April 14, 2010
by Dr. S. Musacco
Dr. Steve Musacco is a Ph.D. in organizational psychology, a M.S. in Counseling, and a B.A. in psychology. He’s been licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and completed Coachu’s coaching program. He also worked for the postal service for 30 years.
Dr. Musacco said:
Prior to my retirement from the USPS, at a former district I worked for, there were three suicides within a two year period that I concluded were contributed to in significant part by how these employees were treated in the workplace. The third employee, a city letter carrier, fatally shot himself in a postal jeep and left a letter stating that he could no longer take the job. The night before he committed suicide he told his wife he did not know if he would be able to handle his job anymore. How do I know? His wife told me this one day after his suicide. He was one of the best employees in the office. The District Manager and I interviewed his coworkers after his death, and they stated he would urinate in a bottle while on delivery route for fear he would not meet an artificial deadline set by postal management. During the interviews, one of the postal supervisors told the District Manager and me that the day before the suicide she gave a letter to all the city letter carriers in the station, noting that any future over time used for their routes would be considered unacceptable performance. The suicide at the Gastonia postal facility was the second since December 2005.
Many people have asked: Why is there so much stress and workplace tragedies in the U.S. Postal Service? The answer to these questions is because the postal culture embraces and reflects core values that center on achieving bottom-line results with little or no regard for employee participation, respect, dignity, or fairness. Additionally, there is little or no accountability for the actions of top management in the Postal Service. Many postal facilities consequently have toxic work environments, and they can be a catalyst or trigger for serious acts of workplace violence, including homicide and suicide. The associated rewards system for behavior consistent with the postal culture core values, moreover, enables systemic organizational and individual bullying of employees at all levels of the organization.
I define a toxic workplace environment as a workplace where there is a high incidence of stress-related illnesses. These stress-related illnesses are manifested by psychological and physical deterioration. In other words, these types of environments seriously erode employees’ health and well-being. The primary factors contributing to a toxic workplace environment are high job demands, low job control, and low social support. Low social support generally entails a lack of respect and validation of employees’ dignity by their “superiors”. It also oftentimes includes organizational practices and methods that encourage the bullying of employees to meet corporate goals.
Dr. Steve Musacco
Beyond Going Postal
Submitted by:
Eric L. Wattree
wattree.blogspot.com
Ewattree@Gmail.com
I have been working for the Post Office for a year. I have been depressed, and beyond stressed the entire time. I cannot lose this job because I have no where else to go. After I got out of the military I could only get a job working at the local Dairy Queen. Every time I try talking to my Post master he says I can always go back to flipping burgers. I am working out of 3 offices, running 22 different routes. I am trying to do my best, but I am really running out of steam. This job will be my last, whether I retire or not. Filing a grievance against any of upper management is the easiest way to be put on two routes in one day. I have been out delivering at 9pm on routes I have never ran before, using a flashlight to find the numbers on houses. There is no hope but no choice, this is my life now. Welcome to the post office.
This article is absolutely right on…never have I worked for a place like this. Now what I ask my self is, “will I ever be myself again?”. I have been mistreated, bullied and belittled for 6 years to get my carrier position only to take a massive paycut. What a great place to work!!
(sarcasim). I want to know how management can live with themselves and what the do to the carriers while they sit on there a** and do nothing but critique us about the poor job performance we do… ANGRY
Love this site. I have been a city carrier for 24 years. It’s gotten worse. It’s always been a high stress, go faster, faster kind of job but in the old days we didn’t have all the scanning and msp’s and dps, etc. Management is really unorganized and just makes things harder for those of us who do the actual work to keep things going yet they are paid the big money and as many people are saying here, are not held accountable for their actions. I have been told to continue working in temps over 100 degrees after I have called in from the route saying i felt like i was getting heat stroke, i have been stalked by managers on the clock and off, i have been disciplined for getting hurt on the job, i have been discriminated against, bullied, harassed and pressured to work faster on almost a daily basis. I have been told I shouldn’t use any sick leave at all. The list of grievances goes on and on. I have turned to the union only to be let down by them, also. Many of the union reps are afraid of retaliation for taking the side of the workers and are in bed with the managers. I need the job and the money and so i put up with it. I think, also, that I have been brain washed in to thinking I am worthless, slow and stupid even though when I was in college I did well and have accomplished a number of things intellectually outside of work. The managers and my co-worker basically treat me like sh*t all day long, day in and day out and it does wear a person down. I actually like some things about delivering mail, I like being outside and the physicality of it but the environment in the office is very toxic, not to mention chauvanist in my office and no one does a damn thing about it. Really sad. They hire you and work you until you are totally used up and then try to get rid of you. Yea, like many people here have said, if you are young and looking for a career, this isn’t the best choice.
I’ve been with USPS ten years I have never been treated disrespectfuly or harassed by management .I’m a rural carrier and love my job I have never seen anyone treated badly or yelled at or pushed around we come in do our job and go home. In my ten years six of them I was a RCA I’ve been a regular for four years love my job
My next stop Debbie is Washington. This place is ran by Abuse of Power managers and union. I will stress and pray to get through not just for my self but other employees who are being ripped off by a management and this union. They are management and the union one in the same. Ive been in 2 post offices there basically all the same. I believe in unions just not APWU. I look forward to retirement too, but I will not be forced out.
Everything said here has brought back all the anxiety I felt while working with at the PO. After working as a clerk for over 10 years, I became suicidal. I went out on disability and am still recovering from the deep depression I had been under while working there. It is the worst place I have ever worked. The workers are generally good people, but the people running things had no clue about simple respect.
I was ripped off by the union and management. I was to go to arbitration after being fire for 2 years for something I did not do. My attorney gave the nat. union agent all the documents needed to get my back pay and benefits. Nat. union agent decides to call me trying to talk me out of going to the arbitration. The national agent said Oh I know the arbitrator he’s not going to give you your back pay. I became suspicious I said I’ll take my changes I am loosing my home. I have the right to be heard almost begging please let me be heard. He said The post office will fire you. We all know that there are many employees who work there that are guilty and don’t get fired they get there back pay back along with benefits. He started to become annoyed with me because I continued to ask to be heard. The Nat. agent began to yell You just go back to work this is his decision! After he hung up I would not stop asking I knew he was not being truthful. I later found out after months finally getting the paper work that brought me back to work. The nat. union agent made many excuses not to give the paper work that brought me back to work. This so called agent signed off along with some man I don’t know who on a document saying I would not get my back pay or my benefits. This was all done without my consent. This is criminal. I will not stop until I find out what happened to my money. How many other victims. Please note how many other victims mainly women. This is indeed a scam.
Clerk 26 years and retired at 47…people in management now have no seniority and no clue and most move up because of who they know not what they know. And service is a thing of the past.luckily I did not deal with a lot of the bs carriers do and filing a grievance was not a problem for me…but before I left those didn’t seem to matter So glad to be gone.
I started working at the Post Office as a CCA about a month and a half ago, and have already been driven to quit. It has sunk me into a huge depression. In orientation they tell you to skip your breaks during your 90 probation. Are you kidding me?! I did that the entire time I worked there. You cant do that! It is a physical and mentally draining job. You cant do this job not taking any breaks or eating. I feel absolutely horrible for the people who have by the sounds of it, absolute horrible managers. The majority or my co-workers were absolutely wonderful, and two out of the three managers were super nice. I feel bad for them too, because they are getting slack from they’re supervisors. I was a new CCA, and obviously it took me longer to case the route they threw me on that day, and it took my longer to get it done. After being there from 7am, and finally getting a route done from anywhere from 5pm-630pm, they send you back out to do more! and in the dark no less. I had one manger who would call me constantly asking where I was and that I needed to hurry. Just constantly harassing me. Working 10-12 hours a day 6 days a week, whit only one day off is too much. There is not enough time to mentally rest and prepare yourself for another shift. I am a hard worker and have put up with a lot of crap over the years at other jobs, but this job, in such a short time, has led me to having mental breakdowns and depression. I wanted to like this job, and to do good at it. I went in every day trying my very best to have a positive attitude, but it went away every day in the middle of casing the route, and again every time my manager would come over to the case or call me to harass me. I really liked the people I worked with, but I just could not do it any more. Its not worth my mental and physical well being.
20 YEARS AS A CARRIER / TRUST ME, IT’S A TERRIBLE PLACE TO WORK. WHEN I GOT HIRED ON, MY MOTHER ASKED OUR MAILMAN IF HE HAD ANY ADVICE. HE SAID QUIT, I WISH I WOULD HAVE!
I’m entering my 37th year as a carrier trying to get the 41/11 and 80% of my salary, but the way things are going I don’t think I’m going to make it. I remember at age 21 when I first started how the senior carriers got treated. They got help, they were offered annual leave to give the PTF’s some hours, just preferential treatment is what they got so back then I used to say boy I can’t wait to be a senior carrier!!! 37 years later they treat me like I did when I first started! I’m the Rodney Dangerfield of the USPS. “No Respect”. I tell them I don’t run and I can’t do things as I used to 30 plus years ago. When they eliminated the Vim Room routes and brought us back into the stations and now made our routes long and extended park and loop routes which are down right ridiculous, then they harrass you, trying to push you out the station, making you pivot, then when they’re short handed they’re begging you to do 1-2 hours ot on other routes even when you’re on the no ot desired list. Plenty of madness at my station, with the moral down, hearing all the constant threats. I just take it one day at a time but if and when they finally push my button to where I can no longer take it I’m gone.
That’s exactly what happened to me and forced me to retire early in 2007. Over 30 years of delivery by foot (never had a riding or rural type delivery route) wore my body totally out – and, I might add, has restricted what I can do in retirement.
Good luck to you!
Rick Owens – PEN
Everything said is so true!! All we are are bodies to them! Yes, we have a body on 42 route, the other station us sending us a body!!!
As a Postmaster with 20 years and 20 years military I am very sad to here all these comments. The postal service is a great organization to work for. I decided that I would get into management because of the culture, I wanted to make a change. I have made changes were I have worked and hopefully influenced some of the next generation of managers. You have to stand for what you think is right. There will be casualties in the game of life but you must not give up. Be smart in how you approach situations systems are set up with checks and balances. Please do not give up on such a great organization with great employees. If it were not for the employees like the ones that have made these I believe sincere comments the Postal Service would be nothing. Please do not give up on your fight! I thank the author for the ability to post my comment.
I find this article and the comments extremely helpful! Although the article is from 2010, comments (such as mine) are still coming in, and it’s because our needs as employees have not changed.
Luckily, I had a successful 30+ year career outside of USPS with a major USA retailer.
I understand positive management behavior.
I understand the commitment it takes to ‘grow’ individuals in an organization, for the betterment of all.
We don’t see much of that at the USPS…
Some of your stories are tragic and horrific, and you have my deepest sympathies. Privatization of this unholy mess may be the only salvation for those who are unable to handle the stresses and must remain for financial reasons.
Try to remain strong in the face of adversity, and for the good of others, don’t allow yourselves to become another one of the ‘back-stabbers’ that management will try to manipulate you to become.
just had a postmaster here in FFld,Ct who called a cca off hours to let him know if he pursued his ca1 injury report, he wouldn’t be rehired..THAT is a crime. Next day brass puts out a talking point abt the employees duty to report injuries in a timely manner or face discipline. I-G USPS is a freakin joke..the brownshirts that won’t ever investigate crimes by management
I started as a Mail Processor in 1988. Became a Carrier and then a clerk. Retired at 20 years. Best thing I ever did. The Postal Service is totally toxic. I worked 60 hours a week as A PTF. My supervisors must have come from Hell. The stress, depression, aches and pains, harassment, disrespect etc affected my health, my family life and my relationships. I tell everyone who asks “do not work for the post office…period.” You will miss your kids events, all Saturday functions and be too tired to do anything on Sundays. I was on antidepressants my entire career so I could hang in there and support my family. I agree that you must understand your union contract. They cannot accomplish more than it allows to some degree. The employees must attend meetings and must be witnesses to grievances. They need to stand together. Why do you think you aren’t’ allowed to talk on the workroom floor? To allow comraderie or conversation would encourage you to care for one another. Get together after work…Be friends…thank you to my various unions. You saved me many times. Be strong people. Contact your politicians too. My pension is teeny…my retired life is mostly Heaven.
I was a letter carrier for 13 years and have now been gone for about 14 years. I have never regretted leaving….it was the wisest……. healthiest decision I have ever made !!
I feel very sorry for anyone that has to endure the hell they make you live through every day. I wish it was a law that everyone from the PMG down had to deliver mail for at least one year….in the same conditions that they demand . God Bless you all .
It seems so simple and obvious to say “together we will prevail, call your Congressperson, bring in your Union” … but we HAVE done these things, and they make little difference. We get rid of one abusive manager and District sends us another who’s just as bad. Clearly the attitude of upper management is to ignore our needs because we, the workforce, are disposable and replaceable.
Mark my words — the underpaid, overworked, non-career CCA force is the Post Office of the future, and it’s exactly what the Post Office wants: a staff of low-wage, high-turnover temp workers.
Corporations are doing their best to kill off the middle class, and the USPS is no different.
All these statements are true. I have been with the Postal Service as a PTF for 10 yrs. have been on both sides as a 204-B and a carrier. Was offered to become mgr and turned it down because I can’t treat people in this manner. From there side there are people over them that has never shaken their hand threatening them via email as they always say stuff rolls down hill. It is time for everyone to flood the politicians in your area with these reports we all can’t be lying, and we do vote.call investigative news reporters everybody that has experienced this treatment active and retired. Everybody select a date that we will cease to perform our duties until something is done. Unity is the key everybody move together we have a great vehicle to communicate the internet everyone can be reached in seconds spread the word we will cease to perform any duties a across the nation on 5/30/2014 this will draw the attention to our cause. Logistically they can’t run if we move together. I trust that everyone will spread the word.
I have worked for the Postal Service, in which the Service part never became part of the equation, during that time I have like all others been bullied, talked down to, been written up on ridiculess violations, ( one such was pulling loose letter mail in a mail bag, because I was not instructed by a supervisor to do so?) I have had numerous accidents, all happened when delievering pivoted mail to carriers out of a two ton truck, we are never allowed to deliever mail from a two ton, but I was ordered to do it, I have a countdown going my hopes are to retire, after I reach full S.S. Age 66, and have suffecient time in the service to collect my very small pension.
First I don’t usually respond to these, but Charlie you don’t have any idea about what the Union does. I’ve been a NALC letter carrier for 28 years. A proud NALC UNION REP for 26. We do what we can through contractual rights, Osha, DOL, ETC. What these other postal employees are saying is correct that management is not held accountable. Management from top to bottom care nothing about customer service or postal employees. I love my job and benefits which the Union has provided me, not the USPS. These issues start from the PMG down to our 204b`s. How many of you have contacted your Congressman or Senator. Look at S 1486 a Senate bill that will make things even worse. Postal Employees need to fight this fight together. Together you will succeed divided you will fall. Stand up against management, write statements, use your Union Reps and you can stop this crap. Learn your rights. I agree with what the Doctor wrote. And yes management treats employees like these people on here have stated. But we stop them here because of our strong NALC UNION
First I don’t usually respond to these, but Charlie you don’t have any idea about what the Union does. I’ve been a NALC letter carrier for 28 years. A proud NALC UNION REP for 26. We do what we can through contractual rights, Osha, DOL, ETC. What these other postal employees are saying is correct that management is not held accountable. Management from top to bottom care nothing about customer service or postal employees. I love my job and benefits which the Union has provided me, not the USPS. These issues start from the PMG down to our 204b`s. How many of you have contacted your Congressman or Senator. Look at S 1486 a Senate bill that will make things even worse. Postal Employees need to fight this fight together. Together you will succeed divided you will fall. Stand up against management, write statements, use your Union Reps and you can stop this crap. Learn your rights
Worked for the post office for 15 years…I have raised Three children and made a good living…BUT there has been a very high and stressful cost, and as the others most problems come from our management.
I have worked for the USPS for 15+ years. I Can swear to most of the above and much worse.Moreover the OIG and Postal Inspectors are their to protect the Post Office from “troublemakers” and use unbeliavable tactics to harass and intimidate. I have been exposed to chemicals and loud banging noises using equipment.
They attempt to ostracize you by spreading lies,Then use other employees to do their dirty work.
I have worked for the PO for 22 years…we have a plant manager running our plant that has absolutely no idea what she is doing…she took the REGISTER ROOM put it out on the dock, no cameras no secure location to put valuable items,money and valuable items have come up missing.. she was told by the union she couldn’t do it….she did it anyway. She brought in her “buddies” to harrass and terrorize people. I work in the bulk mail room, there are records that we are required to keep for 4 years,SOX COMPLIANCE, her and one of her cronies walked in the “HOLD” and said “this is all junk that needs to be thrown out”. The people that they promote to management are the scum that didn’t want to work in the first place. There are SOP and Regulations (SOX) that rule what we do…they don’t care about regulations…they think they can do whatever they want. I CAN’T WAIT for the day when SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE people or OIG comes in and slaps the cuffs on these idiots…I will be clapping the whole time as they are walked out the door. Our plant was one of the top 20 in the nation when she arrived, now it is at the bottom. They do the same thing with these morons that the Catholic church does with priests that get caught, they move them to another place so they can start same crap elsewhere..they don’t FIRE THEM. This woman and her cronies have violated more regualtions then I could ever write about here. It is sad, I used to be proud to tell people where I work but not now. I just hope it last 9 more years.
im scared. I feel like all my rights have been taken away from me. I have an approved work injury and have been yelled at, ganged up on, and threaten. I have two eeo’s going right now for harassment. owcp never returns my calls. im so stressed out that I ache all over, don’t sleep, hurts when I eat, my hair is falling out by hand fulls, I have chest pains, and now I feel depressed. my job is fascinating. I use to run a dbcs machine, now im on a dioss machine. coworkers are fine. management, they are ruthless if they don’t get their way. they lie and manipulate things. its easy for people to say quit, but there are no jobs. I devoted years into this job, I will not quit. I have rights. we all do. postal policy is zero tolerance in the work place. I am tired of being harassed, bullied, yelled at, and threaten.
In November of 2013 I was hired as a CCA in schenectady ny, I worked out of the Niskayuna post office mainly filled with great people and reasonable supervision. On January 1 2014 I was transferred to the Jay St office due to the fact they were hurting for help, wow what a different world the management and supervision hated the carriers, cca’s, etc… I busted my ass here for 6 days a week between 8-11hrs a day and was fired on my 90th day, supervision said that a “good” carrier does not notice us supervisiors while were out here observing you! I said I’m sorry I can’t help it when your out here driving by 2 or 3 times a day. In training I was taught to watch for traffic, dogs, people and over all work safe! Daily cca’s are pounded to the ground given 10 or more hours worth of work and told to deliver it in 5hrs and there will be more waiting for you when you come back. Some of your fellow co-carriers are great people and have dealt with it for years, instead of trying to do something about it they just bitch about it. After being employed there even for just that little bit of time I can see why the postal service is going under slowly but surely & am I ever glad I stopped mailing stuff out with stamps years ago. My suggestion to you folks looking into usps for a job, do you mind and body a favor and look elsewhere!
This is crazy , I always thought it was just the office I work out of! It has many zip codes so assumed it was just busier then others! I agree with all of you no different here in NJ …it’s chaos.. .ccas in my office are forced to work 7 days a week .. Sunday for amazon at another office 30 mins away
True, but we are only looking at one side of the coin. Carriers on the OT desire list are called to come to work and refuse to answer their phones, but file a grievance upon return to work and win. I personally encountered a carrier at his last stop sit and do nothing for 20 minutes in order to get overtime. When confronted, he quickly quoted contract scripture about management not spying or using covert activities to spy on carriers. None of this would be necessary if we all did our jobs on both sides. Upper management need to provide the necessary resources and we need to do our jobs to the best of our ability. Maybe we can reduce or cut out completely the atrocities committed on both sides.
Post office is the worse job ever. I worked there and was stressed out like no other. Gruesome 6 days a week of slavery. Lord help the USPS
I started working at the Post Office in Carmel, IN, March 11, 2013 and I quit April 3rd, 2013. It was totally abusive. The supervisor treated everyone like scum! They shorted my last pay check 20 hours and I never got my mileage check from training. It took me 3 months to get any of my last check. Since then I have had 4 Postmasters tell me that they are filing the paperwork for me to get my money, but now it is January 22, 2014 and I still have nothing. When I call they say the Postmaster will call me back. Sometimes, I say I will call back. When that happens they take the phone off the hook. I worked very hard for the money they owe me. How can the government get by with their behavior?
How remarkable that none of us have ever met, but the incredible sick stories of abuse, power,pride, have avalanched to the likeness of gladiators in an arena, with crowds cheering, for more blood to be spilled. Do I sound abit extreme! Not one bit. I’ve been there 15 years, and I have never met one postal worker whose stories match “identically”, though we have never met.My family & friends cannot comprehend the attrocities there.They think there jobs are bad…and possibly so…but nothing, no nothing conquers the post office.I wish the whole world could be a witness to see the heartless, callous atmosphere,the gossip,slander, making your life a public spectacle,insults,harassment,favoritism. I could go on and on.And there is NO JUSTICE. HOW HORRIBLE,THAT OUR GOVERNMENT TURNS IT EYES TO THIS.THE INTERNET IS FILLED WITH HUNDREDS OF STORIES OF DREAD AND UTTER DISGUST. I CAN ONLY SHARE FOLKS, I DO NOT PUT MY TRUST IN A MAN. NO, NOT ANY MAN. THE ONLY MAN I TRUST IN…IS JESUS CHRIST, MY LORD AND MASTER. HE HAS GOTTEN ME THROUGH MY 15 YEARS, AND TAUGHT ME WHAT LOVE REALLY MEANS. I FORGIVE EVERY ONE OF THEM, AS THEY DON’T KNOW “HIM”…BUT IT WON’T STOP UNTIL JESUS RETURNS TO BRING THE JUSTICE WE ALL HAVE HOPED FOR. MY LOVE AND BLESSINGS TO ALL OF YOU, WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES, THEIR HEARTS FOR THEIR LIVELYHOOD. LOOK TO CHRIST…HE WILL SET YOU FREE, FOR REAL. HE’S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN TRUELY “DELIVER”. L O V E IN HIM, ALISA
Would any retired, fired or other employees interested in bringing out this bullying in the post office be willing to contact me? My e-mail is amfan001@yahoo.com
PEN does not endorse JoAnne – it is your decision as to whether or not you desire to contact this person.
Thanks for posting JoAnne. PEN
Are any of you postal employees who have been bullied, harassed, demeaned (I would like to hear from fired employees and retired employees too) willing to try to do something about this. I lost my job of 20 years after reporting an on-the-job injury and am now living on welfare and indigent. Have lost everything I worked for for over 50 years.
I would like to see enough employees get together and bring this out. We can talk more about this by e-mailing each other.
Contact me at amfan001@yahoo.com
PEN does not endorse JoAnne – it is your decision as to whether or not you desire to contact this person.
Thanks for posting JoAnne. PEN
I have 38 years in the USPS, mostly good, but the upper management doesn’t give a flip about the customers or employees. They just changed our starting time to 8:30, it used to be 5:30, then slowly they keep moving it back. I deliver in an all business area, and usually have to carry a help slip, so many businesses are closed when I get there. The morons in area HQ make one rule for everyone, whether or not it makes sense. Here’s an idea: you pay your station managers $70k+, why not let them make some decisions, and if they can’t cut the mustard, replace them. How do you expect me to try to connect with the customers when all I can do is throw the mail down and hustle on to the next stop. The service we give is embarrassing and it’s all because mail processing can’t get the mail out to us on time, but the carriers have to take the brunt of the abuse. Time to go.
I forgot to mention that they gave me the credit card to fill up on gas but did not give me anything else. I had no idea that a PIN was needed. I tried to get gas, realized I needed a PIN, called, they actually answered on the first try, gave me a random PIN that didn’t work, tried to call back, no one answered, gave up, and left the truck nearly on E. Like I said, just completely disorganized. They never provided me with the essentials to perform the job other than telling me that I need to work faster. Screw them. I am going back to working in a nice, comfy office, I don’t care how boring it is. At least I won’t be dealing with the nonsense that I’ve dealt with at the post office.
I’ve only been with the USPS for two weeks and I decided last night that it would be my last day as an employee. The USPS is the most disorganized, unprofessional and unreasonable place I have ever worked. The managers are absolutely abysmal, everyone is working forced overtime, everyone is out until 7:00 in the evening, a 10-12 hour day is the norm, and everyone works 6 days a week without question. They put me on routes with which I am not familiar and expect me to get done within the allotted time. Which is a joke itself, as even the veteran employees find it nearly impossible to get done within the amount of time they require. There is no room for error, and when you’re brand new and have no idea where you are going and have a full truck, there are going to be plenty of errors. Every day I am completely exhausted, even though I am 31 years old and have exercised regularly my entire life. But I just could not keep up with their pace. I was out until 6:30 and I STILL didn’t finish. I had to bring a bunch of mail back.
As for the disorganization, it was unreal. I was given only ONE contact number for the post office, and every time I have tried to call, the line is either busy or no one answers. No supervisors ever gave me their phone numbers. No supervisors ever called or came out to check on me. I was out on my own in an unfamiliar environment trying to do this job and no one seemed to give a ***. Oh, except for when I come back to the office and get yelled at like I am 10 years old for not going fast enough.
I called in sick today and am hoping to get fired or else I am calling them back and officially quitting. I am a college graduate. The only reason I tried this job was that I had this crazy idea that the post office would be a nice, peaceful place to work where I can get some excercise instead of sitting in a cubicle or classroom all day.
I would never recommend this job to anyone. It’s slavery and humiliation with a constant FASTER FASTER! mentality, no matter how fast you go. They should be ashamed at how poorly the USPS is run. It’s embarassing.
I’m sorry but I failed to mention we deliver in the dark in these high crime areas. I have had men walking behind me following me I have walked in yards with pitbulls and even fell while trying to deliver in the dark the supervisor tells us to get a light for our heads but what good is that in a high crime area. And it is not your own route plus the section. When I brought back the mail due to it being way to dark and un safe I was given a just cause 🙁 I’m sorry guys just needed to add that
I have been a CCA in in california blnow since July 2013. I have not been myself since I have started. I am mentally beat up and drained from the hostile environment i never get a lunch due to the extremlly heavy workload. I work in thee worst drug and amd crime area in our city. On my routes I have had gun shots fired in my direction and sexually harrased continuosly I informed my supervisors who laughed at me and made me feel even worse so I was told to go to the doctor wich I did. The doctor took me off due to stress for 5 days before I got to my 5th day I was callled in for a just cause which became a write up. I feel worthless hopeless and alone I can’t sleep and I am severly depressed to the point of suicide. Im a single mother of 5 who thought this job would give us a better life but in fact it has made my life worse if I quit I will really have nothing. I don’t know what to do or who to turn to Thank you for reading God bless
I just quit working as an RCA after only 4 months. It was the worst job I have EVER had. Management was absolutely horrible and belittling. I was talked to like I was a child, and I am 48 years old. It was mind numbing. My husband said: get out now. It’s killing your spirit, so I did. The post office of yesterday is gone.
I worked for the usps for 19 and 1/2 years and the abuse was constant, in various forms, the supervisors liked to instigate their agenda by getting most of their employee to side with them. IT’s a sort of I’ll leave you alone if your on my side, in other words they start the belittling and bulling and the other employees join in. It a pier pressure thing one supervisor/postmaster told me, but he was the creator of this senerio.
I got sucked in one time or another, until I I woke up, I stayed out of it, that put a target on me so again I transfer to another post office with four employee thinking it would be better.
that was short lived, the same went on there. as spon as the supervisor realized I was not on board with this tactic. I was labeled a trouble maker I rocked the boat he said, then the other employee parroted him. I won a few of those battles but by filing a few grievance a lot of mental bulling began. I tough but it was a lot more than any person should be subjected to. After going through 6 or supervisors and on the 4rd Postmaster a female just as bad or worse than any male in her job, She actually got physical, by grabbing my arm and knocking on top my head, belittling,and bulling she let the other employees know her side of things and they excluded me,In the end arbitration decided in my favor, I chose to leave if I would have had enough money to I would have sued as I was advised by my union rep. This job had benefits and a better wage but the whole thing about equal rights in the work place is not true, Most everything they say they are preventing continues to happen, it all way out of proportion. Percentage 1/3 good 2/3 bad.Just because it says US doesn’t mean it should be right or respected.
I was just recently hired. All of what I read is true. Managers and supervisors treat there carriers as animals. The work place is a hostile one. In just the two short months that I have worked for the USPS, I have lost over 12 pounds. This may not seem like a lot of weight but it is when I now weigh 97 pounds. They do not exercise basic human rights, moral, or respect. Dignity does not exists. The mental stress is off the charts. Mental abuse is regularly practiced and dishonesty is a daily occurrence. Why has not any political or human rights groups stepped in? Why does this continue?
The postal service has been allowed to be this way because the national union has never pushed for ACCOUNTABILITY. After the Royal Oak post office tragedy which was due to a hostile environment that was both allowed and condoned by upper management the union took no steps to go after those that allowed the hell to exist. there are hostile post offices throughout the country and nothing is being done. It will take more than the grievance procedure to stop this ,the union needs to gather surveys showing the issues and address them every way possible. To depend on business agents and branch presidents who aren’t having to deal with this on an everyday basis to do anything is ludicrous.
absolutely true! i never had high before working here!i dread going 2work,knowing i will never measure up 2their standards.they always compare you 2other workers,and intimidate you!constantly push and pressure you.im a rural carrier and we work on evaluated time,but some 204-bs and bosses4get that and set time4u 2return from your route according to what their evening plans may be! i know why they pay you well,its due to the fact they know you wont be around long 2take advantage of the money,because if the physical stress dont do you in,i guarantee the MENTAL abuse will finish you off!i say this sadly,you cant trust nobody in the postal service,and im scared some the union reps are crooked also.i pray daily4strength 2endure and perservere! m.b.
Wow!! all the above fits like a glove for the Postal Service .I have worked for them for 27 years & cant wait to get out due to the way it is ran by disrespectfull managers .Our supervisors have no communication skills or dignity & respect .My Dr. laughed @ me when i requested a note to urinate.The postmaster will find falt in you no matter how good an employee you are.I am taken a month off just to take care of myself & learn to work through all the stress & harrassment .Good luck to all you postal workers & encourage all to get a group together to try to speak out or file EEOs & document all activity or pictures on your smart phone.Good luck The POst Office could be a great place to work if it wasn’t the way it was ran
I have worked for the Post Awful for nearly 28 years. Postal management are just a bunch of bullies and thugs! I was nearly fired for getting hurt on the job. Not because I was working unsafely, but because of overuse and repetative motion. It has been more than a year since the injury, and i live with pain everyday. The Postal Service is killing us physically, emotionally and spiritually. They have worked some of us to death, and there is NO ACCOUNTABILITY by management.
I believe the above documentary to be true statement. I know a few postal workers. And being a veteran of the U.S.Army. I have no doubt these practices take place 24/7. I would bet my life on it!!!
My son was hired by the post office as a carrier’s assistant along with about 25 other people at the new “low pay rate”. He was treated worse than an animal, as were the others who were hired with him. They were told they could not use the bathroom during their shift They had to go before and after. They were told they could not take a lunch because it puts them behind on their route. My son has diabetes and needs to eat. When this was mentioned (even though it was clearly marked on the application) He was told they didn’t care. The trainees were made to RUN from house to house on the walking routes and then reprimanded for being too slow. My son is in excellent shape and they knew it so they pushed him more. One of the trainees was unable to run and was let go right there. While trainees were busting their butts doing whatever test the supervisors could think up, the supervisors would stand there and laugh at them for working so hard because they were just going to fire them in 2 days. Really?? One of them was fired because he took 2 days off to relocate his family when his house burned down. He was fired for missing a day. Another woman was told by her supervisor she could go home because she was seriously ill and then fired the next day for leaving work. They hire you for 25-30 hours a week and make you work 50. If you’re a marathon man and actually make it through to driving; if you finish your shift at a descent time, you have to go help someone else finish theirs. In a nutshell, You are not allowed to go to the bathroom, eat, get sick, and heaven forbid even think about going to your kids football game. I’m ashamed for the USPS. There was a time when we could take pride in this business but I am appalled at the cruelty that is shown to these new trainees. USPS is being given a business license to be bullies and they’re getting away with it. I will NEVER use the post office to mail another thing and I intend to tell every person I know how horrible a place they have become. Where is your pride USPS. No wonder you are going under. You deserve it!
I have been an RCA since June, 2009. I can tell you postal management does not give a damn about you. You are treated like a Hebrew slave and talked to like a piece of garbage. Everyday you’re indirectly told you’re not worth a damn. After your daily demoralizing moment, you go and bust your butt delivering your route. Then, when you’re finished, they make you go back out to deliver more mail. After you put in about 10-12 hrs, normally everyday, you have to fight to get paid correctly. They conveniently forget to pay you correctly. All the while running off the quality employees while keeping the worthless employees. Can anyone smell union here? Yes, the union protects the worthless also the management. I would not recommend the postal service as a place to be employed to anyone. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Update: Agreed Upon Solutions Don’t Mean Anything….Since the meeting one week ago, my wife has been called in for TWO investigative interviews in a 4 day period….all over “violations” that are clearly not worthy of a day in court, some of which are downright lies. This is clearly reprisal and the wheels are clearly in motion to create a situation where she is FIRED…All for asking for her rights to time and space to pump breastmilk. We are now preparing for EEO and lawsuit.