Thursday, October 23, 2025
Got questions about benefits? Get answers here
USPS will offer a virtual fair throughout open season
Postal Service employees may participate in a virtual benefits fair throughout this year’s open season, which runs from Monday, Nov. 10, through Monday, Dec. 8.
The fair will offer information about the Postal Service Health Benefits Program, Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, flexible spending accounts and other topics.
During open season, employees can go to the fair website 24/7 to visit virtual booths, watch instructional videos and participate in educational seminars and games.
Employees can also participate in live chats, live Q&A sessions with benefits specialists and “Open Season 101” webinars during designated days:
• Sunday, Nov. 2, 1 to 3 p.m. Eastern: “Open Season 101” webinar
• Tuesday, Nov. 4, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern: Live virtual day
• Saturday, Nov. 15, 1 to 3 p.m. Eastern: “Open Season 101” webinar
• Thursday, Nov. 20, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern: Live virtual day
• Wednesday, Dec. 3, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern: Live virtual day
• Monday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Eastern: Live Q&A sessions with benefits specialists
Participation is voluntary and must be off the clock or during authorized breaks. Employees can register on the fair website or by going to the MyHR site’s open season page.
Employees with questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
Off the Clock
He swung for the fences and realized a dream
This USPS supervisor is also an umpire for the Savannah Bananas
My name is Robert Rivera and I’m a USPS customer service support supervisor in Ocala, FL.
When I’m off duty you might find me umpiring for the Savannah Bananas, a barnstorming exhibition baseball team whose games are fast and full of fun.
My dad, who was a mail handler at Grand Central Station in New York City for 30 years, got me into umpiring at 14. He was a coach for my Little League team and asked me to take over as umpire for him one day.
I’ve been with USPS since 1998, but there was a time when I had to decide between my love of umpiring and the Postal Service.
In 2003, I graduated from the Wendelstedt Umpire School and knew I had to choose: Would it be baseball, with no promise of security, or USPS?
The Postal Service won, but I told my mom that one day she would see me on a major league field.
Twenty-one years later, that big break came when I was interviewed and chosen to umpire for the Bananas. My first game was last October, and it was a mind-blowing experience.
I’ve umpired five games for them — two at their home stadium and three at LoanDepot Park in Miami.
I love baseball and even have a YouTube channel called “Who’s on First: The Show.”
The game offers so many life lessons — how to win, how to lose, and how to deal with both.
There’s a lot in common with my job.
Sometimes you’re the guy in charge, sometimes not. Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow.
It’s also about people and personalities, rules and regulations. I love rules! That’s what makes me a good supervisor.
I have two kids, Mitchell and Angela, with my wife, Molli, my biggest fan besides my mom.
I’ve coached my kids’ teams, and I love showing them that if you strive, good things will happen, but you have to put in the work.
“Off the Clock,” a column on Postal Service employees and their after-hours pursuits, appears regularly in Link.
No piece of mail is worth a body part
USPS reminds employees to be safe when operating equipment
The Postal Service is reminding employees to always practice safety when operating mail processing and other equipment.
Recently, an employee was injured in an accident while working near the conveyor line of a reject mail chute.
The worker noticed First-Class Mail pieces that had fallen off the line and had collected underneath the yellow moving parts guard. The machine was running, and the guard was in place.
The worker reached through and around the guard while the machine was still running to grab the mailpieces and place them back in the mail stream.
But as the employee reached for the mail, the moving conveyor pulled the person’s arm into the machine up to the elbow. The employee was caught in the machine and could not reach the emergency stop button, which was eventually activated by a nearby co-worker.
The employee was treated for bruising, swelling and numbness in the arm and fingers. The outcome could have been far worse, potentially including the loss of the arm.
A later investigation identified serious safety issues, including the fact that the conveyor was not shut down or locked out before the employee attempted to clear mail from behind the moving parts machine guard.
This accident is also a reminder of the dangers of reaching into or working near running equipment. Shortcuts such as clearing jams behind guards without shutting down a machine can result in serious or even life-threatening injuries.
Additionally, employees should always:
• Follow lockout or tagout energy control program procedures for each piece of equipment before removing debris or clearing jams;
• Ensure machine guards are properly secured and maintained; and
• Keep work areas free of excessive buildup through regular housekeeping and make sure emergency stops are accessible from all sides of the equipment.
The accident could have had far more severe consequences, according to USPS leaders, who said employees should stay alert, follow safe work procedures and avoid shortcuts.
Mail
Praise for a ‘fascinating’ biography
Readers enjoyed learning about Postmaster General Amos Kendall
Email us your feedback. Your comments could be included in our “Mail” column.
WestPac Area, Michigan 2 District on top in scanning
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 96.92 percent during the week ending Oct. 17, down 0.31 percent from one week earlier.
The data was collected Oct. 22.
WestPac led the four areas with a rating of 97.29 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 96.49 percent rating.
Among the 50 districts, Michigan 2, part of Central Area, ranked first with a 98.52 percent rating, while Illinois 2, also part of Central Area, ranked last with a 94.35 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.
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Got questions about benefits? Get answers here
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Off the Clock
He swung for the fences and realized a dream
This USPS supervisor is also an umpire for the Savannah Bananas
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No piece of mail is worth a body part
USPS reminds employees to be safe when operating equipment
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Mail
Featured reader quote
“The new biography of Postmaster General Amos Kendall is a fascinating glimpse into the history of our beloved Postal Service.”
— Bob Zeleznok, Bellmawr, NJ
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Brief
WestPac Area, Michigan 2 District on top in scanning