draw
How much do you know about this employee’s hobby?