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All eyez on him

Top story

All eyez on him
Shakur wins reader poll on hip-hop’s G.O.A.T.
17 hours ago
Above and beyond
June sales challenge brings in $133M
17 hours ago
BusinessCOVID
Time’s up
Tax filing deadline approaches
17 hours ago
COVIDCustomers

Postal pride

Postal pride

In letter, DeJoy praises employees
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy expresses his pride in USPS employees’ service to the American people.
2 days ago
COVIDLeadership

American ingenuity

American ingenuity

Innovation stamps to be released this year
The stamps will feature designs representing areas where U.S. scientists and engineers have made significant contributions.
2 days ago

Drug safety

Drug safety

How to dispose of leftover medications
The Postal Service wants to make sure employees know what to do with unused prescription medications.
2 days ago

Facing facts

Facing facts

News Quiz: Test your postal knowledge
How much do you know about face coverings, greenhouse gas emissions, automated guided vehicles and other newsworthy topics?
2 days ago

Safety update

Safety update

USPS distributing face coverings to all employees
The new coverings are part of the organization’s effort to ensure the safety of workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
4 days ago
COVIDEmployees

Pump up the volume

Pump up the volume

Virtual dedication held for Hip Hop stamps
The Postal Service dedicated its Hip Hop stamps last week during a virtual ceremony that focused on the music, dance and art movement’s profound cultural influence.
3 days ago

Fresh insights

Fresh insights

Two features added to employee survey
USPS is making two changes to the Postal Pulse survey, aiming to get fresh insights into employee engagement in the organization’s workplaces.
3 days ago

Tools of the trade

Tools of the trade

Election Mail, Political Mail resources available
The Postal Service wants employees to know about online resources available to help them accept, process and deliver ballots and political mailpieces during this year’s elections.
3 days ago

Tuition discount

Tuition discount

University offers 20 percent off
Cardinal Stritch University is offering Postal Service employees a 20 percent discount on tuition.
3 days ago

Scanning snapshot

News Briefs

Scanning snapshot

Bulletin, Informed Delivery also highlighted
Check out the latest scanning snapshot, read about Postal Bulletin’s newest issue and learn how to sign up for Informed Delivery.
3 days ago

Healing PTSD

Healing PTSD

Semipostal stamp sells 7 million
More than 7 million Healing PTSD stamps have been sold since its release last year, raising $717,000 to fund research about post-traumatic stress disorder.
4 days ago

State of grace

State of grace

Normal billing for PO Boxes resumes
USPS has ended an extended grace period for nonpayment and resumed normal billing for PO Box customers.
4 days ago
BusinessCOVID

More flexibility

More flexibility

Law expands use of spending accounts
The federal government is allowing expanded use of flexible spending accounts under a new law designed to help people during the national economic downturn.
4 days ago
COVIDEmployees

Executive appointment

Executive appointment

Gicker to lead Stamp Services
The Postal Service has named Bill Gicker Jr. director of Stamp Services, a position he’s held on an acting basis since 2019.
5 days ago

Ceremony canceled

Ceremony canceled

Stamps to be released as planned
The dedication for the Fruits and Vegetables stamps, originally scheduled for July 17 in Charleston, WV, has been called off.
5 days ago
BusinessCOVID

At your disposal

At your disposal

New system speeds asset removal
The Postal Service has a new system to help certify and retire equipment and other capital assets that are no longer needed.
1 week ago

Archives

Heroes’ Corner

  • All-out effort

    Employee rescues three women, dog from house fire

    July 10

    All-out effort

    Employee rescues three women, dog from house fire
    July 10 at midnight

    City Carrier Assistant Michael Ciccone was recently delivering mail in a Leominster, MA, neighborhood when a crying little girl around the age of 6 ran up to him.

    The child told Ciccone her house was on fire and her mother needed help to get out.

    The Postal Service employee immediately called 911 and safely entered the residence, where he found two women and a dog in need of assistance.

    After leading them to safety, Ciccone was told of another woman on the basement level.

    At the basement door, he encountered heavy smoke, so he found an alternate safe point of entry and rescued the third woman as well.

    Ciccone remained on the scene to render aid to the victims until firefighters arrived.

    Archives

Best Practices

  • On a break

    Column takes time off

    July 6

    On a break

    Column takes time off
    July 6 at 10:13 a.m.

    “Best Practices” is taking a break this week.

    The column that profiles Postal Service employees who demonstrate on-the-job excellence will resume soon.

    Until then, you can use the “Best Practices” archive to revisit past profiles, including stories about Kabirul Islam, a Merrifield, VA, retail associate who offered advice on keeping Post Office lobbies safe during the coronavirus pandemic; Darryl Johnson, a Los Angeles letter carrier who shared tips on accurate delivery; and Gerald Ramos, a Suncoast District business development specialist who provided advice on promoting Informed Delivery.

    If you know someone who has useful workplace advice to share, send an email to uspslink@usps.gov and a member of our team will get back to you.

    Archives

On the Job

  • Running smoothly

    Electronic technician helps maintain machines

    July 10

    Running smoothly

    Electronic technician helps maintain machines
    July 10 at 10:50 a.m.

    My name is David Howard and I’m an electronic technician at the Dulles, VA, Processing and Distribution Center. I maintain our machines and equipment and ensure there are no delays or failures, which helps us take care of our product — the mail — and keep our customers satisfied.

    On a typical day, I prepare our letter-sorting machines for operation before the clerks begin their day shift. I calibrate the machines, align the camera that reads the mail and run tests so the equipment achieves optimum performance. I also inspect the parts and belts for wear and check the power supplies for proper voltage.

    I joined the Postal Service about 32 years ago. I worked as a maintenance mechanic for several years before becoming an electronic technician in 1999. The job hasn’t changed much, but the equipment has. As time has passed, much of the processing equipment has been updated and replaced by machines that are faster and take fewer people to operate.

    When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family. My wife and I have been married for 31 years and have one daughter, who is 19 and in college. I also like being outside, including hunting and fishing.

    The Postal Service has provided me with a good career. I’ve met a lot of nice people over the years who’ve become good friends. The skills I’ve learned through my training have helped me on the job and off. The benefits are good and I have a good retirement to look forward to when my career is over.

    Archives

The List

  • Fresh perspectives

    5 facts about fruits and vegetables

    July 7

    Fresh perspectives

    5 facts about fruits and vegetables
    July 7 at 9:49 a.m.

    To help mark the release of the Fruits and Vegetables stamps next week, here are five facts about everyone’s favorite edible plants.

    1. Neither fruits nor vegetables are the nation’s largest crop. Sorry, fruit and veggie fans, but that distinction belongs to a grain: corn, the most widely produced crop in the United States. More than 90 million acres of corn are grown for feed, industrial products and food and beverage products like cereal and alcohol, according to the organization AgAmerica. Fruits represent the third-largest crop, while vegetables rank eighth.

    2. Bell peppers are fruits. As WebMD notes, scientists define fruit as the part of a plant that develops from a flower and has seeds. This means bell peppers — along with tomatoes, squash, cucumbers and pumpkins — are fruits.

    3. Bananas are berries … Here’s WebMD to blow your mind again. The website points out that berries are fruits that develop from a single flower and a single ovary, referring to the female part of a flower. Technically, this means grapes, kiwis and even bananas are classified as berries. Who knew?

    4. … But strawberries aren’t. Because strawberries don’t develop from a single ovary, they’re technically known as “accessory fruits.” Another distinction: Berry seeds are inside the fruit, while strawberry seeds are on the outside. By the way: The University of Illinois Extension tells us that on average, there are 200 seeds in a strawberry.

    5. Yes, broccoli really is good for you. The nutrients in broccoli may reduce cancer risks, help lower cholesterol and boost eye health. Why aren’t you eating some right now?

    Archives

Mailbag

  • What do you think?:

    Link wants to hear your thoughts on recent stories like “Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto” and “Making it work.” Email your feedback to uspslink@usps.gov. Your comments could be featured in “Mailbag.”

    Archives

Latest videos

  • ‘Thank You for the Thank-You’s’ July 6
  • ‘Thank You for the Thank-You’s’ June 24
  • ‘Thank You for the Thank-You’s’ June 18
  • ‘USPS Dog Bite Awareness’ June 17
  • ‘USPS All-Employee Message’ June 15
  • ‘Thank You for the Thank-You’s’ June 11

Coronavirus coverage

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