New Hire RCA Feeling Disenchanted

[muttleycrue]

So, I can understand the OP's position. Its all about finding the right office, which generally is going to be in a very rural town without much going on to draw job competition.

Very rural offices have their own problems. While there is less job competition, there are also less potential job applicants.

The county I live in has maybe 15 total rural routes, covers 75 miles north/south, 30 miles east/west. There are maybe a couple RCAs left for the entire county. Within a 50 mile radius of my office there might be 1 RCA. In the offices I know about there are 7 rural routes, no RCAs. Between my RMPO and the APO the position has been posted for at least a year with NO applicants. The latest RCA to leave (from a different office) was booking days a couple months ahead.

Being rural at the literal end of the line (there are no more USPS offices north of those serviced by my APO) does not guarantee being able to attract or hold onto subs.

 

[Old Fart]

Thank you all so much for your feedback! It’s super helpful. I am going to sleep on it and make a decision over the weekend. To clarify as someone asked, I have not started training yet, I just accepted the offer today and completed the onboarding. I have a lot to think about and will write more tomorrow with some questions based on your feedback. Y’all are awesome

Bottom line, it depends on the office. Geography, open or complete roster of employees, station manager, etc. They're all variables. There's nothing wrong with trying it out, see what's done at the office you're assigned to, and if it's not for you, resign.

 

[RDruckus]

If anyone asks me, I tell them RUN away!
But it all comes down to the conditions in your area.

 

[InquiringMindsWantToKnow]

I understood the individual to be an rca, then mgmt wants more from the individual rather than the schedule provided.
I don't interpret the person as expecting to be treated as "privileged". I see a human being that expected to work what they were hired to work. But this job is never that simple. It's a selling of our soul.
This job is never what we signed up for. It's ever changing and never truly in our favor. In 19 yrs I've seen it drop to us being at the bottom of the chain and being treated like desperate rejects instead of intellectual human beings. This job has conditioned so many to think we're doing good to get crumbs and no time off when we could go elsewhere for steak and have time for a personal life. Those of us who see it are plotting our escape. He new ones who sense something wrong need to pay attention to that little voice and run now. And ignore the insults on their way out.

Thank you for the support!

 

[nlsal209]

Hi everyone! I hope it is okay to drop in and pick your brains... I was recently hired as an enthusiastic RCA - I was very much looking forward to joining the rural team and driving through the country and getting regular exercise in the great outdoors on a part-time basis after recently relocating to the TX hill country for a new adventure and a much needed respite from my previous career.. but now that I have done some due diligence and ended up down various internet rabbit holes I am feeling very apprehensive about following through with taking the position. It seems like almost everyone agrees that RCAs are routinely overworked and undervalued. Give me your honest opinion - if you knew then what you know now, would you have run the other way and not taken the job? I absolutely do not want to work 70 hrs 7 days per week... I would prefer to only work 3 to 4 long days per week, but at a minimum I want to draw a hard line at 40 hrs 5 days per week (with the occasional overtime as might be expected around holiday season etc.). Do you think I can realistically observe my limits upfront and still be a respected employee - or even still remain employed for that matter?

Back in the days when American was great , RCA where being hired on to table 1. Further, they were make $20 plus overtime. Moreover, I was able to buy a home with that salary. However, currently rcas make less than $20 and everything is literally doubled!

 

[rural]

Back in the days when American was great , RCA where being hired on to table 1. Further, they were make $20 plus overtime. Moreover, I was able to buy a home with that salary. However, currently rcas make less than $20 and everything is literally doubled!

Well what do we have to do to make America great again?

 

[oi veh.]

dont let the thread devolve, people.

keep on topic.