RCA restricted hours?

bazkitcase5 · Oct 5, 2017

Hi, sorry if this has been posted before, but I could not find it.

I am an RCA and my carrier decided to take off all week. However, because I would be getting overtime if I worked 6 days in a row, I am being forced to give up a day of work. I was wondering what the official rules are when it comes to this kind of thing? It is my normal route and I am ready and willing to work all 6 days, because I need the money.

I realize that they do not like to pay overtime, but we all know the post office is very good at wasting money, so this doesn't seem right. Especially when you consider that the other RCA makes $3 more than I do per hour in the first place, so the amount that is being saved is minimal at best.

Shafted · Oct 5, 2017

You get to work up to the evaluation of the route. If it is a 40, 41, 42,43 etc. there is no taking you off prior to that. Tell mgt you will grieve it.

stillfirstclass · Oct 5, 2017

putting my monkey in this circus.

what about 40 hours and more is overtime. less is evaluated. falsify your times and work all six days. get evaluated and laugh all the way to the bank

bazkitcase5 · Oct 5, 2017

So you are saying that as long as I am meeting my evaluated time every day (or more importantly, in total), then I can work all 6 days? Where can I find that in writing to show my postmaster?

oi veh. · Oct 5, 2017

You won't, as far as I know.

Contractually, you are entitled to work up to the route evaluation.

If it is 41 or more, smart RCAs slow down and get the OT. They have to pay it until you reach the route's evaluation.

bazkitcase5 · Oct 5, 2017

I can't say I really understand how slowing down will help. I try to read these forums when I can, but there is still a lot I do not understand.

My route is evaluated at 9.2 hours - this week, I am around 8 hours per day for 4 days so far... I will get my 5th day, but it is the 6th day that I would like to get, because as an RCA with this being my only job, I am trying to get all the hours I can, especially if I am contractually entitled to them. Working all 6 days easily puts me over 40 hours, but I still will easily be under the weekly evaluated time, but because I will be into overtime pay for the 6th day, the postmaster has scheduled a different sub to run my route and tells me that he can't let me get overtime.

D.B.Cooper · Oct 5, 2017

Clayton, here's the deal... stay under 40 ACTUAL work hours for the week, and you'll get paid for the 9.2 daily evaluated hours...

IF you go 1 minute over 40 ACTUAL hours for the week, then you'll get paid for your actual hours, and the evaluated hours go out the window...

So, if you take a lunch, or a break, write it down, as this will help keep you under 40 hours for the week, so you can get paid the evaluated hours...

Here's an example, if you work 5 days and do it in under 40 hours, then you'll get paid 9.2 x 5 = 46 hours...

If you take 41 hours to run those 5 days, then you get paid only 40 regular hours + 1 hour at time and a half... so basically 41.5 hours...

You gotta learn to play the game... that's how it works... <img title="Wink" alt="Wink" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-wink.gif" />

Deer Smearer · Oct 5, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">D.B.Cooper said 
Clayton, here's the deal... stay under 40 ACTUAL work hours for the week, and you'll get paid for the 9.2 daily evaluated hours...

IF you go 1 minute over 40 ACTUAL hours for the week, then you'll get paid for your actual hours, and the evaluated hours go out the window...

So, if you take a lunch, or a break, write it down, as this will help keep you under 40 hours for the week, so you can get paid the evaluated hours...

Here's an example, if you work 5 days and do it in under 40 hours, then you'll get paid 9.2 x 5 = 46 hours...

If you take 41 hours to run those 5 days, then you get paid only 40 regular hours + 1 hour at time and a half... so basically 41.5 hours...

You gotta learn to play the game... that's how it works... <img title="Wink" alt="Wink" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-wink.gif" /> </blockquote>
And if you take 46 hours to run the 46 hours you also get paid for 46 hours. But 6 of those hours are at time and a half, and there's not a damn thing they can do about it.

bazkitcase5 · Oct 5, 2017

That makes perfect sense, but is the postmaster allowed to force me to take a day off so that I can't work 6 days in a row? from what I am reading above, it sounds like he shouldn't be able to... at the rate I have been going this week, 6 days would put me at roughly 48 hours (probably closer to 47), evaluated at 55 - I am just an RCA trying to get as much work as I am allowed to get

As of now, he is not letting me work tomorrow and so I will do as you say and make sure I am under 40 hours for the week on Saturday (I don't typically get 5 days a week, so playing the game is not usually an option, so this is good info to know for the future)

D.B.Cooper · Oct 5, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">Deer Smearer said 

And if you take 46 hours to run the 46 hours you also get paid for 46 hours. But 6 of those hours are at time and a half, and there's not a damn thing they can do about it. </blockquote>
So this is a 46K route... aka 5 day route... not really sure the sub can "demand" to work 6 days on a 5 day route... <img title="Confused" alt="Confused" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-confused.gif" />

Also, if it were me, and I could get paid 46 hours for 5 days of work -vs- 46 hours for 6 days of work... I know which one I'd pick... <img title="Wink" alt="Wink" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-wink.gif" />

Deer Smearer · Oct 5, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">
D.B.Cooper said 

So this is a 46K route... aka 5 day route... not really sure the sub can "demand" to work 6 days on a 5 day route... <img title="Confused" alt="Confused" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-confused.gif" />

Also, if it were me, and I could get paid 46 hours for 5 days of work -vs- 46 hours for 6 days of work... I know which one I'd pick... <img title="Wink" alt="Wink" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-wink.gif" />

</blockquote>
Maybe I should have been clearer. Yes, 46 hours in 5 says.

If they work you 6 then you take 55.2 hours.

I've read it both ways where you are entitled to the evaluation even if more than 5 days, and evaluation or 5 days whichever comes first.

Deer Smearer · Oct 5, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">Clayton said 
That makes perfect sense, but is the postmaster allowed to force me to take a day off so that I can't work 6 days in a row? from what I am reading above, it sounds like he shouldn't be able to... at the rate I have been going this week, 6 days would put me at roughly 48 hours (probably closer to 47), evaluated at 55 - I am just an RCA trying to get as much work as I am allowed to get
As of now, he is not letting me work tomorrow and so I will do as you say and make sure I am under 40 hours for the week on Saturday (I don't typically get 5 days a week, so playing the game is not usually an option, so this is good info to know for the future) </blockquote>
Saturday is a new week. Am I missing something?

bazkitcase5 · Oct 5, 2017

good point, I hadn't considered that - guess I should do better math... definitely sounds like I shouldn't even be trying to get 6 days in the first place, as long as I can work the 5 days in less than 40 hours (last Saturday was fairly easily, so I think I am pretty close to 40 exactly on the week starting last Saturday)

D.B.Cooper · Oct 5, 2017

Really you have to evaluate for yourself what is best, and you have a couple of options...

Stay under 40 and get the evaluated pay, or work the actual hours up to the evaluation, and get the OT for the hours over 40...

In your case staying under 40 for 5 days gets you 46 hours of pay... working 46 actual hours, gets you 49 hours of pay...

Were it me, I'd probably try to stay under 40, and keep the PM off my @$$... and really, why not work 39 hours for 46 hours of pay -vs- working 46 hours for 49 hours of pay??? More "free" hours of pay at 39 hours and staying under evaluation... but it's your decision about how to work it and claim your time... <img title="Wink" alt="Wink" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-wink.gif" />

PS... I'm seeing a 30 minute lunch for you tomorrow... (write it down)... <img title="Cool" alt="Cool" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-cool.gif" />

oi veh. · Oct 5, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">Deer Smearer said 

And if you take 46 hours to run the 46 hours you also get paid for 46 hours. But 6 of those hours are at time and a half, and there's not a damn thing they can do about it. </blockquote>
Exactly the point I was making. Thank you, DS.

Or you can rush around like a dang fool, possibly making mistakes and misdeliveries, all to stay under 40 in 5, but who cares?

It's the regular the customers will gripe to.

Not saying that's what anyone on this board would do, but there are RCAs out there who do.

When I was an RCA, I had a formula that I used to make sure I didn't lose any money, but the last time that I posted it, some whippersnapper made fun of it...but I never lost money, my vehicle and I didn't get wore out and stress level was non-existent because I wasn't worried about beating 40. @clayton, if you want the formula, PM me.

Jarod1231 · Oct 7, 2017

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">Clayton said 
I can't say I really understand how slowing down will help. I try to read these forums when I can, but there is still a lot I do not understand.
My route is evaluated at 9.2 hours - this week, I am around 8 hours per day for 4 days so far... I will get my 5th day, but it is the 6th day that I would like to get, because as an RCA with this being my only job, I am trying to get all the hours I can, especially if I am contractually entitled to them. Working all 6 days easily puts me over 40 hours, but I still will easily be under the weekly evaluated time, but because I will be into overtime pay for the 6th day, the postmaster has scheduled a different sub to run my route and tells me that he can't let me get overtime. </blockquote>
If your route is 9.2 hours and you've already worked four eight hour days you don't want to work the 6th day.

What you want at this point is to work your fifth day and stay under 40 hours, and not work the 6th day.

Here is why:

Working 5 days at roughly 8 hours, but staying under 40 hours = You get paid the evaluation - 9.2 x 5 ... or 46 hours.

Working 5 days at roughly 8 hours, but going OVER 40 hours by 1 minute= You get paid actual time worked - 8.0 x 5 +1 minute.. or 40 hours and 1 minute.

Working 6 days at roughly 8 hours= You get paid 40 hours straight time and 8 hours overtime... or roughly 52 hours.

Working 6 days but staying UNDER 40 hours (Impossible for you at this point)= You get paid evaluation - 9.2 x 6 = 55.2 hours.

... if you work that sixth day, at most you are gaining 6 hours of pay for 8 worth of work ... just take the day off and get paid for 46 hours.

Cliff Clavin · Oct 9, 2017

Ok Suppose you are working your primary because the reg is out for a while....

I understand that you are entitled to work the evaluated hours and in my case it would be done on a 5 day route with me being required to take a day off..... No problem

My question is: Suppose I am able to run my route and keep it under 40 and of course it would also be under evaluated time, but instead of me getting a day off i have to run Amazon on my day off. Could I be forced to take a day off from my route and only get to work my route 4 days instead of 5 days?

That would hardly seem fair even if it meant that the Amazon hours put me into OT but my route hours would still be under 40.

I didn't ask to run Amazon but we are short subs so I was told to run it.

oi veh. · Oct 9, 2017

You are entitled to run the full evaluation of your primary.

If you are pulled off before reaching full eval, file a grievance.

Amazon or no.

oi veh. · Oct 9, 2017

p.s. Slow down, run the full eval, enjoy the OT if full eval is over 40K and enjoy the Amazon OT.

heyman1104 · Oct 14, 2017

Check this thread out. It explains thy system and OT very well. https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/forum/leave-replacements/rcas-think-you-were-paid-incorrectly-confused-about-the-pay-system-read-this-first/