Learning Curve

Bubba2017 · Apr 5, 2017

I'm a junior working one...maybe two days a week. Amazon Sunday and the regular's day off (Monday). Nineteen days and counting, but hoping to last the year necessary to make 90 days. Twenty two (shared) hours in the case with other subs and I have YET to be allowed to sink on my own. My first day on my assigned route (a week ago) was a 13 hour day. This week was an 11 hour day. Yet, I still haven't worked the route on my own. BUT, that hasn't prevented the bullying comments received from a micromanager with a chip on her shoulder. Monday I spent my first 1.5 hours at work, by myself. I absolutely loved it and worked my ass off. But that wasn't good enough. I gathered my my flats and DPS and began casing mail. Then it began. "You don't know the case." "You need to learn the case." You need to study the case." You should be able to empty a bucket of flats in 15 minutes." "Go fill this other routes LLV with fuel."

I have a college degree. I've paid union dues my whole adult life and until a month ago, was happy drawing a very good pension, but got tired of ten years of retirement and decided to go back to work. Before I get discouraged, I'd like to hear your experiences. What are reasonable learning curve expectations for an adult working a completely new career one or two days a week?

I created route and case spreadsheets and I've recreated the case on my computer. There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not studying to show myself approved. What more can I do? What do I NEED to do? At this point, my mission in life is to last even one day longer than this micromanager.

Deer Smearer · Apr 5, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">Bubba2017 said 
I'm a junior working one...maybe two days a week. Amazon Sunday and the regular's day off (Monday). Nineteen days and counting, but hoping to last the year necessary to make 90 days. Twenty two (shared) hours in the case with other subs and I have YET to be allowed to sink on my own. My first day on my assigned route (a week ago) was a 13 hour day. This week was an 11 hour day. Yet, I still haven't worked the route on my own. BUT, that hasn't prevented the bullying comments received from a micromanager with a chip on her shoulder. Monday I spent my first 1.5 hours at work, by myself. I absolutely loved it and worked my ass off. But that wasn't good enough. I gathered my my flats and DPS and began casing mail. Then it began. "You don't know the case." "You need to learn the case." You need to study the case." You should be able to empty a bucket of flats in 15 minutes." "Go fill this other routes LLV with fuel."

I have a college degree. I've paid union dues my whole adult life and until a month ago, was happy drawing a very good pension, but got tired of ten years of retirement and decided to go back to work. Before I get discouraged, I'd like to hear your experiences. What are reasonable learning curve expectations for an adult working a completely new career one or two days a week?

I created route and case spreadsheets and I've recreated the case on my computer. There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not studying to show myself approved. What more can I do? What do I NEED to do? At this point, my mission in life is to last even one day longer than this micromanager. </blockquote>
First, it sounds like you have a moron for a manager.

You are probably in a unique position of being able to walk away from the job at will. Don't let the A-hole get to you.

People learn at different speeds. Some learn at a steady pace, some at an accelerating pace, and some at a decelerating rate. As long as your times are improving be patient.

Mondays suck for a sub if it's your day to work. That doesn't help the learning curve. As you learn the route line of travel casing should become easier. There is no universal time for learning a case or a route. They all vary. Amazon Sunday will do next to nothing for your learning the route.

Write down the street names and where they are on the case. If you only travel on a street one time remove it from the list. Those are the easy ones to find and remember. Pay more attention to those streets that are all over the case. Those are the ones that scramble your brain and concentration when casing. Try drawing the line of travel on a map then hi-lite the roads different colors as they change on the case. Note roads that are only on the first or last half of the route.

Others will offer lots of tips too. Try some different ways until you find what works for you.

There is no real substitute for experience.

olewhatshername · Apr 5, 2017

Bubba2017......you go and the best of luck to you. You are already ahead of the "curve" when you found this site. Ask questions and don't be hard on yourself. In your career with the Postal Service this won't be the last time you will meet a jerk of a boss.....seems like the Postal Service has more than their fair share of moron Supervisors/PM's. I have a feeling you are going to have a lot of fun with this MicroManager Boss......try to be easy on her.....HaHa

btdtret · Apr 5, 2017

Bubba2017 -- " Then it began. “You don’t know the case.” “You need to learn the case.” You need to study the case.” You should be able to empty a bucket of flats in 15 minutes.” “Go fill this other routes LLV with fuel.” "

-- Welcome to the wonderful world of badgering and belittling, other wise known as the USPS.

-- When told to gas up an LLV for another route, your first question should have been "How does this help me learn my case?"

-- When ever manglement begins the rants about your work, look them in the eye and say "No doubt you were a great carrier in your day, please show me how you would do that!" ( you may discover many members of manglement were once city carriers -- who could not do the job and became members of manglement )

-- Any future belittling should be followed up with "Thank you for that useful input." Or words to that effect. Just be careful not to let your real feelings slip out when dealing with the morons, ooops, make that members of manglement.

-- As previously noted, basically working one day a week is not conducive to learning any route in a timely manner. And a Monday, no less.

-- Any other route in your office that has a primary opening on the Matrix which does not have a Monday relief day?

-- The USPS has just released its latest policy statement on work place harassment, dated 16 March 2017, but it is just no seeing the light of day. The last line of the statement reads: The Postal Service does not tolerate any type of harassment, inappropriate conduct, or reprisal in the work place. Right below the line is the postmaster general's name. The policy statement should be posted on an office bulletin board --- if not, ask manglement why not.

-- When dealing with what you consider harassment and / or bullying, document, document, document!!! After an incident ask anyone within hearing range to note manglement's actions.

-- The April 2016 issue of the NRLCA magazine has an article entitled "Bullying in the Workplace" in the Question Box section. See if any carrier in the office kept the issue or the article. If a union member, you can access the NRLCA web site and find past magazines in their archives.

-- The ELM's Chapter 6, Section 665 - Postal Standards of Conduct. Subsection 565.16's last sentence: Employees are expected to maintain harmonious working relationships and not to do anything that would contribute to an unpleasant working environment. You'll probably want to laugh at that, but it is in black and white, if you ever have the need to file a grievance for harassment and or bullying by manglement.

-- When you start mentioning chapter and verse on anything to manglement, they tend to find someone else to bother.

-- Manglement's worst nightmare is an informed rural carrier -- give them something to worry about, like their future employment!

-- After manglement's next incident, you might say out loud, "I wonder if the Postmaster General would consider what you just did as harassment based on her latest policy statement that was just issued 16 March?"

-- Don't know if you took Latin back in High School, but is does come in handy from time to time. Make a little sign of "ILLEGITIMI NON CARBORUNDUM" for your case. It serves as a reminder: Don't let the bastards grind you down." Of course, you can manglement what ever you want to should they ask.

-- Hang in there. Let manglement be the bad guys.

dannkim18 · Apr 6, 2017

As others have said hang in there, everryone learns at a different pace. I have a newer sub as well, he hasnt been allowed or able to run the route by himself yet either. Retention is the name of the game, they don't want anyone fired and but sure will make you want to quit.

My new sub has been on the route for 2+ months now has yet to even run 1/2 by himself, PM doesn't think he can and won't push him and sometimes thats what it takes, you seem willing to learn and try just do your best and remember when you alone on the route is the time to cuz the managers under your breathe, LOL

Bubba2017 · Apr 6, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">dannkim18 said 
As others have said hang in there, everyone learns at a different pace. I have a newer sub as well, he hasnt been allowed or able to run the route by himself yet either. Retention is the name of the game, they don't want anyone fired and but sure will make you want to quit.

My new sub has been on the route for 2+ months now has yet to even run 1/2 by himself, PM doesn't think he can and won't push him and sometimes thats what it takes, you seem willing to learn and try just do your best and remember when you alone on the route is the time to cuz the managers under your breathe, LOL </blockquote>
The regular has been running a version of this route for 20 years. They arrive at 7:20 am, charge a "ten minute snack break while on route, in order to eat a banana" and return to the office between 4:00-4:30 pm on a nine hour route, working every minute. I have only seen/met the PM briefly, on two occasions, so I'm almost certain the PM is unaware of the morale problem between this micromanager and the regulars. As a former union steward, I would not have put up with snide belittling comments made to regulars, by this manager. For the next year I'll bite my tongue. I don't see my 90 coming any sooner.

I'm delivering almost half the route, in the two days I've delivered without the regular...on their day off. I spent two days prior, delivering a portion with the regular. One day in the same LLV, the second in a separate LLV. The first day without the regular, I made my first box at 2:45 pm. The regular usually makes it at around 12:00-12:30.

I'm not just willing to learn, I'm determined. I will reasonably do whatever it takes to get the job done. However, I resent being treated like a third grader, which apparently, over the past year, the regulars have come to accept from this manager.

Deer Smearer · Apr 6, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">Bubba2017 said 

The regular has been running a version of this route for 20 years. They arrive at 7:20 am, charge a "ten minute snack break while on route, in order to eat a banana" and return to the office between 4:00-4:30 pm on a nine hour route, working every minute. I have only seen/met the PM briefly, on two occasions, so I'm almost certain the PM is unaware of the morale problem between this micromanager and the regulars. As a former union steward, I would not have put up with snide belittling comments made to regulars, by this manager. For the next year I'll bite my tongue. I don't see my 90 coming any sooner.

I'm delivering almost half the route, in the two days I've delivered without the regular...on their day off. I spent two days prior, delivering a portion with the regular. One day in the same LLV, the second in a separate LLV. The first day without the regular, I made my first box at 2:45 pm. The regular usually makes it at around 12:00-12:30.

I'm not just willing to learn, I'm determined. I will reasonably do whatever it takes to get the job done. However, I resent being treated like a third grader, which apparently, over the past year, the regulars have come to accept from this manager. </blockquote>
If a 20 year regular is taking 4-5 hours to get out of the office I'd say you're doing fine.

Learning the case is probably the most important but most difficult part of the job. However, driving and learning the line of travel first makes learning the case so much easier.

You might want to invest a little of your own time just driving the line of travel making mental and physical notes as you go.

Have you cried out on the route yet? Many have. You don't need to admit it here, just know if you did you're not alone.

One day you will be driving along delivering and a light bulb will go off. Things will make more sense and get easier.

On those addresses or streets you continually have difficulty casing mark them in the case before pulling down. Maybe case that piece backwards. It will remind you out on the street of one you're having problems with. It might help put a & b together.

As I mentioned earlier, on your practice case remove the easy to find and remember addresses. It makes it easier to find the difficult ones.

If a specific street is split up on lots of shelves on the case and cause you problems don't waste a lot of time looking for them. Set that street aside. When you have just them left sort them into numerical order then start looking from the first cell and case as you go.

KEEP A LIST OF THE ADDRESSES YOU GET that are not on the case. The pressure of casing will make you spend several minutes looking for where to put one letter and it might not even have a place to go. You will have accomplished nothing looking for it other than lost time.

The trick to getting faster isn't necessarily going faster. Often it's eliminating wasted unproductive time and motions.

Bubba2017 · Apr 6, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">Deer Smearer said 

If a 20 year regular is taking 4-5 hours to get out of the office I'd say you're doing fine.

Learning the case is probably the most important but most difficult part of the job. However, driving and learning the line of travel first makes learning the case so much easier.

You might want to invest a little of your own time just driving the line of travel making mental and physical notes as you go.

Have you cried out on the route yet? Many have. You don't need to admit it here, just know if you did you're not alone.

One day you will be driving along delivering and a light bulb will go off. Things will make more sense and get easier.

On those addresses or streets you continually have difficulty casing mark them in the case before pulling down. Maybe case that piece backwards. It will remind you out on the street of one you're having problems with. It might help put a & b together.

As I mentioned earlier, on your practice case remove the easy to find and remember addresses. It makes it easier to find the difficult ones.

If a specific street is split up on lots of shelves on the case and cause you problems don't waste a lot of time looking for them. Set that street aside. When you have just them left sort them into numerical order then start looking from the first cell and case as you go.

KEEP A LIST OF THE ADDRESSES YOU GET that are not on the case. The pressure of casing will make you spend several minutes looking for where to put one letter and it might not even have a place to go. You will have accomplished nothing looking for it other than lost time.

The trick to getting faster isn't necessarily going faster. Often it's eliminating wasted unproductive time and motions. </blockquote>
I created my own turn by turn list by driving the route and writing down the address on every mailbox. From that list, I created an Excel document. The micromanager/supervisor doesn't want me in the office unless I'm on the clock. Since I couldn't document the case on my own time, I drove the route on my own time. It took me days to get all the addresses, but I've checked and I'm accurate.

My spreadsheet is color coded, turn by turn, listing every address on the route and marked by case side and row. e.g., L1,C1,R1... Then I created an alphabetized list (quick reference) that only shows the street, case side and row, that I use in sorting my spurs and parcels.

I think I'm getting slowed down in the case "handling" of the mail, not to mention the frustration at being micromanaged. "Slop the hogs" (just throw it in the case) doesn't work well for me. The regular is meticulous also. Every address in their case includes names of occupants, as do the CBU's on route, which by the way are cased on site. Get me out on the route and I'm much better at casing the CBU's, than I am the case in the office. Maybe my problem lies in multitasking? Ha!

EthelAnne · Apr 6, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">Bubba2017 said 
I'm a junior working one...maybe two days a week. Amazon Sunday and the regular's day off (Monday). Nineteen days and counting, but hoping to last the year necessary to make 90 days. Twenty two (shared) hours in the case with other subs and I have YET to be allowed to sink on my own. My first day on my assigned route (a week ago) was a 13 hour day. This week was an 11 hour day. Yet, I still haven't worked the route on my own. BUT, that hasn't prevented the bullying comments received from a micromanager with a chip on her shoulder. Monday I spent my first 1.5 hours at work, by myself. I absolutely loved it and worked my ass off. But that wasn't good enough. I gathered my my flats and DPS and began casing mail. Then it began. "You don't know the case." "You need to learn the case." You need to study the case." You should be able to empty a bucket of flats in 15 minutes." "Go fill this other routes LLV with fuel."

I have a college degree. I've paid union dues my whole adult life and until a month ago, was happy drawing a very good pension, but got tired of ten years of retirement and decided to go back to work. Before I get discouraged, I'd like to hear your experiences. What are reasonable learning curve expectations for an adult working a completely new career one or two days a week?

I created route and case spreadsheets and I've recreated the case on my computer. There isn't a day that goes by that I'm not studying to show myself approved. What more can I do? What do I NEED to do? At this point, my mission in life is to last even one day longer than this micromanager. </blockquote>
There's no magic to this job. It takes practice and repetition. Unfortunately, RCAs don't get that working 1 or 2 days a week. I was an RCA for 10 years (just converted to regular this past year) and I thought I knew all the routes in my office but my God! I can't believe how well I know my route now that I'm working it day in and day out. You become so familiar that you can do the job without thinking.

You're a former steward, so you know there's not a lot you can do while you're in the probationary period. My advice? Get a pair of headphones and keep plugging along.

Bubba2017 · Apr 6, 2017

HA! (Tongue in cheek) The supervisor says headphones aren't allowed. <img title="Laugh" alt="Laugh" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-laugh.gif" /> I know it will be a VERY long year. <img title="Wink" alt="Wink" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-wink.gif" />

oi veh. · Apr 6, 2017

OMGoodness, I would kill to have a sub like you! (Not literally, N S A)

You are going to be just fine.

p.s. start singing show tunes under your breath just enough to tune her out every time she comes over to your case (OOOOOOKla-hoooooma is a personal favorite)...you might just get those headphones.

olewhatshername · Apr 6, 2017

I love singing OOOOOOklahoma too!!! Go figure.

btdtret · Apr 6, 2017

Bubba2017 -- "The supervisor says headphones aren’t allowed. "

-- But you may be able to use ONE ear bud -- depending on manglement.

-- If they persist, ask what manglement does for deaf employees! ( we had a deaf city carrier at my old office )

-- Ask manglement when was the last time the emergency alarm and lighting system was tested.

-- BTW, as a last resort -- refer manglement to Handbook EL-814 ( Postal Employees Guide to Safety )

G. Personal Portable Headsets --

The use of headset is permissible only for employees who perform duties while seated or stationary and only where headset use does not interfere with preforming duties or constitutes a safety or health hazard.

boxstuffer · Apr 7, 2017

Ask your regular if it is ok to tape index cards on the case at the inside corners.

Place a card with all the street names in that wing row on the card in alphabetical order with a L C or R (Left, Center, or Right)

Put the cards in at the inside corners of each row.

So a card at the left corner would look like

Adams St - L

Jones Pl - L

Main St - L,C

Oak St -C

West Way - L

And a Card at the right corner would look like

Bounty Court - R

Main St - C,R

Oak St - C

Tide Pl - R

Zebra Ln - R

It will help you find the streets quicker and any other RCA's will love it too if they have to also fill in on that route.

Another tip I have is to make detailed driving maps of difficult sections of the route. I use Google Maps Printouts and write notes on the sheets.

I give these to any RCA's that cover my route. I have some difficult areas to learn and this helps get them thru it.

What ever you do.......make management fire you. Don't quit or "Resign". Management is under orders to keep RCA's "At all costs" So unless you are unsafe they will give you some leeway.

Be a sponge and absorb any and all info from other carriers and RCA's Some will will be good and some bad. You'll figure out who is full of it soon enough.

Keep an eye out on the regulars and study their actions/procedures. See who is first out in the mornings and the first back in afternoon. Ask them how they do it. Most of us enjoy helping someone who is willing to learn. Regulars figure how to save seconds each day and have honed the skills over years of practice.

Seconds Count. They add up. Save them where you can. Don't make 3 trips across the workroom floor when you can do it in one later.

BS

Bubba2017 · Apr 8, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">boxstuffer said 
Ask your regular if it is ok to tape index cards on the case at the inside corners.

Place a card with all the street names in that wing row on the card in alphabetical order with a L C or R (Left, Center, or Right)

Put the cards in at the inside corners of each row.

So a card at the left corner would look like

Adams St - L

Jones Pl - L

Main St - L,C

Oak St -C

West Way - L

And a Card at the right corner would look like

Bounty Court - R

Main St - C,R

Oak St - C

Tide Pl - R

Zebra Ln - R

It will help you find the streets quicker and any other RCA's will love it too if they have to also fill in on that route.

Another tip I have is to make detailed driving maps of difficult sections of the route. I use Google Maps Printouts and write notes on the sheets.

I give these to any RCA's that cover my route. I have some difficult areas to learn and this helps get them thru it.

What ever you do.......make management fire you. Don't quit or "Resign". Management is under orders to keep RCA's "At all costs" So unless you are unsafe they will give you some leeway.

Be a sponge and absorb any and all info from other carriers and RCA's Some will will be good and some bad. You'll figure out who is full of it soon enough.

Keep an eye out on the regulars and study their actions/procedures. See who is first out in the mornings and the first back in afternoon. Ask them how they do it. Most of us enjoy helping someone who is willing to learn. Regulars figure how to save seconds each day and have honed the skills over years of practice.

Seconds Count. They add up. Save them where you can. Don't make 3 trips across the workroom floor when you can do it in one later.

BS </blockquote>
FANTASTIC IDEA! THANKS!!!

justasinger · Apr 8, 2017

Those index cards are great. I had never seen or heard of them until last week when I started covering on a new route.

Bubba2017 · Apr 8, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">justasinger said 
Those index cards are great. I had never seen or heard of them until last week when I started covering on a new route. </blockquote>
I just finished creating shipping labels on the computer (like name tags) for street names that I can stick on the left side of each row of the case. Now I need to get permission from the regular, to stick them up. She does the same thing in her CBU's for customer's names. Wish I had thought of it.<img title="Cool" alt="Cool" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-cool.gif" />

boxstuffer · Apr 8, 2017

I can't take credit for it.

First time I saw them it was on one of the cases in my office.

The regular on that route made them up. She also has a detailed Map book for her route.

I remember how many times it saved me when I was an RCA and filling in on her route.

Good Luck,

BS