cut off time when I don't answer phone, because I have a life

[mmk]

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11:02 am, I got a call, which I let go to voicemail, and the message was "pls call me back, could use you for parcel help."

Are you kidding me??  You don't know until 11am that you need parcel help?  

There must be a cut off time where I can make plans for the day, and in my opinion, it should be 9:30.  But I am referring exclusively to parcel help. I realize that LLVs can break down, or other circumstances that I understand they could need help any time of the day.  

Not answering is awkward to me, but that is the advice I always read about as the only option when you have made plans for the day.

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<div>Am I being unreasonable?  How many of you RCAs get called in for parcel help after 9:30?</div>

 

[Kelp]

You are not being unreasonable. There is no set in stone cut-off time, but 9-9:30 makes sense depending on your office. At 11 I would expect you to get on with your day.

Best way to cover your butt is to call in the morning when you're not scheduled and ask if they need help. If they say no, then that's the end of it and you can ignore your phone the rest of the day.

 

[Rt2mailman]

mmk, actually you are not an "on call" employee, they get paid a certain amount to be "on call" even if they don't work, that is not in the job description of RCA's. Of course the USPS looks at this differently but grievances have been won contrary to their belief. Inform your manager that to be able to have you come in to work, you need to be notified before 9:30 am, in other words your manager needs to manage. After that conversation your manager should know that you won't be answering your phone after that time, so don't.

 

[LouSainus]

You are not on call but you are required to be available to be scheduled. Problem is management fails to understand what schedule means. Scheduling is something that happens ahead of time.

<em>Schedule - to arrange or plan (an event) to take place at a particular time.</em>

Your day off starts the minute you leave the day before you are off. If they did not schedule by that point you are not obligated to answer. You are not paid to wait by the phone on your day off. If they say you are required to be available or w/e ask them how you get paid for that availability.

 

[wfillbra]

I've never had a problem with returning the call and explaining that "sorry, I have an appointment to get to". As stated previously, if not scheduled or contacted early-too bad for them. Also, by calling back, it helps them get on with their life and maybe figure out other options and possibly helping out the co-workers who are about to get screwed.

 

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