Monday, December 8, 2025
If you want to change your benefits, you must act now
This year’s open season enrollment period will end Dec. 8
Postal Service employees who want to change their health coverage or enroll in a new plan must act now.
Open season, the annual period when USPS employees can make benefits changes, ends Monday, Dec. 8.
The deadline to enroll in the USPS Health Benefits Plan for eligible precareer employees, flexible spending accounts and the annual leave exchange program is 11:59 p.m. Central.
The deadline to enroll in the Postal Service Health Benefits Program and the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program is 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
After these deadlines pass, most Postal Service employees will have to wait until next November to consider new benefits options.
The MyHR website’s open season page has information and resources, including a link to a health plan comparison tool from Checkbook’s Guide to PSHB Plans.
Heroes
She realized a customer was about to be defrauded and stopped it
The employee prevented the woman from losing $2,000
An older customer recently purchased two $1,000 money orders at the Glen Ridge, NJ, Post Office.
She told Retail Associate Tashirah Taylor that it was her first time making such a transaction, and she showed the Postal Service employee a letter that would accompany the money orders she was mailing.
Taylor recognized the letter as part of a sweepstakes scam. She explained the situation to the customer and refunded her money.
Taylor then called her manager, who gathered additional information from the customer and reported the incident to the Postal Inspection Service.
“Tashirah’s vigilance and response demonstrates the highest standard of service,” said John Gonchar, the local officer in charge.
Employees featured in “Heroes” receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Nov. 30-Dec. 6
A USPS fleet update and an averted sweepstakes scam made news
Last week, Link offered an update on the rollout of the new USPS fleet — more than 35,000 new vehicles are already on the road out of the 106,000 expected by 2028.
We also reported on an unusual 1954 delivery in our “History” column, and highlighted USPS-licensed gifts for the holidays and the updated annual holiday ethics guide.
Additionally, we reminded readers of the Combined Federal Campaign’s power week and the start of the spotlight month for the Healing PTSD stamp, and for open season’s last full week, we ran explainers on the types of health plans available and the benefits of flexible spending accounts.
The “People” column brought holiday shipping tips from Syosset, NY, Retail Associate Cory Johnson, and a look at some of the famous voices in the new Ken Burns documentary “The American Revolution,” including the return of Mandy Patinkin as Benjamin Franklin.
Finally, “Heroes” chronicled the actions of Tashirah Taylor, a Glen Ridge, NJ, retail associate whose sharp thinking and compassion prevented an older customer from being taken in by a sweepstakes scam.
“Tashirah’s vigilance and response demonstrates the highest standard of service,” said John Gonchar, the local officer in charge.
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