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Pushing the Envelope Blog

Operating During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Date: 04/06/20 | Category: OIG

The global pandemic of COVID-19 has impacted our country in ways that were unimaginable months ago. It is changing how people across the U.S. and around the world are working, shopping, even interacting with one another. States have ordered many stores and businesses to close. Businesses that continue to operate are faced with protecting their employees and customers, while coming up with creative ways to market and deliver their products.

The Postal Service continues to serve the public, operating on the front line, fulfilling the universal service obligation to deliver to every house and business every day. USPS is finding itself serving a population that is relying on it now more than ever. For many home-bound and quarantined people, home delivery is the only source for medicine and other vital supplies. During this time, the Postal Service has also prioritized the safety of its employees and customers.

We recognize the reality of the pandemic and have adapted our operations to maintain continuity while ensuring the safety of our employees. We are taking abundant care to minimize exposure to both our employees and Postal Service employees, using technology whenever possible. As we have told our employees, we also ask you to follow CDC guidelines, remain home as much as possible, and stay safe.

For questions or concerns about delivery during the pandemic, please go to usps.com to track mail or get information from the USPS Coronavirus FAQs page.

Postal Service employees, for work-related complaints or issues, please use our Hotline to let us know.

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Your Name
Sarah Wood
Reply
Aug 25, 2020
Your Comment
The USPS's transit times for packages is insanely scattered and unreliable as a shipping service for any business now. As some packages are taking up to month in transit with no scan, customers will withdraw funds from marketplaces effectively making these items free because they are lost in the abyss of the postal system. Is the USPS offering free return to sender recovery for mail as a courtesy for the extreme handling times that will put many businesses out of business?
Your Name
Jordyn
Reply
Aug 24, 2020
Your Comment
Hi. I sent a letter from Houston to London on aug. 3. Has anyone sent a letter recently to the UK and how long did it take approximately? I am wondering if small letters need to go through customs? Thanks for anyone’s replies if they have any idea! It said that it could take anywhere between 7-21 business days but wondering if it will even get there in time!
  
Your Name
Josephine
Reply
Aug 26, 2020
Your Comment
Not sure about letters, but I mailed a package from MS June 10th and it still hasn’t been delivered to my relatives! It arrived in London Jun 25th. Latest tracking info says arrived at UK Facility July 23.
  
Your Name
Jeffrey
Reply
Aug 28, 2020
Your Comment
Weirdly enough, I've found first class mails go out faster from USA. I've sent USPS priority express (paid extra hoping it'd arrive faster) package to Korea that has been stuck at Chicago for 3 weeks now, but normal letters arrive to Korea in about 2 weeks.Regarding the package, I've been told it's waiting on airline availability, since the number of flights went down.
Your Name
Bill W
Reply
Aug 21, 2020
Your Comment
A package was mailed to me from a DPO in Europe. The last tracking was from a transfer station in NYC at 7:30 a.m. on August 7. It said nothing about customs. It simply said that it was "currently in transit to destination". It seems incredible that 14 days later it has not moved. What is the explanation? I see that this website responds only to complaints about employees but given the present situation, some sort of public outreach is certainly in order. Either through the press or on your public-facing media you should give the public confidence in your operations by explaining the delays and what is being done about them. When can we expect our packages? Mine contains medicine and other items needed for my work. Come on now. You can do better!
  
Your Name
Marjan
Reply
Aug 25, 2020
Your Comment
Same here. My package is in transit to dstination Chicago since July 29th. Destination: the Netherlands. I understand that it will be shipped by boats instead of planes, but please give more info or an address where I can ask for more info.
Your Name
Barbara Forte
Reply
Aug 20, 2020
Your Comment
Everyone is complaining that we're not wearing masks.. you wanna see more carriers dropping dead of heat stroke? Sit in that truck for 6+ hours in the heat with a mask on and carry 50lbs of
dog food, 40lbs of kitty litter, and all the other heavy crap all you people decided to buy during coronaChristmas - get in and out of that truck that's 120°- a hundred or more times a day.. see how you feel about wearing a mask! I signed up to deliver MAIL, catalogs, magazines, newspapers, political crap. NOT all that PLUS 300 PACKAGES A DAY. We're overworked, hot, and exhausted. I wear a mask when I have to ENTER A BUILDING, I'm not wearing one outside all day.. I stay away from my customers, they stay away from me. What's the problem?
  
Your Name
Wearing a mask
Reply
Aug 22, 2020
Your Comment
No problem at all with that, Barbara. I think most people complaining here and elsewhere have a problem with postal workers directly facing customers in the office or entering apartment houses or office buildings maskless. And the real problem we have is with top management, which is so afraid of the crime boss and his family in Washington that they won't require that such workers do wear masks, for the protection of the public, their coworkers and themselves.
  
Your Name
Drew Thompson
Reply
Aug 23, 2020
Your Comment
Hey, to all USPS workers. I’ve always thought u did a good job. Esp with priority mail.
Your new inspector general is giving the post office a bad image. Employees should of been screaming to media about what was happening. Not after but during.
  
Your Name
Shawn
Reply
Aug 24, 2020
Your Comment
I'm sorry your going through that Barbara. i live in CA and F.Y.I. by federal and state OSHA regulations it is illegal by LAW to force you to wear a mask. Second, fact. Mask don't protect against virus at all; Just look on the back or side of a medical mask box it states it there. Fact 3, more people have died of the regular flu than CV-19. Fact 4, masks are an outer sign of submission.
     
Your Name
Randell
Reply
Aug 30, 2020
Your Comment
While I agree the postal worker is fine without one out doors, everything you just posted is inaccurate. This has nothing to do with submission. I come from a very diverse family in terms of profession. Two cops, a lawyer, a nurse, and a doctor. I trust science and medical knowledge, not political propaganda. It is also not illegal to require the use of masks within reason. The main point of masks is to prevent spreading to others, while it does have limited protection for the opposite.
     
Your Name
Oles
Reply
Sep 1, 2020
Your Comment
Exactly!
     
Your Name
Wow!
Reply
Sep 2, 2020
Your Comment
Could you possibly be further offbase? Please broaden your sources of news and information. You might find you learn something.

Are seat belts also a "sign of submission"?
  
Your Name
Wanda potter
Reply
Aug 24, 2020
Your Comment
I dont work for the post office and i completely agree with you. These whining babies need to just shut up. You guys are not robots its too damn hot to be wearing that its bad enough the extreme heat but everyine is home ordering tons of crap they dont need and i for one feel terrible for you. If you werr my mail carrier i would bring you some water and thank you card for continuing to exhaust yourself doing this difficult job. Until they walk in your shoes they should shut up. I appreciate your hard work your not around anyone for long enough for them to act like this. The complaints that are made by these ignoramuses like the one who "ran away" from her carrier she still took her mail that was touched by the carrier. Its just stupid. They need to leave you guys alone im sorry im on your side for this one. And thank you for all the hard work i know your doing.
  
Your Name
Karas
Reply
Aug 24, 2020
Your Comment
As long as you put it on when you are in a enclosed space with someone else, or you are unable to maintain social distance for whatever reason, i really dont see a problem with this. Stay safe out there. Thank you for your work.
  
Your Name
Jim Booth
Reply
Sep 17, 2020
Your Comment
I was intrigued, and disappointed by your post Barbara. If you are dissatisfied with your job it should go to your supervisor, not vent to those paying for a service. Being customers I think we just want to get acceptable service. My mail carrier is great and delivers all those products you don't like to. I feel badly for you. Working a job a person doesn't like only causes stress. I suggest you find a job you like. Good luck in doing so. Jb
Your Name
Andrew poolad Pooladian
Reply
Aug 20, 2020
Your Comment
i ordered a book from a seller in georgia and it was sent out on august 5th and as a of yesterday i has not left georgia , is that normal during covid , i think it is crazy , can you help
Your Name
Pira H
Reply
Aug 19, 2020
Your Comment
I want to say our postal workers here in my town are excellent. I live in S.C. and the main problem I have are packages going to Puerto RIco. Have sent two of them Priority Mail and they've gotten there in 10 days; strange because at the height of COVID back in April-May my packages to Puerto Rico were getting there within 3-4 days, now we have more rules and packages getting delayed in New Jersey or New York. Yet all other packages going to Ohio or Utah, TX, NC, they all are getting there on time be it Medial Mail, First Class or Priority. Reading all this it appears the problem is in certain parts of the country, and primarily where the riots are taken place.
Your Name
Angry Taxpayer
Reply
Aug 18, 2020
Your Comment
Clearly an issue with USPS First Class International to Canada. I've had several packages stuck in Miami ISC for a month. Customers want answers. Another exponential failure by USPS. Also find it interesting on people complaining about postal workers not wearing a mask. The science does not back up what you are trying to imply. Stop watching the news everyday and come back to reality. The media is NOT for your benefit...
  
Your Name
ISC Worker
Reply
Aug 19, 2020
Your Comment
Just FYI, the ISC has nothing to do with the USPS. Your wait times once it hits customs is based on how fast we can sort and inspect items through customs to get them to the next carrier.
     
Your Name
Skullman
Reply
Aug 20, 2020
Your Comment
Maybe you can answer this for me. I have a package from Canada that says processed through isc Chicago facility on 8/6 but then that’s it. Does that mean it’s still sitting there or should I contact the post office ? Thanks for your help.
        
Your Name
Sara
Reply
Aug 25, 2020
Your Comment
You should try to contact them but good luck with getting anyone to help you. My package shows that it's been sitting at ISC Chicago since July 1st !
     
Your Name
Sara
Reply
Aug 21, 2020
Your Comment
Obviously not fast enough !
     
Your Name
Jefferson Eng
Reply
Aug 28, 2020
Your Comment
I have two incoming packages from Australia stuck at "ISC Los Angeles" which were last scanned for processing on August 4th. I have called 1-800-ASK-USPS twice and they keep saying it's technically not in the hands of USPS. But really, is it really taking three--going on *four*--weeks to actually push something through?!
        
Your Name
David Keener
Reply
Sep 1, 2020
Your Comment
I've had a package that showed being released to customs on July 12th and still have nothing. A few e-mails and a few phone conversations with USPS got me the reassurance that sometimes it has taken up to 4 months for people to get their package so not to worry and I will get it at some point in my life.
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