Holiday Hiring
To most effectively handle increasing package volume, the U.S. Postal Service® works year-round to maintain a flexible workforce. In 2015, the U.S. Postal Service hired nearly 29,000 seasonal workers to perform as mail handlers, retail associates, tractor trailer drivers, and city carrier assistants.
This holiday season, the Postal Service plans to hire between 35,000 and 40,000 seasonal workers to process and deliver holiday cards and packages to our customers. We have already begun the hiring process and are experiencing a positive response throughout the country.
Some Postal Service seasonal employees have opportunities for permanent work and a path to become career employees. The online application process is easy by going to http://usps.com and clicking on “careers” under “USPS JOBS” at the bottom left of the page.
For help with getting holiday mail volume delivered, the Postal Service looks to recent retirees, inviting letter carriers, clerks, and motor vehicle operators who have retired within the last few years to come back and help us deliver holiday cheer. They have virtually no learning curve, and can hit the ground running as they make some extra cash during the holidays…which is great for them, great for the Postal Service, and great for our customers.
Employee Tipping
All postal employees, including mail carriers, must comply with the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch. Under these federal regulations, carriers are permitted to accept a gift worth $20 or less. However, cash and cash equivalents, such as checks or gift cards that can be exchanged for cash, must never be accepted in any amount.
Operation Santa
This year marks the 104th year of the Operation Santa program. For 104 years, postal employees, charities, individual volunteers, and corporate volunteers have helped children in need experience the magic of the holidays by adopting their letters sent to Santa.
The program will kick off on December 6 at an event in New York City, NY, at the Farley Building in Manhattan. Participating locations are posted online at http://about.usps.com/holidaynews/.
Letters from Santa — North Pole Postmark
Encourage customers to give their child an unforgettable gift — a personalized letter from Santa! The U.S. Postal Service can help keep the enchantment of Santa Claus alive by delivering a letter from Jolly Old Saint Nick, postmarked from the North Pole.
1. Write a personalized letter to a child from Santa Claus and sign it “From Santa.” See sample letters.
2. Insert the letter into an envelope and address it to the child.
3. Add the return address: SANTA, NORTH POLE, to the envelope.
4. Ensure a First-Class Mail stamp is affixed to the envelope.
5. Place the complete envelope into a larger envelope, with appropriate postage, and address it to:
North Pole Postmark
Postmaster
4141 Postmark Drive
Anchorage, AK 99530-9998
“Letters from Santa” must be received by the Anchorage, AK Postmaster no later than December 15. Santa’s helpers in Anchorage, AK, will take care of the rest!
— Public Relations,
Corporate Communications, 10-27-16
Sample Responses for Use When Preparing Written Responses from Santa
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