Talk of postal finances inevitably turns to the U.S. Postal Service’s retiree pension assets and obligations. With nearly $279 billion in assets, yet $41 billion below their estimated liabilities, the pension plans are a huge part of the USPS portfolio.
Our office has looked at ways to address the Postal Service’s long-term pension and health liabilities, focusing recently on ways to invest assets so they yield higher returns while minimizing risk.
In today’s world of package tracking and interconnectivity, an email from the U.S. Postal Service or even our Inspector General regarding mail delivery might seem legitimate.
That’s what the scammers want you to think. Unfortunately, some postal customers are getting bogus emails purporting to be from the Postal Service about an attempted or intercepted package delivery or online postage charges. These emails contain a link or attachment that, when opened, installs a malicious virus that can steal personal information from your personal computer.
Safety first. This mantra of parents everywhere is also a cornerstone of U.S. Postal Service internal policies and federal regulations on facility maintenance to provide a safe and healthy workplace for its employees.
Our latest audit reviewed whether management adhered to building safety, maintenance, and security standards at mail processing facilities. We found concerns, ranging from minor oversight infractions to more serious issues.
You’ve probably noticed that wherever you go in this country, it’s pretty easy to find a post office. After all, the U.S. Postal Service has the largest retail network in the country, using its more than 31,000 locations to provide vital services like mailing and shipping, passport processing,...
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From wearing masks and working at home to popularizing terms like “social distancing” and “contact tracing,” the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on life has been far and wide. Most people just don’t do things the way they used to, and according to our new survey, that includes some of the ways they...
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While many of our audit reports are planned in advance, from time to time we respond to situations that require immediate response. Take, for example, the reports of mail delays and wait times up to 15 hours for truck drivers in Cleveland in December 2020.
As discussed in our recently...
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Seamless Acceptance is the automation of mail verification of mailings from mail service providers (MSPs) who apply unique Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMb) on mailpieces, trays, sacks, pallets, and other containers. The MSPs submit electronic data that provides information on the corresponding...
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Mail is processed manually when its dimensions or address quality prevent it from being processed automatically. Processing mail manually has significantly lower productivity than processing mail on automated mail processing equipment.
From fiscal year (FY) 2019 to FY 2020,...
The Postal Service owns more than 8,400 facilities. In the wake of the global pandemic, public expectations for trusted and safe indoor business environments, including those of the Postal Service, are evolving. Research has shown that airborne transmission of the coronavirus should be...
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