Bailing Out New Hires... Why???

Boston65 · Nov 23, 2016

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">Ramjed22 said 

Doesn't last forever. Unfortunately. </blockquote>
Grab the hours thrown at you now. First of year things will slow down and back to fighting for hours. Some of these newer RCA's will be still under their 90 day probation and may not even be kept.

klutz · Nov 23, 2016

A smart pm knows that to keep good rca's they need to make reasonable $$$. There is a fine line in knowing how many RCA's are needed in each office. Key word is needed...

Too many RCA's and it will be a revolving door of inexperienced people.

Too few and you are scrambling every day.

Our union should fight for a real part time flexible with benefits category. If an RCA sticks for 2 years and has a good job rating, give them a dang bone...Benefits....It's always cheaper in the long run to take care of good people rather than running through scores of misfits. Union wins, usps wins, and RCA's win.

The days of folks sitting around and saying,,GEE I'd like to only work a few Saturdays, do a good job, maintain a vehicle and be on call just ain't a reality.. But just like everything else about contract time...The damn union doesn't have a clue, fights for nothing and then doesn't even wonder why nobody even bothered to send in a vote...The analogy of our union's inability to do its job to Sanders and Trump's campaigns about the system are very valid.

oi veh. · Nov 24, 2016

Ramjed, I have been traveling the last few days and see that some have answered the question you posed to me, but wanted to also answer you myself. <img title="Smile" alt="Smile" src="http://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-smile.gif" />

Do I train? Yes, within reason. It's very frustrating when someone just doesn't give a crap at. all. about customer service and is just all about the money, i.e., just rush through the route as fast as one can, flinging mail hither and yon. (Why yes, my lovely sub, this is directed at you.) I had a good regular and I strive all these years later to fill his shoes...treating/training my sub as I was. The best advice I ever received was that the customers should never know when the regular is off. Unfortunately, my customers do...and boy, do I hear about it when I get back from vacation or extended sick leave. I, too, was never bailed out, received 1 day ridealong, 1/2 day top part of the route, 1/2 day bottom part of the route...then learn to swim, baby. I believe it made me a better carrier. <img title="Wink" alt="Wink" src="http://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-wink.gif" />

And no, I will not go out and help an RCA. I am not paid to do so and quite honestly, I do enough for free.
You'll see when you make regular.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Joe_Reeser · Nov 27, 2016

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
Ramjed22 -- " in a PO where the PM is deliberately trying to fill every route with a sub."

btdtret said -- The PM is trying to live up to the contract. Probably one of the few to do so! Something the NRLCA has been pushing for years. Page 46 of the new contract: ....Regular rural carriers shall have the right to require that a leave replacement be assigned to their route.

</blockquote>
There was on office near mine with four regular routes that tried for several years to keep all the subs everyone was entitled to mainly because the regulars wouldn't cooperate. They would hire RCAs and they would last a couple months and they would quit for one very simple reason: they couldn't get enough hours. You can note all day long that it's only a part time job and that they're only guaranteed one day every one or two weeks and that's true. They're also told they can likely pick up more hours than that but if everyone really did have their own sub that would be very unlikely.

I would also suggest that anyone who can get by working one day every one or two weeks simply doesn't really need to work at all. Perhaps you should ask yourself which is likely to make the better worker: 1) someone who does whatever they can to get as many hours as they can or 2) someone who really doesn't need the work in the first place?

Therefore, I would suggest that every regular route having its own sub has a lot more to do with the betterment of the union than that of the Regulars or the RCAs.

EthelAnne · Nov 27, 2016

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
Joe_Reeser said </blockquote>

I would also suggest that anyone who can get by working one day every one or two weeks simply doesn't really need to work at all. Perhaps you should ask yourself which is likely to make the better worker: 1) someone who does whatever they can to get as many hours as they can or 2) someone who really doesn't need the work in the first place?

</blockquote>

I have to take issue with what you've said here: not everyone wants to work a full time job, and lots of people are satisfied with part time work, and are still excellent employees. The reason most RCAs quit (at least those who don't wash out early because they can't do the job) is because they can't get enough hours and they absolutely need full time work. This is a part time job with irregular hours--ask yourself who's going to be more successful at this position: someone looking for additional income who only wants to work part time, or someone who needs full time work?

Those who work this position as a true part time job can withstand the inevitable periods when there is very little work because they're not relying on this job to pay the bills. If you need to pay your rent, you can't survive those months out of each year when you're only working on Saturday, so you're forced to quit to find more reliable work.

I always thought it was a mistake for the USPS to dismiss from consideration people who were only available on Saturdays--they lost out on a lot of good, reliable, stable workers for the day of the week that is most difficult to cover. Although I hate the ARC position for other reasons, I think it's a step in the right direction for USPS management to be more flexible toward applicants for the job and recognize that people have goals/responsibilities in their lives other than (eventually, and only after a very long time) becoming full time carriers.

wolfound · Dec 4, 2016

I like being an RCA, it's not easy but always a challenge . I always always always help newbies. because I can clearly recall the utter panic and frustration of being one myself. I check on them frequently . ...if for no other reason,to let them know they are not alone out there in our rural wilderness. when my route is done, I physically go out and check with them on the route. (Off the clock and in my POV)because the RCA that trained me did so on my first couple solo runs.....and she was a welcome site! just knowing someone ACTUALLY cares means more than the money. We are a team.every RCA in my office helps the other RCAs . we don't and can't rely on the regulars to assist us, it's not their job...they paid the dues....we get that....sink or swim training? u bet... but we make certain the newbies know we will save them from drowning if they have the right stuff.

kdog2521 · Dec 6, 2016

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">Ramjed22 said 

Yeah, I keep telling myself that. Trying to make myself feel better. We've never had a full house. But it really does get frustrating to have to bail these new ones out over and over and, well you get my meaning. Eventually it starts to get in your head that hey, wait a minute.. Why am I constantly bailing someone out that obviously isn't getting it. But yet they're there to take work away from me. Understand, I treat them the way I'd want to be treated. But after the umpteenth time of bailing them out, it gets to you pretty quick. Even HR is adiment about keep these new RCAs. Regardless of whether they can do it or not. Really just don't get it. Cause back when I was hired, 2 weeks and thanks for playing! Not anymore. They are trained to no end. And after 2-3 months, you either have it or you don't, Even after all that, I still bite my tongue and give respect. I was raised to give respect to get respect. Anyway, I appreciate your perspective on this. It's good to have different opinions. God willing, I'll go regular real soon and all this is an after thought! </blockquote>
<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">EthelAnne said 
How about you say no the next time the PM asks you to help another RCA? Let's see how much food that takes off your plate.

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">Ramjed22 said 
Over time, more than I care to remember, we've all had to bail out a new hire that isn't cutting it on the route. I will say, I NEVER had help. But what I'm wanting to know is WHY? By bailing out a new hire, especially in a PO where the PM is deliberately trying to fill every route with a sub. It takes the food off our plate! </blockquote>

Like you, when I got hired a long, long time ago, I had no help in learning routes. It was sink or swim. That was wrong then, and it's wrong now. In addition, there were two a-hole RCAs who decided to give me a hard time. So go ahead, be one of those jerky RCAs. The Post Office is full of jerks who make working here a miserable place, go ahead and join them.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: the "surplus" of RCAs in offices always manages to work itself out. Not everyone can do this job, not everyone can deal with the irregular hours, etc., and eventually the office returns to a sort of equilibrium where the remaining RCAs are satisfied with the amount of work they have. It sucks to have to wait these periods out, but all RCAs--and especially veteran RCAs!-- should understand that this is not a full time job. </blockquote>
Ahhh...but it is a full time job in essence isnt it??...so your statement that it's just a part time job rings pretty hollow..Aren't many of us being asked or worse forced to work 6-7 days a week?? Aren't most of us unable to keep a reliable 2nd job if we are expected and being forced to work at the drop of a hat..So yes it may be a "part time job on paper" but it's anything but for most of us...