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Count on it

Top story

Count on it
U.S. census, Postal Service share history
10 hours ago
Team effort
Political Mail deal yields $350,000 revenue boost
9 hours ago
Getting results
Survey’s findings help shape workplaces
9 hours ago

Scanning snapshot

News Briefs

Scanning snapshot

Poster, publications also highlighted
Check out the latest scanning snapshot and read about the newest editions of Postal Bulletin and Southern Area Update, and more.
6 hours ago

Bells and whistles

Bells and whistles

Postmaster organizes parades during pandemic
Patty Snediker broke some bad news to her daughter in March: Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the girl’s 14th birthday party was canceled.
1 day ago

Net results

Net results

Tool offers mailers timely marketing data
Business mailers who use Informed Delivery have a new tool to access detailed reports on the effectiveness of their mail and digital marketing campaigns.
1 day ago

Strictly confidential

Strictly confidential

USPS doesn’t record survey results
Since USPS introduced the Postal Pulse in 2015, the organization has described the employee survey as confidential.
1 day ago

Well done

Well done

Nurses play vital role in pandemic response
USPS has employed occupational health nurses for years, but the pandemic has put them front and center.
2 days ago

Sweet 16

Sweet 16

Latest ‘Thank You’ video shows drawings
More homemade expressions of gratitude from Postal Service customers are featured in the latest “Thank You for the Thank-You’s” video.
2 days ago
COVIDCustomers

Among friends

Among friends

Unusual survey question explained
Research shows that having friendships at work helps build trust and can have a positive effect on morale and productivity.
2 days ago

Reaching out

Reaching out

Business Connect Month begins
USPS has designated August as Business Connect Month to celebrate the sales leads program.
5 days ago

Becoming better

Becoming better

Survey is tool to improve workplaces
The Postal Pulse employee survey is a tool to help USPS become a better place to work.
5 days ago

Know the signs

Know the signs

How to avoid heat-related illnesses
If you or a co-worker were experiencing a heat-related illness, would you recognize the symptoms?
3 days ago
COVIDEmployees

Show of loyalty

Show of loyalty

New program offers incentives to businesses
Registered Click-N-Ship business customers can earn credits to use for future shipping product purchases.
6 days ago

Fill ’er up

Fill ’er up

‘Hydration stations’ promote heat safety
Pacific Area is making efforts to help employees protect themselves from heat-related illnesses.
6 days ago
COVIDEmployees

No place for politics

No place for politics

Employees reminded of Hatch Act rules
Postal Service employees can’t engage in political activity while on duty, in uniform, on federal property or in a federal vehicle.
6 days ago

Succession story

Succession story

News Quiz: Test your postal knowledge
How much do you know about postal history, recent flag policy changes, sales leads and other newsworthy topics?
6 days ago

Archives

Heroes’ Corner

  • Candy crisis

    Employee saves customer from choking

    Aug. 5

    Candy crisis

    Employee saves customer from choking
    Aug. 5 at midnight

    Retail Associate Alice Luera was recently assisting a customer at the Glenwood, NM, Post Office when the woman started choking on a piece of candy.

    Luera rushed to the customer’s aid and performed the Heimlich maneuver on her until the candy was dislodged and she could breathe again.

    The Postal Service employee comforted the woman, who declined medical attention, until she regained her composure.

    “The customer was very thankful,” said Glenwood Postmaster Sherri Schnyder.

    Archives

Best Practices

  • Ethics rules

    If in doubt, reach out

    Aug. 3

    Ethics rules

    If in doubt, reach out
    Aug. 3 at 11:12 a.m.

    Jessica Brewster-Johnson wants to help Postal Service employees behave ethically — especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

    Brewster-Johnson, the senior ethics counsel at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC, is fielding lots of questions these days from employees who want to know what’s acceptable — and what isn’t — during the public health crisis.

    “This is an unprecedented time, and some employees are encountering issues they really haven’t had to deal with before,” she says.

    To help employees, Brewster-Johnson offers the following tips:

    • Know the rules on gifts. If someone offers you something because you work for USPS, you should consider it a gift and apply the appropriate rules.

    Generally speaking, the rules prohibit the acceptance of gifts. However, an employee could accept a retail gift card, as long as the value is $20 or less and the source doesn’t provide any single employee with gifts that exceed $50 during a given year.

    • Avoid conflicts of interest. Employees are prohibited from participating — while in their postal role — in matters that involve their own private interests or those of other people, such as their friends and relatives.

    A good rule of thumb: If you personally benefit, it’s probably against the rules.

    • Don’t misuse postal property. USPS also prohibits employees from using postal property or work time for personal purposes — beyond authorized limited use — or other unauthorized purposes.

    The Ethics Blue page has more information on all these topics, and the organization offers a hotline at 202-268-6346 that employees are encouraged to use.

    Says Brewster-Johnson: “We don’t expect everyone to be an expert. We have a help line so we can answer questions.”

    Archives

On the Job

  • In good hands

    Custodian keeps workspaces clean, safe

    July 31

    In good hands

    Custodian keeps workspaces clean, safe
    July 31 at 9:50 a.m.

    My name is Pat Miller and I’m a custodian at the Monroe, WI, Post Office. My daily duties involve keeping the office litter-free and keeping frequently touched surfaces disinfected. I also vacuum the floors and make sure the windows stay clean.

    I’m responsible for taking care of Monroe and four other offices. I manage the cleaning supply inventory for the offices and also perform minor repairs that don’t need to be assigned to district maintenance.

    My other role is serving as a safety captain, which involves making sure employees follow safety procedures. For example, I may go out to check if carriers are wearing their seatbelts. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, I’m giving more stand-up talks on how to prevent the spread of the virus. I clean everything in the lobby that human hands touch and follow special protocols such as disinfecting the LLVs.

    I joined the Postal Service seven years ago after a friend who worked for USPS told me this position was open. I was in between jobs so I applied, and I’m glad I did. This job fits my personality because I enjoy helping people. For instance, the carriers know if they need something that I will get it for them. When I see customers in the lobby, I’m friendly and make them feel welcome so I can present a good image of the Postal Service.

    I like that USPS implemented a new cleaning program a few years ago that has made things more efficient and effective. I’ve gotten new equipment to make my job easier like a leaf blower and floor scrubber, which has cut down on the number of times I have to empty and refill mop buckets.

    I’m blessed to be married with three adult kids — two sons and one daughter. My wife is a pediatrician. When I’m not at work, we enjoy going for walks, kayaking and biking.

    USPS has been good for me because you learn to work as a team here and I get along with everyone. Plus, the benefits are good.

    Archives

The List

  • Character study

    7 facts about Bugs Bunny

    Aug. 4

    Character study

    7 facts about Bugs Bunny
    Aug. 4 at 11:33 a.m.

    To help mark the release of the Bugs Bunny stamps, here are seven facts about the enduring American cultural icon.

    1. Bugs has been around for eight decades. The stamps were released July 27, the 80th anniversary of Bugs Bunny’s screen debut in the 1940 cartoon “A Wild Hare.”

    2. Here’s what’s in a name. Born of a team of young animators who produced Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts for Warner Bros., Bugs’ name came from one of those early cartoonists. “Bugs” and “Bugsy” were trendy nicknames at the time, signifying a wacky disposition. The catchy alliterative sound of “Bugs Bunny” partnered well with the names of cohorts Porky Pig and Daffy Duck.

    3. His slang rang a bell. Bugs’ very first line, “What’s up, Doc?” — unusual slang blurted out with the accent and wise-guy attitude of a street-smart New Yorker — had audiences howling and became an instant catchphrase.

    4. His voice drew a Blanc. For nearly 50 years, from 1940 until his death in 1989, Mel Blanc was the voice of Bugs Bunny. Nicknamed “The Man of a Thousand Voices,” Blanc brought many other Warner Bros. characters to life, including Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety, Sylvester, Speedy Gonzales, Yosemite Sam and Foghorn Leghorn. In the 1960s, he also worked on “The Flintstones” as Barney Rubble and Dino, and on “The Jetsons” as Mr. Spacely, both for Hanna-Barbera Productions.

    5. He followed a mouse onto a special sidewalk. In 1985, Bugs became the second cartoon character (after Mickey Mouse) to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

    6. He’s well-preserved by the Library of Congress. “What’s Opera, Doc?” (1957) was the first cartoon short deemed culturally significant by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

    7. It took two for Toontown. Bugs appeared in the 1988 live-action/animated movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” as one of the inhabitants of Toontown. However, since the film was being produced by Disney, Warner Bros. would only allow the use of their biggest star if he got an equal amount of screen time as Disney’s biggest star, Mickey Mouse. Therefore, both characters are always on-screen together.

    Archives

Mailbag

  • Carina Caballes, San Diego:

    I loved reading about the heroism that Fulton, NY, City Carrier Assistant Joey Dupell demonstrated in coming to the aid of an endangered teen. As a mother, I was especially moved. This was compassion and caring at its finest.

    Archives

Latest videos

  • ‘Thank You for the Thank-You’s’ Aug. 3
  • ‘2020 Supplier Performance Awards’ July 28
  • ‘Thank You for the Thank-You’s’ July 27
  • ‘Guidelines to Reduce COVID-19 Risk in... July 24
  • ‘Thank You for the Thank-You’s’ July 20
  • ‘Thank You for the Thank-You’s’ July 13
  • ‘Thank You for the Thank-You’s’ July 6

Coronavirus coverage

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