President's Hotline Message

November 14, 2005
Steve LeNoir, President

Greetings Fellow Postmasters and LEAGUE Members

Updates on Issues Affecting Postmasters

I attended a meeting at Postal HQ on November 8, 2005, concerning the Small Office Variance Pilot Program being conducted in the Western Area. Jim Kiser, Manager Customer Service Support, and Fred Hintenach, Manager, Customer Service Operations, conducted the briefing. It was explained that the Small Office Variance Pilot being used in the Western Area is similar to the AWPS program used in 1st Class offices. It is intended to be used in CAG H-L Post Offices. It measures performance efficiency and determines workload in areas such as PO Box operations, distribution, and retail activity. It was stated that at this point, the data should not be used to set budget hours in a post office.

It was determined that more information is needed from Western Area officials as to the intent and mechanics of the program. A meeting will be scheduled in December with the Western Area officials to further brief the Postmaster associations.

NPA Adjustments Coming for Hurricane Affected Areas

We were informed on November 8 that post offices in AL, MS, LA and Houston that were affected by the hurricanes will receive NPA adjustments. For NPA purposes, the period being judged for FY05 would end as of August 31, 2005. We also learned that OPM has approved a VERA opportunity to postal employees in the affected area. Timelines and details will be released at a later date.

Reimbursement Rises to 48.5 cents per Mile

Effective November 1, 2005, Handbook F-15, Travel and Relocation, is revised to reflect a change in reimbursement rates for the use of privately owned vehicles to 48.5 cents per mile.

FSA Eligibility Period Extended

The eligibility period for employees in regard to Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for employees to use funds has been extended through March 15, 2006. This extended grace period gives employees until March 15 to use FSA funds withheld in 2005 another 2.5 months to use them for eligible items or services. Employees must have been on the Postal Service rolls as of December 31 of the plan year to be eligible. Pay for Performance Mitigating Factors FY2005

Postal Headquarters has released the guidelines for Mitigating Factors requests for FY 2005 Pay for Performance. Documentation must be maintained at the Cluster level, while the completed, approved, and signed Request Consideration of Mitigating Factors form must be validated at the Area level and forwarded to the Manager, Selection, Evaluation & Recognition (SER) via the “Perform 3” e-mail address. In order to have approved mitigations processed in time to be reflected in the January 27, 2006 PFP payout date, the deadline for submission to SER of all approved forms is December 13, 2005. That is the date the Evaluator must submit the form. Postmasters are required to submit their documentation prior to that date.

Specific guidelines and the submission form may be found on the Web site at www.postmasters.org under RESOURCES.

Steve LeNoir, LEAGUE President