USPS OIG Report: Timecard Adjustments in the Greater Boston District

Objective This report responds to a request from U.S. Congressmen Michael Capuano and Stephen Lynch regarding unauthorized timecard manipulations that impacted employee workhours at selected U.S. Postal Service facilities in the Greater Boston District. Our objective was to assess whether timecard adjustments were conducted in accordance with Postal Service policy. The Postal Service uses the…

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Postal Employee Ordered to be Removed for Violating Hatch Act

By Ian Smith – August 2, 2018 OSC filed a complaint of Hatch Act violations with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) in March 2018 after the employee, a postal mail processing clerk, ran in two 2017 partisan elections. According to the complaint, the Hatch Act specifically prohibits USPS employees from running for election to…

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USPS: Franked Mail pre-election ban in effect

The “blackout” period for Franked Mail mass mailings takes effect Wednesday, Aug. 8. Franked Mail is official correspondence sent by members of Congress and other authorized users. These mailpieces have the member’s facsimile signature — the frank — in the upper right corner of the envelope or label instead of a postage stamp. The frank…

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USPS OIG Report: Marketing Mail Letters Workshare Discounts

Objective The U.S. Postal Service offers a postage rate discount to mailers for presorting, pre-barcoding, handling, or transporting of mail. These workshare discounts incentivize mailers to perform specific activities that the Postal Service would otherwise have to perform. They allow the Postal Service to increase operational efficiencies, avoid some mailing costs, stimulate mail volume growth,…

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USPS OIG Report: Terminal Handling Services – Southern Area

Objective The objective was to assess the effectiveness of the Terminal Handling Services (THS) the U.S. Postal Service uses to sort and transport mail in the Southern Area. THS suppliers load mail into FedEx air containers and deliver them to FedEx for transportation across the nation. They also transport incoming FedEx air containers to THS…

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ASM Revision: Firearms Possession by Postal Service employees

Effective August 2, 2018, the Postal Service™ is revising the Administrative Support Manual (ASM) to clarify policy on the possession of firearms by Postal Service employees. Administrative Support Manual (ASM) 2 Audits and Investigations * * * * * 27 Security * * * * * 276 Firearms Security * * * * * 276.2…

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Postal Bulletin: Prevent Heat Illness — Know the Signs and Act

Summertime can put employees at risk for heat illness. High temperatures and humidity, direct sun or heat, limited air movement, physical exertion, poor physical condition, and some medicines are contributing factors to heat illness. When the body is unable to cool itself by sweating, heat-induced illness such as heat stress, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and…

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The Art of Magic stamps release will include a special souvenir sheet

The Art of Magic stamps release will include a special souvenir sheet that mimics a famous illusion. The souvenir sheet will feature three identical stamps that show a white rabbit in a black hat. By rotating each stamp, you can see the rabbit “pop” out of the hat. The Postal Service used lenticular printing, a…

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