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Social Media threats-Updated September 12, 2020

D

DUPED

Active member
I hit a dog on the road that was at large over a month ago & it died. I apologized to the customers profusely, but they were highly agitated and clearly were not interested in my apology at the time. They were convinced I had "murdered" their dog "on purpose" . I felt horrible, I never even seen the dog, it wasn't barking or in my view as I approached there mailbox. Out of no where, I hear a half yelp and feel a small bump. I was shocked and saddened. I had never even met their dog(s) in ten years on this route, the customers always met me before I could get near there porch. I had only heard the sounds of yapping dogs on the railed porch that is fitted with a gate that had a sign that said beware of dogs. A week ago Friday our PM informs me that the customers are being looked at by the threat assessment team, for online threats. The union said I had a right to know what the threats were and PM begrudgingly read a few tweets to me. I felt a horrible sinking feeling with my steward by may side. I instantly felt concern for my safety. PM refused to change means of serving, halt mail, etc. She said it was out of her hands and I had to continue delivery. That weekend I started looking at their FB and Twitter feeds. I was pretty much horrified at what I was seeing. On that following Monday morning, I went back to my PM and pleaded with her to do something so that I could feel safe out on the street. By this point my anxiety was through the roof, unable to sleep, nauseated, etc. Feeling desperate, I told her I could not go back out there and what options do I have. I asked if I could take LWOP and she responded "its not happening unless you fill out FMLA papers" So I said, "if that is the only option you are giving me, so be it! I am filing a grievance, because they refused to do anything to make me feel safe at work. I have been on LWOP for 4 days now and actually bid off my route because I will never feel comfortable again after hearing what these two men are capable of. The bid closed last Monday, so it looks like I still have 2 more weeks to go. Have any of you experienced a similar situation. I still cannot believe this is happening :(
 
Ask to speak with the threat assessment team. There should be an inspector whom you can discuss your concerns. Do file and if you lost pay on the new route, I would request the difference in evaluation be paid to you. You will probably not receive the money but, if the steward pushes this high enough, higher ups will see the lack of action by pm and give them better tools to deal with this crap.
I had to have an inspector visit my office to give guidance to my office supervisors who refused to deal with my hostile, running me off the road, crazy customer. Do not back down. And file for administrative pay for your lwop. Also call EAP, the first visit is on the clock.
 
Call the 800# sick/call out line to schedule your EAP. (You can still fill out leave slip, if you like.)
Ask for it to be FMLA. That will generate the paperwork. You'll have the packet mailed to you.

Talk to the people on the EAP hotline. They will help you pick out a counselor, and you can change counselors if you don't like the first one. They emailed me a bunch of info that was a tremendous help. They gave me some counseling on the phone.
You can call them 24/7. I called them 3a.m. on a Saturday morning because my lazy supervisor had not delivered the stalker's mail for a week. (You get so upset you forget they are there 24/7.)

The USPS zero tolerance policy mandates the USPS is to keep you safe. (Thank you for that gem of info, btdtret) Yes, I read that to my incompetent supervisor during that week.

You have every reason to feel threatened. We are not hard for peeps to find. There are things the counselors will teach you that can be a tremendous help.
FMLA is not a bad thing! It helps protect you from unprofessional PMs. The counselor will fill out most of it. In my experience, if there is a fee for that, the USPS pays it.

My abrasive PM tried to mess with my EAP time off....oh HELL no.

My DR was threatened by someone on his route, and after he went through the channels he had the state police following him on his route for a few days. Those threats involved firearms.
A phone call to your DR may give you more tools to help you.

After 4 years of enduring harassment from my creepy stalker they finally had me stop delivering his mail. That occurred after my eighth call to the postal inspectors. (It helps to speak to them yourself. Mine gave me their direct phone number.)
(I would never touch stalker's box with a bare hand, always put on a glove. I was concerned about him trying to drug me. Bombs never entered my mind until suggested to me as a concern of someone on this site.)

Do all you can to learn, go up the food chain and let those people jump up and down on your unconcerned PMs head. They will make her care.
 
P.S. Your talks with EAP are confidential and protected by the HIPPA act.

It's a federal no-no for your boss to try to get into that information. They should not mess with it or you about it.

I believe if I, or my heirs, ever end up suing my Abrasive PM and lazy supervisor, I can sign a release so those that information can be added to the notes I took documenting how my management team hung me out to dry.
 
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Gotrope said:
Ask to speak with the threat assessment team. There should be an inspector whom you can discuss your concerns. Do file and if you lost pay on the new route, I would request the difference in evaluation be paid to you. You will probably not receive the money but, if the steward pushes this high enough, higher ups will see the lack of action by pm and give them better tools to deal with this crap.
I had to have an inspector visit my office to give guidance to my office supervisors who refused to deal with my hostile, running me off the road, crazy customer. Do not back down. And file for administrative pay for your lwop. Also call EAP, the first visit is on the clock.
Click to expand...

I know I shouldn't be, but I'm constantly shocked by the incompetent, unfeeling, unprofessional people who populate so much of our management structure.
 
DUPED said:
. A week ago Friday our PM informs me that the customers are being looked at by the threat assessment team, for online threats. The union said I had a right to know what the threats were and PM begrudgingly read a few tweets to me.
Click to expand...

Sounds like they found these threats on their own, searching social media. (Remember warning to us about what we post? They're watching it.)

I know I shouldn't be, but I'm astounded your PM wouldn't think you need to know about the threats.

EAP hotline may be able to advise you, or another poster here, but for the two weeks you may be eligible to file CA1 (not sure of form name. For on the job injury) and get paid injury time off for the next two weeks.
You are in potential physical danger, and management response is traumatic, which is a physiological danger.

You are entitled to be paid, I hope your grievance can make you financially whole.

Maybe while you're off, you can get some sort of free initial consultation.
 
DUPED -- Contact the Postal Inspectors. Relate your experience and provide the inspectors with the FB and tweeter info.

-- What is the "leash law" for your state / community?

-- Inform your Assistant District Representative of you PM's lack of activity including her "It's out of my hands." comment.

-- Certainly sounds like you should be giving EAP a call for an appointment -- sooner rather than later!

-- Invite the PM over to the office bulletin board to look at the USPS policies on ZERO Tolerance, Harassment, Bullying, Threats, etc.
 
I feel so terrible for you duped. It was an accident. And I can hear in your words how sorry you were. I ran over a turtle once and a woman went ballistic on me. She was actually the reason I ran it over. She saw the turtle, whipped into a driveway after passing me, jumped out of her car and began waving her arms attracting my attention. So I'm looking ahead at her and exactly what she was trying to prevent happened: I ran over the turtle. I didn't even know until I reached her and she berated me up and down. Not the same as your experience, but I empathize with feeling so terrible. I would never purposely run anything over. I was so upset that I did.
 
Talking to a PM yesterday.

Years ago, a customer threatened a carrier about something trivial compared to this, ie, leaving his box open / mail getting wet or the sort.

Carrier reported to pm. PI's came to house, told customer carriers never are to be threatened and this one won't be again.

PI's told customer to open PO box or don't get mail delivered.

Customer didn't get mail delivered for 10 years.
 
Another example, this one more recently.

Carrier delivered to porch, a disagreement ensued. Customer threw coffee on carrier, who immediately called the office. PM called PI's immediately and police and said she was on the way to incident address. It was only a few minutes from the office.

3 police cars were already there and PI's got there shortly thereafter.

Guess who doesn't get mail anymore?
 
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I ran over a dog and killed it a few years ago. I felt horrible. I had never seen a dog at the residence before. The dog ran into the road to harass some bicyclist, I slowed down when I saw what was going on, the dog ran right into my vehicle. I went to the house and told them what happened, the guy who lived at the house said the dog should have been secured and was not mad. The people still have not learned the other the dog they have, I still see in the street sometimes. Good Luck, btw your PM is a piece of sh*( !!!
 
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hockey94 said:
I ran over a dog and killed it a few years ago. I felt horrible. I had never seen a dog at the residence before. The dog ran into the road to harass some bicyclist, I slowed down when I saw what was going on, the dog ran right into my vehicle. I went to the house and told them what happened, the guy who lived at the house said the dog should have been secured and was not mad. The people still have not learned the other the dog they have, I still see in the street sometimes. Good Luck, btw your PM is piece of sh*( !!!
Click to expand...

I guess there are still some reasonable people. They may be bad dog owners, IMHO, but understood it wasn't your fault.
 
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