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Don’t miss a paycheck

Top story

Don’t miss a paycheck
Use direct deposit to receive wages
2 hours ago
Mules ain’t cool
Don’t become a scam accomplice, Inspection Service warns
2 hours ago
Know someone special?
Program recognizes engaged employees
2 hours ago

National Kidney Month

National Kidney Month

Raising awareness of the body’s ‘factories’
One in three U.S. adults is at risk for kidney disease, which occurs when the organs are damaged and can’t filter as well.
2 hours ago

Caveat emptor

Caveat emptor

National Consumer Protection Week begins
The coronavirus pandemic has created whole new avenues for con artists.
3 days ago
COVIDCustomers

‘Personal duty’

‘Personal duty’

Mail handlers help bring in revenue
The Mail Handlers sales program has generated more than $36.5 million in new estimated annualized revenue since its inception in 2013.
3 days ago

Eat well, be well

Eat well, be well

National Nutrition Month held in March
Good nutrition can help you manage health conditions and lower your risk for serious problems.
3 days ago

Sound body

Sound body

How ergonomics helps prevent injures
Last year, Postal Service employees experienced nearly 9,000 work-related musculoskeletal disorder injuries.
4 days ago
COVIDEmployees

Stock up

Stock up

Hand sanitizer, disposable face masks available
The Postal Service has surplus quantities of hand sanitizer available to ship to facilities for employees’ use.
4 days ago
COVIDOperations

Winter heat

Winter heat

News Quiz: How much do you remember?
Test your knowledge of heat safety efforts, a Postal Service pilot program, privacy rules and other newsworthy topics.
4 days ago

Vehicles video

Vehicles video

Watch USPS announcement of new fleet
A new video shows the Postal Service’s next-generation delivery vehicles announcement.
5 days ago

USPS testimony

USPS testimony

Leaders address House committee
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and USPS Board of Governors Chairman Ron A. Bloom testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Feb. 24.
5 days ago

Latest headlines

Latest headlines

Stay informed with Link mobile
Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t want to miss it, Link mobile can help.
1 week ago
COVIDEmployees

Scanning snapshot

News Briefs

Scanning snapshot

Museum council also highlighted
Check out this week’s scanning snapshot and read about new additions to the National Postal Museum’s advisory board.
5 days ago

New vehicles

Link Extra

New vehicles

USPS awards contract to modernize delivery fleet
The Postal Service has awarded a 10-year contract to manufacture a new generation of U.S.-built delivery vehicles.
6 days ago

Uplifted and empowered

Uplifted and empowered

Hallmark, USPS team up on Mahogany card giveaway
Hallmark marked African American History Month this year by giving away 1 million Mahogany greeting cards — with a little help from the Postal Service.
6 days ago

Super Bowl MVP

Super Bowl MVP

Carrier recognized for frontline service
Richard Henderson was featured in a Super Bowl video tribute to workers who provide essential services during the pandemic.
1 week ago
COVIDEmployees

Please keep off the gas

Please keep off the gas

FFVs should run on alternative fuel
The Postal Service is reminding its employees that flex-fuel vehicles are required by law to operate on alternative fuel.
1 week ago

Striking posies

Striking posies

Garden Beauty stamps arrive
The Garden Beauty stamps, featuring close-up photos of 10 flowers in glorious bloom, have been released.
1 week ago

Archives

Heroes’ Corner

  • Grateful gardener

    Customer who fell thanks carrier for aid

    Today

    Grateful gardener

    Customer who fell thanks carrier for aid
    Today at midnight

    Letter Carrier John Ruiz Jr. was delivering mail one day last spring in Lodi, CA, when he heard someone faintly asking for help.

    He soon located a customer who’d fallen while gardening in her backyard, leaving her stranded without shade for over an hour.

    Ruiz rushed to the woman’s aid, immediately called 911 and comforted her until paramedics arrived and took her to a hospital.

    After she returned home following a lengthy recovery, the customer contacted the local Post Office.

    “She is grateful to have John as her carrier, and if it were not for him, things would have been a lot worse for her,” said Officer in Charge Ronald Mabalot.

    Archives

Best Practices

  • Performance enhancers

    The year in good advice

    Dec. 28, 2020

    Performance enhancers

    The year in good advice
    Dec. 28, 2020 at 9:45 a.m.

    This year, Postal Service employees offered tips for one another through Link’s “Best Practices” column.

    Here’s some of their best advice:

    • Remember that customers are counting on you. “Many people — especially older customers who live alone — look forward to their daily mail delivery.” — Gordonsville, VA, Rural Carrier Tyler Balint
    • Share information.“Sometimes customers don’t know what to ask, so employees must be able to anticipate their needs. Don’t be afraid to ask your customers a few questions so that you can lead them in the right direction.” — Ocracoke, NC, Postmaster Celeste Brooks
    • Be visual.“Keep the latest stamps on display so customers can see what’s available.” — Rives Junction, MI, Retail Associate Denise Prentler
    • Familiarize yourself with the Postal Service’s offerings.“In addition to shipping options like Priority Mail, learn about services like Every Door Direct Mail and Informed Delivery.” — Dallas Customer Services Manager Emiliano Chapa
    • Promote engagement year-round. “Encourage employees to speak up and share their ideas throughout the year. Don’t act like you only care about their feedback when it’s time for the Postal Pulse.” — Altoona, PA, Postmaster Michael Olsavsky

    Madeira Beach, FL, Letter Carrier Pamelin Williams always encourages colleagues to perform timely and accurate scans of the mail, but her best advice is to have an appreciation for the Postal Service’s mission to deliver.

    “I love my job and I’m postal proud,” she said.

    Archives

On the Job

  • Work it out

    All year long, employees showed their value

    Dec. 24, 2020

    Work it out

    All year long, employees showed their value
    Dec. 24, 2020 at 9:24 a.m.

    No matter what their job title might be, all Postal Service employees contribute to the organization’s effort to deliver for the nation — and throughout 2020, Link’s “On the Job” column introduced readers to several of these hardworking public servants.

    Dale Scalero, a USPS tractor-trailer operator in Sacramento, CA, said he takes pride in his behind-the-scenes role.

    “Tractor-trailer operators aren’t often recognized, but we work hard to make sure that our customers’ mail gets to its recipients. It’s an honor for me to wear the uniform and a privilege to drive for our organization,” he said.

    Likewise, La-Vora Chambers Better, a Postal Police supervisor in Washington, DC, said she knows how much postal workers depend on her to protect them.

    “What we do is very important. Employees know they can depend on us. If something happens, we’ll be there,” she said.

    Several employees explained how their jobs changed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Leo Ramirez, a Brooklyn, NY, custodian, said he always strives to keep his workplace clean but feels an even “greater responsibility” to disinfect common areas during the pandemic, while Lupe Hernandez, a Los Angeles acting contract technician whose job involves ordering supplies, said the pandemic-fueled shipping surge made her busier than ever.

    “We surpassed 15 million packages in April. That requires a lot of supplies!” she said.

    Meanwhile, Mauricio Cruz, a Fairfax, VA, letter carrier, said the pandemic taught him the importance of being proactive by wearing face coverings and practicing social distancing, both on the clock and off.

    “I would encourage my co-workers to be proactive, too,” Cruz said. “Be serious about your job more now because a lot of people depend on us. Keep pushing and we’re going to make it through these hard times.”

    Archives

On the Move

  • Rising to the top

    Executive, manager news

    Feb. 23

    Rising to the top

    Executive, manager news
    Feb. 23 at 9:24 a.m.

    Here’s a look at some recent changes in the USPS leadership ranks:

    • San Jose, CA, Postmaster Aron Jones was named acting Bay-Valley District manager. Joseph Fahey, San Jose customer service operations manager, was named acting Postmaster.

    • Los Angeles District Manager Robert Reynosa was named to a special assignment, based in Las Vegas, with Western Pacific Area. Kansas City, MO, Postmaster Eddie Morgan was named acting Los Angeles District manager.

    • Sonja Twombly, enterprise customer care director at Postal Service headquarters in Washington, DC, will retire Feb. 26 after 34 years with the organization.

The List

  • Scamalot

    FTC’s top 5 frauds of 2020

    Feb. 23

    Scamalot

    FTC’s top 5 frauds of 2020
    Feb. 23 at 9:16 a.m.

    To help mark National Consumer Protection Week, which begins Feb. 28, here are the five most common scams in 2020, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC):

    1. Imposter schemes. A con artist poses as a trusted person — such as a government official or a traveling grandchild — to hoodwink targets out of cash or information. Nearly 500,000 such schemes were reported to the FTC last year, with losses of $1.2 billion. Median loss per scam: $850. The FTC tracks identity theft in a separate category: A whopping 1.4 million identity theft complaints were reported last year, with government documents and benefits fraud topping the list.

    2. Online shopping chicanery. These include undisclosed costs, failure to deliver on time (or at all) and refusal to honor a guarantee. More than 350,000 complaints were received, with losses of $245 million. Median loss per scam: $100.

    3. Internet service bamboozles. Difficulty canceling an internet service provider or online account and undisclosed charges are a few of the scams that fall into this category. Roughly 124,000 complaints were received, with losses of about $170 million. Median loss per scam: $210.

    4. Sweepstakes swindles. These include “prizes” for a fee and foreign sweepstakes and lottery offers by phone, fax, U.S. Mail or email. About 116,000 complaints were received, with losses of about $167 million. Median loss per scam: $1,000.

    5. Phone flimflams. Unauthorized charges, charges for “toll-free” calls and misleading phone card offers are among the many scams that fall under this category. About 81,000 complaints were received, with losses of $32 million. Median loss per scam: $225.

    Archives

Mailbag

  • Sabrina Todd, Grand Rapids, MI:

    I love the Mahogany greeting cards highlighted in the “Uplifted and empowered” article. I received my free pack of cards yesterday. I’m glad the Postal Service is being more inclusive with its selection of greeting cards.

    Archives

Latest videos

  • ‘Next Generation Delivery Vehicles’ Feb. 24
  • ‘USPS All-Employee Message’ Feb. 9

Coronavirus coverage

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