For information or assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at 1-800-EAP-4-YOU (1-800-327-4968), TTY 1-877-492-7341. Professional counselors are ready to talk with you … It only takes a telephone call to make an appointment. You also may contact the EAP at www.eap4you.com.

District EMT is Monitoring TS Emily

The District Emergency Management Team (EMT) is monitoring Tropical Storm Emily through National Hurricane Center advisories. At this time, employees may monitor their local media for weather updates. If and when the storm approaches South Florida, additional Newsbreaks will be issued and employees will be asked to call the National Employee Emergency Hotline for instructions.

Under the leadership of District Manager Jeff Becker, the EMT includes senior postal officials and Postal Inspectors. Just as you have an Emergency Action Plan to protect your family and secure your property, the EMT has a multitude of tasks assigned in the Integrated Emergency Management Plan (IEMP) and its Hurricane Annex which outlines specific preparedness, response, and recovery actions as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The mission of the EMT is to ensure your safety and well being as the Postal Service restores operations and service as quickly as possible following a tropical storm or a hurricane.

As with other federal agencies, the Postal Service utilizes an Incident Command System, a structure that defines the roles and responsibilities of individual EMT members. Roles range from overseeing the installation of hurricane shutters to recording National Employee Emergency Hotline messaging to restoring operations and service.

In the weeks prior to hurricane season, EMT members review and update the Hurricane Annex (including SOPs) and conduct hurricane tabletop exercises to ensure that each team member fully understands his or her role.

During an emergency situation such as a tropical storm or a hurricane, the EMT relies on the Postal Alert Notification System (PANS), a web-based and wireless communications mechanism, to coordinate tasks and record actions taken before, during, and after a weather event.

Throughout hurricane season (June 1 – November 30), the EMT monitors National Hurricane Center (NHC) advisories 24/7. Based on these weather forecasts, the team communicates through meetings and teleconferences to make operational decisions. This information is then messaged on the National Employee Emergency Hotline.

The EMT encourages you to prepare for hurricane season by visiting the District’s Homeland Security website (in the address line type SFD, then follow the Department Page Menu to Homeland Security) and the Florida Division of Emergency Management website at http://www.floridadisaster.org/. More information on hurricane hazards, including details on how to secure buildings and belongings, is available at http://www.ready.gov/ and www.hurricanes.gov/prepare.

Making That Revenue Connection

Like many American businesses, the Postal Service continues to experience a financial loss. We can fault economic conditions and the increased usage of electronic communication for the decline in mail volume.

But even during difficult, challenging times, we are reminded that there is good news. As we continue to implement cost-cutting measures, we have a great opportunity to grow the business. Working together as a team and “engaging” in revenue initiatives will improve our overall financial situation and create long-term job security for all of us.

Yes, our business is changing, but what isn’t changing is who we are --- a trusted part of the communities we serve. The commitment and dedication of employees, like yourself, connect the nation through the power of the mail. We’re an integral part of a self-supporting agency that funds its operations from revenue generated by the sales of products and services. And we’ll continue to make that connection with our customers. How?

Through the Employee Engagement Program. Customer Connect. Business Connect. Rural Reach. Submit a Lead. These individual revenue generation programs are not new to you, but as an organization, we’re revitalizing the overall program. We’re re-engaging to grow the business --- our business.

Every day. Everywhere. No matter our position in the organization, each of us is a salesperson who has an opportunity to make that special connection with customers. And each district has an enthusiastic sales team just waiting to follow up on your sales leads and bring in some much-needed revenue.

Every employee is encouraged to submit a lead about a business customer who doesn’t use the mail --- or one who could use more of our mailing services. Are you “engaged” in one of these revenue-generating programs?

Customer Connect leverages our letter carriers’ relationship with their business customers to identify new business opportunities and leverage existing relationships to grow revenue.

Business Connect encourages Postmasters and Managers, Customer Service to help small and medium-sized businesses to generate revenue with postal products and services.

Rural Reach is a program for rural carriers to identify potential customers and revenue generation.

Submit a Lead is for employees whose jobs do not have regular customer contact. They’re the behind-the-scenes employees who work in plant operations.

Today, more than ever, the Postal Service needs to pursue all viable revenue sources, and our employees play a very important role as they submit leads through one of the lead programs. Our future depends on employee engagement --- your engagement! Every day. Everywhere.

How to Update Your eOPF

It only takes one hurricane to realize the importance of having current information in your eOPF (electronic Official Personnel File). Your manager/supervisor may need to contact you if a hurricane hits South Florida. Here are five updating options:

www.liteblue.usps.gov
Go to www.liteblue.usps.gov. On the welcome page, enter your Employee Identification Number (EIN) and Postal Identification Number (PIN). On the right side of the next page, click on Change of Address/Phone/Emergency Contact.

Personnel Computer Kiosks
At a personnel computer kiosk, look for a tab titled Present Job Info/Change of Address on the main page. South Florida kiosks are located in the Fort Lauderdale P&DC Cafeteria, Miami ISC Kiosk Room (located along the northern perimeter of the workfloor), South Florida L&DC, Miami P&DC Cafeteria, South Florida P&DC Cafeteria, Pompano Beach Main Office Breakroom, West Palm Beach P&DC Cafeteria and PEDC/Training Room # 143 (both located along the north wall), Haverhill Post Office General Clerk’s Office (located between the retail reception area and the workfloor), Riviera Beach Post Office Conference Room (located in the front of the building), Palm Beach Gardens Post Office Breakroom, and Palms West Station (in the rear of the southwest corner of the Cafeteria/Breakroom).

Blue Page (USPS internal web page)
All employees who have access to the Blue page may change their mailing and residential address and emergency contact information:
1. Select Log On from the upper left corner.
2. Log on with your ACE ID and password. Ensure the welcome screen has your name on it.
3. Select the tab labeled My Life. Under this tab, on the right side of the page is the heading My Profile, where you will find two links titled Address/Phone and Emergency Contact. Select Address/Phone.
4. Select the Address type from the drop menu and click on the Change button. Make your desired change(s) and click on Save.

PS Form 1216, Employee’s Current Mailing Address
Use a PS Form 1216, “Employee’s Current Mailing Address.” Send Copy 1 of your completed form to HRSSC COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, PO BOX 970400, GREENSBORO NC 27497-0400.

HRSSC
Call the Human Resources Shared Service Center (HRSSC) at 1-877-477-3273, and select Option 5. Validate your identity with your EIN or PIN. Follow the prompts.

Staying Connected in an Emergency

There are many types of emergencies. But there’s only one source of information on work schedule and reporting time changes, facility openings and closings, and other workplace announcements due to an emergency. To check your work schedule and/or status of your facility in an emergency (including before, during, and after a tropical storm or a hurricane), call the USPS National Employee Emergency Hot Line at 888-363-7462.

If you are a deaf or hard-of-hearing employee, here’s how to contact the Postal Service in an emergency: If you have a mobile phone with a relay app such as Sorenson, Sprint, Purple, etc., call the voice hotline number through your phone’s relay service or contact us online via the Federal IP Relay at http://www.federalip.us/. If you use TDD, call the Federal Relay at 1-800-877-8339.

FOR ALL EMPLOYEES:
ONLY in case of a natural disaster requiring you to leave your home, city, or state, report your location, physical condition, and contact information to the USPS Employee Notification Line at 866-666-5349. Please DO NOT call this number for information on your work schedule/facility status.

For deaf or hard-of-hearing employees who have a mobile phone with a relay app such as Sorenson, Sprint, Purple, etc.: Call the voice hotline number through your phone’s relay service or contact USPS online via the Federal IP Relay at http://www.federalip.us/. If you use TDD, call the Federal Relay at 1-800-877-8339. With either method, provide your personal status and ask that your information is communicated to the USPS Employee Notification Line at 866-666-5349.