Jess et al -- " A carrier went regular.. how long do you have to learn your route without being scrutinized?"
-- That depends on a few things mentioned in Article 9.2.M. Sections 4, 5, and 6.
-- If it was an involuntary reassignment, a carrier might get "familiarization training" which could be 1 to 3 days, depending on the route's evaluation
-- If there was a substantial change to the route because of major additions of territory, it could be 1 to 3 days of familiarization depending on the number of new mailboxes.
-- Unfortunately when a carrier goes regular, the carrier gets zero familiarization training. Hopefully the carrier is somewhat familiar with the route having worked it as an RCA. Better yet, the new regular was the RCA on the route and got it when the regular retired. But I digress.
-- If manglement was really concerned, they would have found a way to have the new regular get some familiarization training before actually taking over the route. ( in a perfect world )
-- The new carrier should look manglement in the eye and thank him/her for showing the interest in her work hours. ( while expressing other thoughts to herself ). She could also request that manglement show her how to improve on her work hours.
-- Tell the new carrier that 2 hours over on a new route is EXCELLENT - no matter what manglement may imply.
-- BTW she can remind manglement that a route's evaluation is WEEKLY, not DAILY. ( not that it will make a difference to manglement )
-- There is a saying that might apply here. When you work in the USPS's rose garden, you are bound to encounter some pricks.
-- Welcome to the rose garden!
-- No doubt manglement somehow forgot to mention the ability of a new regular to chose to be paid hourly from the start date until the start of the new guarantee year.
-- From Step 4 ( R-16 ) in part: Actual time can be expected to vary from daily or weekly evaluations due to cyclical changes in mail volume, changes in mail arrival, etc.
-- Should manglement say they are going by Section 151.2 that "neciat" kindly provided, Step 4 ( R-16 ) mentions that such a review is conducted over the course of a FULL QUARTER.
-- They may "consider" corrective action but rarely do make it.
-- Lastly, if manglement mentions being over evaluation again, suggest the new carrier give EAP a call due to the stress caused by manglement.