The USPS employees featured in the new Postal Uniform Guidelines manual say they’re proud to serve as role models for their colleagues across the nation.
Managers and supervisors are using the pictorial guidebook, available in a digital format, to help ensure employees wear their uniforms properly.
Edwin Tabarez, an Alexandria, VA, letter carrier who is pictured in the guide, is getting positive feedback from supervisors who have seen it.
“They tell me it’s really nice,” said Tabarez, a 15-year employee.
Wearing your uniform properly “shows respect for your customers and pride for the work you do,” he added.
Brand Marketing Executive Director Chris Karpenko said USPS uses real employees in the guidebook “because they are who our customers see in millions of interactions each day. When employees wear their uniforms properly, they are providing a positive reflection of the Postal Service brand.”
Mitchell Carte, a Manassas, VA, retail associate who appears in the book, said he’s “always game” to help USPS.
The 12-year employee hopes his appearance in the guide encourages his colleagues to want to look more professional, which he said helps build trust in the community.
“Customers don’t see the behind the scenes of what we do, but they see us,” Carte said.
Shannon Wilson-Ellis, a Riverdale, MD, retail associate, said she felt like a “celebrity for the day” during the photo shoot.
“You have to hold poses and smiles for a long time,” she said. “Modeling is not as easy as you think.”
The 19-year employee said it’s important to have a well-kept uniform to “represent for your brand.”
She even takes care when discarding her worn or torn uniforms.
“I make sure to remove all Postal Service insignia before throwing anything away,” Wilson-Ellis said. “I don’t want anyone else to get their hands on it.”