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Feb. 04 - Issue 194

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MISSION CARES ABOUT ME COMMITMENT TO QUALITY

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BEST FRIEND EXPECTATIONS RECOGNITION

I will recognize or praise co-workers for doing good work.

INSIDE STORIES:

Engagement Challenge Seeking Engagement Champions Employee Milestones Suncoast District Recognition Celebrations

2020 Engagement Challenge

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I will recognize or praise co-workers for doing good work.

1.) Who are your biggest cheerleaders at work? Who helps you believe in your potential for success? 2.) Think of three colleagues who help you with your job. Have you thanked them or recognized them for their help? 3.) As a team, how can we build an environment that encourages recognition or praise?

Questions to Ask Yourself and Your Team

Engagement Resources and Contact Information

Praise and recognition are essential building blocks of a great workplace. We each possess a need to be recognized as individuals and to feel a sense of accomplishment. Workplace recognition motivates and makes employees feel valued as well as provides a sense of individual accomplishment. It not only boosts individual employee engagement and productivity, it also increases loyalty to a company leading to higher retention. The act of recognition also sends a message to other employees about what success looks like. In this way, recognition is both a tool for personal reward and an opportunity to reinforce the desired behavior to other employees. An engaged manager promotes an environment rich in recognition and praise, where everyone is appreciated. Recognition should also be frequent and timely to ensure others understand the significance of the recent achievement.

The Engagement team would love to hear from you.

We are looking for contributions, quotes and suggestions.

Send your feedback to the email above.

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USPS Seeks Engagement Champions

USPS put the call out for Engagement Champions and more than 1,000 employees responded. These employees are actively involved in, committed to, and enthusiastic about their work. They are located in every area and district operation. They firmly believe in the enhancement of a trusting and engaging work environment by promoting healthy and valued relationships. These champions will work with their local Employee Engagement Ambassadors to help improve the workplace environment. And we’re looking for more employees to join the team. For more information, send you name and work location to engagement@usps.gov. Type “CHAMPION NETWORK” in the subject line. We respond to your email in short order.

Northern Ohio District Champion Network has created “buzz” with its team. This is just one example of opportunities for employees who would like to be part of an exciting and thriving atmosphere.

“Engaged employees are highly involved in and enthusiastic about their work and workplace. They are psychological ‘owners,’ drive performance and innovation, and move the organization forward.” - Gallup

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Employees Celebrate Years of Service Milestones

Tampa, FL, Tractor Trailer Operator Jay Bell (left) was presented with his 50-year Service Award and pin by Transportation Networks Manager Jose Roman.

San Diego, CA, University City Station Lead Retail Associate Elizabeth West was recently honored with her 50-year Service Award. “The best part of my job is serving the customers at the retail window because I have made many new friends over the years and have grown to love my regular customers,” she said.

Miami, FL, Letter Carrier Michael Acevedo was recognized for

50 years of service.

Cedar Rapids, IA, West Station Letter Carrier Ernie Topness began his postal career in 1957 and has been delivering mail ever since. He is the only employee in the entire Western Area with more than 60 years of service, and ranks No. 6 nationally for years of service. “I just love what I do,” he said. “My customers all know me by my first name. They look forward to seeing the mail man and come out to chat with me daily.”

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Suncoast Places First in Two USPS Categories

From left: District Manager Steve Hardin, NALC President Al Friedman, Rural Letter Carriers Association Assistant District Representative Janeen Montgomery and Senior Plant Manager Mark Dahlstrom.

During October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month), Suncoast District had the No. 1 and No. 2 offices in the nation for sales of the Breast Cancer Research (BCR) semipostal stamp. The Punta Gorda, FL, Post Office came in first place with more than $48,000 in sales. The Apopka, FL, Post Office was second with sales totaling more than $47,000. Since its debut in 1998, the stamp has generated more than $89 million for breast cancer research. Suncoast District was also recognized with a plaque for collecting the most food donations during the 2019 Stamp Out Hunger National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Food Drive. Nationally, employees collected 75.7 million pounds of food during last year’s drive, the third-highest total in the campaign’s 27-year history.

Punta Gorda, FL, Retail Sales Associate Eileen Dimase was ranked first in the nation for individual sales of the BCR stamp, totaling more than $36,000.

Apopka, FL, Retail Associate Chris Chui placed second in the nation, with more than $25,000 in individual BCR stamp sales.

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The Next-Level Connection Initiates One-on-One Conversations

The Next-Level Connection is a tool to help prepare individual team members for success. Leaders are using it to initiate one-on-one talks with all direct reports. These talks are intended to assess the current level of engagement, open lines of communication, clarify expectations and build upon results.

TIPS TO GET STARTED:

Communicate that one-on-one conversations will be held with every team member and direct report.

Make time to have a conversation with each team member who reports directly to you. Share this expectation with your direct employees who also have employees reporting to them.

Discuss progress and next steps by focusing on elements of engagement. Use the checklist below to have meaningful conversations.

- Identify areas of strengths (needs being met)

- Address opportunities (needs not being met); work together to improve

- Be open to feedback (listen to understand, not to respond)

- Show empathy for all concerns and overall well-being

- Acknowledge contributions/achievements

Submit questions to: engagement@usps.gov.

Go to the Employee Engagement website to watch a video on how to have a Next-Level Connection, and learn how to assess and address your team’s needs.

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Jan. 25 Elvin Nixon Customer retention agent Coppell, TX Jan. 25 Aaril Westbrook Customer retention agent Coppell, TX Jan. 27 Rusty Lawerence Maintenance mechanic Kansas City, MO Jan. 27 Tony Giles Customer retention agent Coppell, TX Feb. 1 Christina Santos Training technician Melville, NY Feb. 1 Don Eib Lead automotive technician Bellmawr, NJ Feb. 3 Leesa Bonilla Retail associate Philadelphia Feb. 3 Shon Fjerestad Postmaster Beresford, SD Feb. 6 Sandy Harlan Retail associate Rockford, TN Feb. 6 Shannon Bailey Retail associate White Lake, NY Feb. 6 John Conant Custodian Albuquerque, NM Feb. 8 Sarah Bentley Lead retail associate Ada, MN Feb. 9 Matthew Seaver Retail associate Grafton, NY Feb. 11 Steven Livingston Retail associate Opa-locka, FL Feb. 13 Chemayne Porter Supervisor, customer services Westland, MI Feb. 13 Tammy Braun Postmaster Winnebago, WI Feb. 14 Karen Hughes Business service network rep resentative Little Rock, AR Feb. 14 Tarrah Roberts Forcier Distribution clerk White River JCT, VT Feb. 18 Joan King Postal police officer Cleveland Feb. 18 Cynthia Gonzalez Retail associate Bronx, NY Feb. 19 Phillippa McCalla Retail associate Lake Park, FL Feb. 20 Dexter Boone Maintenance mechanic Richmond, VA Feb. 21 Erica Dillon Retail associate Forest Hills, KY Feb. 22 Glen Fletcher Business mail entry technician Little Rock, AR Feb. 23 Shelia Mckenney Storekeeper auto parts Detroit Feb. 23 Antonio Arthur Mail processing clerk Lithicum, MD Feb. 23 Maricela Garcia EEO specialist San Antonio Jan. 24 Qwana Metoyer Maintenance support clerk San Diego Feb. 25 Brent Hill Maintenance mechanic Detroit Feb. 26 Rosemary Lee Postmaster Princeton, LA Feb. 28 Dave Marshall Maintenance mechanic Detroit

Tyra and Vincent Johnson celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary. Tyra and Vincent are both

supervisors, distribution operations in Dallas.

Denise and Richard Varano celebrated their 18th wedding anniversary. Denise is a writer/editor for

the Northeast Area in Shrewsbury, MA.

Steve and Regina Tapp celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary. Steve is a rural carrier in Mason,

TN.

BIRTHDAYS

WEDDINGS / ANNIVERSARIES

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4 years Adam Botley Lead automotive technician Bellmawr, NJ

4 years John Collins Lead automotive technician Bellmawr, NJ

6 years Ashton Muffley General clerk, vehicle maintenance facility Bellmawr, NJ

20 years Chataqua Ogletree General clerk Aurora, IL

22 years Orrace Eley Custodian Norfolk, VA

22 years Sheree Lee Smith Postmaster Norway, MI

25 years Tim Shanks Letter carrier Fort Wayne, IN

25 years Danyeil Simmons Inspection service general analyst Chicago

26 years Anthony Peabody Manager, vehicle maintenance facility Bellmawr, NJ

30 years Karen Edwards Letter carrier Fort Wayne, IN

30 years Roger Cadrin Business mail entry technician Bridgeport, CT

31 years Jefferey Soricelli Maintenance mechanic Norfolk, VA

32 years Anthony Francione Letter carrier Bronx, NY

33 years Cynthia Gonzalez Lead retail associate Bronx, NY

34 years Maricela Garcia EEO specialist San Antonio

34 years Heather Kratz Electronic technician Pontiac, MI

35 years Joanne Short Contract technician Honolulu

35 years Jon Migia Mail processing clerk Honolulu

35 years Louise Takara Complaints and inquiry clerk Honolulu

35 years Cindy Shikada Retail associate Honolulu

35 years Lori Hamaguchi Retail associate Honolulu

35 years Wanda Pacheco Data collection technician Honolulu

35 years Lucy Albo Mail processing clerk Honolulu

40 years Sharlene Grimes Administrative assistant Washington

40 years Barbara Cahill Custodian Endicott, NY

25 years of service Laree Martin Attorney Washington

25 years of service Robyn Spencer Mail handler Dayton, OH

31 years of service Sharon Long Data collection technician Scarborough, MA

POSTAL ANNIVERSARIES

RETIREMENTS

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Employee Celebration Submissions

Did you miss a previous engagement newsletter? Go to the Engage Weekly site on Blue or Liteblue. Do you have a birthday, retirement, postal or wedding anniversary you would like to announce? Log on to LiteBlue and fill out the form. Or... Go to USPS LiteBlue and log on with your employee ID and USPS self-service password.

Under Hot Topics, select Employee Engagement.

In the left column, select Employee Celebration Submission, and fill out the online form.

African American History Month

USPS is commemorating the month through activities at its facilities, as well as events to celebrate the new Gwen Ifill stamp, the 43rd entry in the Black Heritage series, which was released Jan. 30. Ifill was among the first African Americans to hold prominent positions in both broadcast and print journalism. She was known for her nonpartisan and in-depth reporting, as well as her personal warmth and authoritative professional presence.

The Postal Service and other organizations across the nation are celebrating African American History Month in February. African American History Month traces its roots to February 1926, when historian Carter G. Woodson helped establish a weeklong commemoration to raise awareness of the contributions by African Americans. The observance was expanded to a full month by President Gerald Ford in 1976. Additional material is available on the Postal Service’s informational website, with articles on African American postal employees throughout history

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