Is it really as bad as you all say?

[JFT]

JFT -- Welcome to the USPS. To be honest, it is not the [ fun ] job it used to be and may not be a good fit for your situation of a youngster and a study-from-home husband. The only way to find out is to give it a go. The USPS could care less that you have a family life, as you will be expected to come to work when called.

-- Google "usps publication 181". It is a 12-page pub about rural carriers associates ( RCA's ).

-- As "CS" noted, a lot depends on the postmaster of the office, your co-workers, and the size of the post office. Seems the smaller, really rural post offices are better as everyone eventually knows everyone and the "team" works together to get the job [ delivering the mail ] done through cooperation, even to the extent of crossing crafts, which is a strict no-no if larger offices.

-- The guy who hired you - did he mention RCA's are expected to have a vehicle ( a POV ) capable of delivering mail from? And also expected to have a back-up vehicle just in case one breaks down. This does not really apply if you have a post office that has all postal vans ( LLV's ). That might not be the case if the post office is in a real rural area. ( I see that has come up through additional posts! Certainly call to find out. If you discover you need one right away, it might be a good time to walk away. POV users do get an equipment allowance but it will not cover all expenses. One needs a fairly new vehicle - an SUV or mini-van - and or to be mechanically inclined or know someone who is. )

-- Despite the bad "reviews" others have posted, many stay because it is the only job in town or the area. If one can stick to it, the benefits upon making regular are good -- but could take years to achieve.

-- Others such as "Ibpd16" were looking for a "part-time" job for some spare cash, but soon found themselves working basically full time ( and without the benefits ). Depends on the office staffing.

-- "DB.Cooper" mentioned the Gallup Poll. When it first was done for postal workers and the results were published, top-ranking USPS official were happy to learn the USPS finished with something like 13 out of 16 categories in the 1st percentile. Then the bad news hit -- the 1st percentile was actually the bottom of the barrel! Sad to say, follow-on polls have not really improved. Actually took a law-suit to get the results of one or two polls made public.

-- I guess I have to type faster as "blamethesub" and now others have posted good advice too!

-- The job is sort of like the TV program "A MILLION LITTLE THINGS"!! There is a lot to learn, in fact, it seems it is a never ending learning process. Lots of memory work and it really helps to be right-handed! Don't ask, you'll find out.

-- The only "dumb" question is the one you don't ask. As you can see already, plenty of those who are willing to answer questions you may have.

-- It probably will take a lot of cooperation with your husband to make this work, but give it an honest attempt - as in several months. On the positive side, you have missed the hectic Christmas period, so the pace should be somewhat easier.

-- A few things to start you off with:

-- The USPS pays every two weeks. As a new RCA, you should get ACTUAL TIME for any work for the first 5 pay periods ( 10 weeks of work ).

-- If your office does Amazon Sunday parcel delivery, there will be a sign-up list, actually two lists. One to volunteer to work Sunday parcels and the other NOT to work Sunday parcels. Be sure to sign the right one. Even then, some non-volunteers get "volunteered".

-- You will have a probationary period of 90-work days or one calendar year, which ever comes first. Manglement can fire you during that period for basically any old reason they see fit. Do your job as best you can so you don't give them a reason.

-- Your real job is to fill in for your regular carrier. If you are assigned to a K-route, you will have at a minimum, two days work per pay period. For a J-route, it will be only one day per pay period. Even an H-route can have a sub, but in that case, one would only work when the regular uses annual or sick leave. You'll learn what the K-, J-, and H-routes are during your time at the Academy training.

-- The job will seem overwhelming when you get to your post office ( it is ! ). We've all experienced it and handled it, so can you!

-- Back in the last century when I first signed on, there was no Academy training. New RCA's were given three days of training with the regular carrier and we were considered "trained" and on our own. There is a lot more to be trained on these days.

-- RCA's are getting harder and harder to hire, let alone keep for very long. The Postmaster General put out an edict a few years ago to "keep RCA's at all costs". Estimates now are that it costs the USPS in the neighborhood of $10,000 to take someone from the streets and getting them ready to delivery mail. Some postmasters honor that by being patient with new hires, while others don't.

-- Jot down ALL the post office phone numbers and have an answering machine be your call-screener. Pick up if you can work, don't pick up if you can't. Naturally, there is a catch-22 situation, you can be fired for not being "available" enough! Tread carefully.

-- Make that call to see if you are required to have your one vehicle ASAP. This could be the deal breaker.

-- Unfortunately there is a postal saying that if the PM or supervisor's lips are moving, it is probably a lie. ( most of the time it seems to be true! )

-- Now that you have found this site, keep us in the loop.

-- In the end, it will be your call. Good luck -- either way!

Thank you so much! I will be calling on Tuesday and If I need my own vehicle that is where my journey with USPS will have to end. I'm really really hoping it doesn't but I'm going to be ok with it either way and If my own vehicle is needed, I'll just assume there is some other opportunity out there waiting for me. I'm going to update you all once I know either way. Also, I'm going to Google search that publication you mentioned. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to respond. This job CAN'T be that bad if the people I'll be working with are as helpful and kind as you all are!

 

[JFT]

Another important question to ask is, Will I be required to work sundays and holidays to deliver Amazon? Could be your office doesn't deliver sundays but you may be required to travel to an Amazon hub office to deliver.

Good point. I'll ask that! Thanks

 

[Gotrope]

Aahh postal drama. It's priceless. In 90% of California vehicles are now provided for carriers. Even in farm country. The fall and winter holiday season can be a long work week. But as the new year begins your work demands should lessen. We deliver six days of mail per week. Sundays can be used for package delivery. When a holiday comes that means five days of mail delivery with seven days of mail as plants still work on Sundays. So, you can anticipate any day before or after a holiday would have higher volumes requiring longer work hours.

This is actually the slow season for mail, it's a good time to start and learn the job. When you ride along on your shadow a carrier day- ask questions. Most of us who made it enjoy the job and the decreased mgmt on the rural side of operations. We all have grumpy days like any job. This forum is for people to ask questions and let off steam. You need to understand this forum is designed for those actions. Your office co-workers may not be as cranky as some here. If you can self manage and enjoy a challenge of learning new things and areas you should be fine. Stay positive, don't get sucked into petty office drama. Much of it is simply the longer you are exposed to someone, the more you are irked by their behavior. Like a spouse ?

But definitely keep a pocket calendar of your hours as time keeping can be challenging on the rural side. We have the most complicated time keeping system in federal service according to Eagan, which pays federal workers. Sometimes you luck out with a good time keeper, but anytime a new mgr moves to rural operations there is a learning curve for them.

 

[johnwayne]

its not that bad. if you get in the right place. just remember you are expected to be perfect. but youre not. mistakes happen from time to time, and someone on the route will think youre the worst postperson ever. and someone else will think youre the best.

 

[JFT]

Aahh postal drama. It's priceless. In 90% of California vehicles are now provided for carriers. Even in farm country. The fall and winter holiday season can be a long work week. But as the new year begins your work demands should lesson. We deliver six days of mail per week. Sundays can be used for package delivery. When a holiday comes that means five days of mail delivery with seven days of mail as plants still work on Sundays. So, you can anticipate any day before or after a holiday would have higher volumes requiring longer work hours.

This is actually the slow season for mail, it's a good time to start and learn the job. When you ride along on your shadow a carrier day- ask questions. Most of us who made it enjoy the job and the decreased mgmt on the rural side of operations. We all have grumpy days like any job. This forum is for people to ask questions and let off steam. You need to understand this forum is designed for those actions. Your office co-workers may not be as cranky as some here. If you can self manage and enjoy a challenge of learning new things and areas you should be fine. Stay positive, don't get sucked into petty office drama. Much of it is simply the longer you are exposed to someone, the more you are irked by their behavior. Like a spouse ?

But definitely keep a pocket calendar of your hours as time keeping can be challenging on the rural side. We have the most complicated time keeping system in federal service according to Eagan, which pays federal workers. Sometimes you luck out with a good time keeper, but anytime a new mgr moves to rural operations there is a learning curve for them.

Well there is some hopeful news regarding the vehicle situation. Good ole California progressive state. Thank you for your info. I'm going to keep my hours on a calendar as suggested.

 

[btdtret]

JFT -- There are other options for working at the post office.

-- Clerks are in every post office, but not CCA's.

-- Clerks - work every day, so probably not a good fit if set on a part-time job - but they don't have to have their one route-ready vehicle.

-- CCA's ( City Carrier Assistant ) -- which are the city carrier equivalent of the rural carrier's RCA's. Like the clerks, they don't have to have a vehicle as city routes are LLV's or left-hand drive Dodge vans. Depending on the office situation, CCA's seem to make regular faster than RCA's. Just saying.
From other web sites, CCA's don't get much better treatment than RCA's.

-- Rural carriers are paid based on the route's evaluated time while clerks and city carriers have 8-hour work days ( sometimes longer ) and are paid hourly wages.

-- As "Gotrope" noted, keep track of your work hours. Could be done with a computer spread sheet like EXCEL or just simply with pencil and paper.

-- As"johnwayne" noted, mistakes happen, even for those with years of experience - so learn from mistakes and don't do them again.

-- Probably would have to take another test for a clerk or CCA position.

-- When asking about needing a personal vehicle, ask if there are CCA's in the office and if there are openings - either there or near by post offices.

 

[DB.Cooper]

Good point by BtDt... rural carriers are the only suckers at the PO required to provide a vehicle to do the USPS's work... so if that's not your cup of tea, look in to maybe being a clerk at the PO or a city carrier (PO provides vehicles for all city routes)... or, better yet get a job somewhere at the university where your hubby is going....

 

[Shafted]

I’m going to make this short and sweet.

1- mgt will LIE to you at the interview about every single topic you address just to get you in the door.
2- the Gallup poll showing us at the bottom 2% of all companies as reviewed by their employers is a sign.
3- run in the other direction, do not walk. RUN

 

[DB.Cooper]

I see peeps trying to pump some sunshine and encouragement... but is that really doing anybody any favors when talking about working for the good ole USPS????

Maybe some honest advice like Shafted offered is the most morally correct thing to do... just sayin'...

"...Employment Outlook for Postal Service Workers Overall employment of postal service workers is projected to decline 13 percent from 2016 to 2026. Automated sorting systems, cluster mailboxes, and tight budgets are expected to adversely affect employment..."

Job Outlook for Postal Service Workers

"...Yet in 2016, the first time the USPS contracted Gallup to conduct the Postal Pulse, their survey results proved that the USPS is a horrible, dysfunctional place to work. ... (data from about 400 companies and 7.5 million workers during 2012, 2013, 2014) to the Postal Pulse results. The USPS's overall rank was the 1st percentile, the lowest ..."

Postal pulse survey 2018 - Postal Employees - Federal Soup

Here's another thought... do you really want to become a jaded and frustrated person by working for the USPS... your daughter probably deserves better...

 

[muttleycrue]

I see peeps trying to pump some sunshine and encouragement... but is that really doing anybody any favors when talking about working for the good ole USPS????

Maybe some honest advice like Shafted offered is the most morally correct thing to do... just sayin'...

Are you now a moral authority?

 

[DB.Cooper]

Actually, I was quoting independent sources rather than just stating my own opinions... I guess maybe Gallup and others all got it wrong... the USPS really is a great place to work... who knew???

How many times have we read on here about RCAs that were fooled in to believing they had something that was just not really there, for YEARS... like the ones that figured out they were gonna take pay cuts when making Regular on Table 2... they likely would have preferred a little honesty up front... just sayin'...

"...Moral authority is authority premised on principles, or fundamental truths, which are independent of written, or positive, laws. As such, moral authority necessitates the existence of and adherence to truth. Because truth does not change, the principles of moral authority are immutable or unchangeable, although as applied to individual circumstances the dictates of moral authority for action may vary due to the exigencies of human life..."

So, maybe...

Give it a shot... you may love it... if not, quit... can't get much more simple than that...

 

[hunchback]

We all have grumpy days like any job. This forum is for people to ask questions and let off steam. You need to understand this forum is designed for those actions. Your office co-workers may not be as cranky as some here.

I hope giving an honest assessment of the current state of affairs doesn't get me labeled as a "cranky" get off my lawn old man.

The Rural Carrier Job used to be the best in the Post Office, not so much anymore.

I mentioned the problems keeping a vehicle on the road if required to provide a vehicle.
For your info, if required to provide a vehicle you get a payment each day called EMA.
While Fuel Prices, Vehicle Prices, Tire Prices, Insurance and Maintenance Costs have tripled over the last few decades the EMA has not.

If the office you will work at provides vehicles FOR EVERY ROUTE that is a plus for you. I said EVERY ROUTE because if there is a mix of routes Post Office Provided Vehicles (LLV'S) and people required to provide a vehicle (POV Routes) you will likely be on the hook to provide a vehicle on short notice.

What was not mentioned is the LLV's are all 30 years old or older. A trend is to change LLV routes to POV routes when the route becomes Vacant do to retirement, firing, death or disability because the LLV's have exceeded their usefull life. So you may start a career on an LLV Route but that too can change. Congress's proposal to require all Postal Vehicles to have Air Conditioning could actually force the Post Office to convert more LLV Routes to POV routes because the current LLV's do not have AC

If you are accustomed to a salaried job you may not be subject to the same shock that others feel when they work 10 to 12 hours a day only to be paid for 8 hours. This is the gift of the evaluated system

 

[CommonSense]

Are you now a moral authority?

I affirm the moral opinion of BDCooper.

 

[Shafted]

I second that.

 

[muttleycrue]

So the moral authorities declare that only negative statements are allowed. Anything potentially positive should be denied, denounced and denigrated.

gotcha.

Free will and honesty be damned.

 

[lbpd16]

I would be happy working 1-2 days a week

LOLOLOLOLOLOL

 

[DB.Cooper]

Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary... anybody who wants to believe the USPS is a wonderful place to work, is free to do so... is that moral enuf for ya... now for the moral of the story...

The "truth" is sorta like fine art... it's in the eye of the beholder...

 

[muttleycrue]

Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary... anybody who wants to believe the USPS is a wonderful place to work, is free to do so... is that moral enuf for ya... now for the moral of the story...

You seem to be stuck in this all or nothing land. That it's either an evil world where the USPS is the worst in every way and there is absolutely nothing good, or a fantasy land of kittens and puppies where nothing is bad.

There is a middle ground. To insist that your experience is the only truth and all other opinions should be suppressed is an arrogant fallacy. There are more than half a million USPS employees. Not all of them are horrible. Not all of them are good.

Hopefully everyone else reading this isn't as willfully arrogant and ignorant as you, and is able to see the possibility of good and bad existing at the same time.

I've worked for better employers. I've worked for worse. Considering all the factors involved this job has worked out for me, and it could work out for others. Their choice. Not yours.

 

[DB.Cooper]

Again, imo, everybody is free to have their own opinions... you got yours, I got mine... certainly they are not all the same... I suppose the world would be a boring place if we all thought or acted the same... thanks for being different... also thank you for your name-calling... for me, that says a lot about you... I'll leave it to your imagination what that might be...

 

[hunchback]

So the moral authorities declare that only negative statements are allowed. Anything potentially positive should be denied, denounced and denigrated.

gotcha.

Free will and honesty be damned.

No, all opinions are welcome.

If your life as a Rural Carrier is Heaven On Earth, Say So, Some Of Us Are Just Jealous,

You are a Rural Carrier, aren't you?