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 was involved in one of those 6 sigma programs a while back, what a joke. Lord only knows how much money is wasted on stupid crap like that. Everybody knew I had a bad attitude about my situation in general but that didn’t keep them from asking me to participate in the group. The way I look at it is I was the only one in my work unit that had enough communication skills to make it through the program without embarrassing the entire station so they asked me. I am really a quiet person but I read people very well. I know that eventually someone in an upper level position is going to ask me a straightforward question about my job. That’s when they get it. Point blank right in the face answer that totally eliminates me from ever being promoted to manager. I tell them like it is. The irony is even though I am elected to go to these front office meetings with upwardly mobile managers I have no desire to move up at all.
I pay respect where respect is due but it doesn’t get paid very often, if you know what I mean. I felt like I had a direct line to the district manager for a while but I think that line went dead. The district level doesn’t get involved in the front line administration of day to day activity. Funny thing is that day-to-day activity is what makes the whole ship float all year long. If little things stop working like the printer/copier, label maker, front door locks, etc. the whole operation hits a snag. Ask me how to fix the problem and I might say, “Give me a damn box of staples when I need them.” or “Why do I have to buy office products with my own money?” The answer is because management doesn’t manage, that’s why.
I don’t disrespect managers to their faces, I just let my coworkers know exactly how a manager screwed me in the past. I don’t file grievances. I file memories. Eventually one of their “church members” or “neighbors” will find out I worked with them and open up about what a wonderful person they think they are. Bingo, Your wonderful church friend gets a plug from a coworker.
Did I mention I don’t like my coworkers? I don’t. If I did it might make my day go by a little easier. My coworkers are sorry, lazy, forgetful, angry, and ungrateful to have a job where they are paid far more that they’re performance is worth.
Once in a while (every couple years or so) I feel pretty good about my job but not very. I have managers who’s only qualification is they filled out a form to become a manager. The work ethic among my coworkers is pathetic. I’ve been reprimanded for some of the most stupid things which were the result of same coworkers.
None of these people would be able to maintain employment in private industry with the attitude displayed at the P.O. I honestly feel sick every time I hear a coworker say, “That ain’t my job.” or “I don’t get paid to do that.” The fact that you even have a job, period, is a miracle.
Frontline managers are incompetent as well as the next level and the next above that. I don’t know anything about the higher level managers. I have met one or two who actually know a lot. Some (very few) are totally awesome.
For all you people who “know somebody” who works at the P. O. and you want to ask me if I know them, don’t. I wouldn’t give you a nickel for anybody (few exceptions) who I know that works here so don’t ask me to say something good about your uncle, sister, brother, etc. Okay, got it? You won’t like the answer.
I’m vested with 30 years of service. If I saw a postal manager on the side of the road with a flat tire or something, I would slow down long enough so they could see my face and drive on. For the rest of my career you get one shot at my respect. If you blow it once that’s it.
If there is something you need to know about your job I’ll tell you one time, that’s it. I’m done with it. Good luck.
I recently was forced to resign or be fired. I worked for almost 3 months. So close to the ending of my probation period. My last day of work, they had me drive a company car that wasn’t even the Usps cars. I was fine with it but I was sent out to deliver JUST packages. So I was going to all these houses on these slim slender roads and after dropping one off on this cliff, I started to turn back around and bumped into this small slender white sign that held their address number. I got out to make sure the sign was ok but didn’t even realiZe the car was damaged because it wasn’t a big encounter at all. I found out later that it was when I tried to open the passenger door and finally saw the white paint on the black car. Since I wasn’t past my probation period, it was grounds for forcing me to resign. All of my coworkers were amazing and told me to stick to it and keep my head up before this incident. Though my post master is probably one of the most friendly ones, I was still getting threatened that he was gonna fire me right after I started working there due to speed and not being fast enough and he was always discouraging and depressing. Though I did hear from everyone else that it just takes time. he was the happiest ever when I gave him a reason to let me go. Which I don’t understand cause now his workers are having to work extra and there’s no one to cover on the days they have off for the holidays. This job is tough but they definitely shouldn’t just let people go or bully them out of it. I wasn’t in an accident and I would never do that again but I should have been giving the option to pay for the damage to keep my job instead of being forced to quit.
I figured something was up when I would watch my father return beaten and down trotted. When he started to arrive home later and later, and the stories he would tell, I really got interested in the work he does. A simple keyword search for “overworked” and “post office” and it was unbelievable. Finding the reverse of the search was near non existent if not difficult. Not until a major sacrifice is made will something change. Apparently suicides are not enough of a sacrifice. Human lives, not enough of a sacrifice, so what is?
The job may not be glamorous, but it does not have to be any more of a strain on the psyche induced by your peers. The job is physically demanding already. There is probably nothing I have said that has not already be said. Damned, I wish I could do something. I wish the good folk, who work hard at their job regardless of position, to not be buried under such unfairness.
Hi,
I have to say that I am totally disappointed in our Postal Service. I was hired into a Distribution Center and had been assigned to “Automation”. Let me assure you, there is nothing “Automatic” about the job……..YOU are the automation. I have worked at different jobs all my life (over 30 years) and 95% of them have all been physical jobs but, this sort/sweep job has them all beat. After working only 6 days, I left in tears with agony & pain. I was hoping to be transfered to a less strenuous position but, of course, that didn’t happen. Even after telling my Supervisors (all female) that I just completed my reconstruction this year after having a double mastectomy & three other surgeries (no pity here), a transfer didn’t happen. It’s funny, certain people DID tell me that there were openings in small package……..hummmmm!!!! So sad that a Red-Blooded, Honest, Hard-Working American can’t rely on “THE SYSTEM” to be able to feed themselves. Now, where is that remote? No wonder our UNEMPLOYMENT RATE is soaring?
The physical part of this job is the easy part. The harassment …bullying…set ups…cruelty….is the tough and dirty part…
All I can add to all this….IT IS ALL TRUE!!!! I have carried mail almost 15 years, the abuse is more then is even being stated here…..I carry a rural route …. 60 miles long…. 450 stops….. I now carry so many packages , my van…… floor to ceiling FULL…… some times more than I can fit into my vehicle….. my post master says my problem, I am supposed to have a vehicle large enough to carry what ever they give me!…… like every two weeks, over 850 pounds of dog food to one stop 23 miles away…. a special trip just for that, out of my own fuel pocket, because he says, The postmaster, that the Post Office will only pay me to drive my route once so if I can’t get it in my vehicle it’s my responsibility to make a separate run to that one house ……. this Amazon thing that we carriers are dealing with is insane.over half the carriers in my office are having to make separate runs with their own personal vehicles ,out of their own pockets because the post office is too cheap to do the right thing and pay is for all this extra work……. and don’t get me started about the unions I’ve been a member for as long as I’ve been a carrier and it is a complete waste of money they do nothing to help us carriers deal with these problems ….. do I sound angry , you damn right I’m angry …… I agreed to carry the US mail…….. not be told how high to jump by Amazon and spend my time delivering cat litter and huge cases of paper towels , I have to ask myself daily where am I going to put my mail….. this is the worst job I’ve ever had.
I am shocked (but not) at the posts that I am reading here. I ran across this trying to find someone to file a complaint with about the postal service. I worked for them as an RCA for right at 6 months and am appalled at the bullying that goes on there from the management! I watched tenured RCA’s and carriers being yelled at, threatened (in a semi joking way- but not), scared to death of losing their jobs (their words), getting written up for things the new RCA’s did, made to work ridiculous hours (50 and 60+ days at a time I was told, with no days off). I was also starting to be bullied and have no patience for it so it didn’t work with me, and so they proceeded made my job much more stressful by doing everything they could to make me want to quit. I felt harassed and bullied every time management was around. One RCA got into a motorcycle accident and was only given 1 day to recover, then the next day when he went back to work he had to leave half way through his route to go to the emergency room- then go finish his route! He got in trouble for that! He had road rash on most of his left side an a hole in one of his feet. I am trying to get some pay that is owed to me and was promised to me for mileage reimbursement, but the postmaster is now trying to get out of it. Plus I gave a two week notice (by email so I have proof) and she is trying to say I quit abruptly instead of doing it right (also all by email so she is caught!). I want to force this place to be investigated and be held accountable, but after reading all of this I get the feeling that I might as well count my blessings (I quit 3 weeks ago) and just move on. I’d also like to stop getting my mail delivered, but the few things I need will have to go somewhere! It ALL goes through the post office unless it’s online! This would actually be a fun (demanding but fun) job if it wasn’t for the horrible management. My condolences to all those who lost loved ones to the usps. May God be with you!
For all of you with the I hate the USPS mentality, I had it too. I worked as a carrier for over 16 years. I started at 20. I almost have 20 years in. I am now a manager, and am well liked in my office. For all the bad in the USPS, there is an awful lot of good. I am sorry that you have crappy management teams. I don’t think I am any better than any of my crew. And specifically not the carriers who go out in the crap weather, and the clerks who work with the wonderful public at the window daily.
In regards to some of the general anger about the job… All of this should have been explained to you in the orientation. I can’t help you if you had crappy people present the job to you. I explain to people in graphic detail, that they will be working during family reunion, and their kids games, and during the holidays. It’s a reality. I did it, and I also worked Amazon during Xmas due to break in serviceof my CCA’s. The job is tough, it’s dirty , and some people aren’t meant for it. You have to be a special kind of person to work for the USPS. I usually have half the people that showed up for an interview leave after I tell them all the bad. I don’t want to waste your time or mine. And I can agree with Post 2013 about the difference in pay. The new people should never have gotten that much money per hour in the first place. CCA’s were making more than 10 year people. How is that fair? I started at 13.67 and hour, I didn’t complain about not making what my DAD who was a 20 year person was making. No one starts off at top money. And even if you are doing the same job, it doesn’t matter. So sick of that argument.
Look the job isn’t glamorous, and you don’t have to work it, and yes I get depressed, but if you want pressure become a 204b, or a supervisor. They are the ones who have the worst jobs in the USPS. Underpaid, and under appreciated.
All of you who hate the job, try to find something to like about it, and if you can’t…good luck in your future endeavors. I will continue to treat my people in the same dignified, and respectful way I always have. I hope you find a person in management that will do the same.
Good luck, and thank you to the carriers who do their jobs, and do them well. I’m sure most of you don’t get that enough.
I have been a CCA in a small town for little over a year now. Since I have begun working for the post office, I have developed anxiety attacks, sleep insomnia and depression. Things I once enjoyed doing, I no longer do. I have been told on numerous occasions, I am nothing but a CCA. Yet, this CCA has worked 6 days a week for over four months bymyself running two routes while the Career carrier is gone on an assignment. One day the post master is nice to you and then the next she is hateful. She has even went as far as stating that she is to be called BOSS! when you are asking her a question. I am very southern, and was taught to say yes mam and no mam. One day I said yes mam to her and she bit my head off and told me not to call her mam, call her boss. The things that are done to the CCAs are to many to list all, it is degrading, and cruel what CCAs have to go threw. We do just as much work and work just as hard as “Career Employees” yet no benefits, no sick leave, and less pay. I had a death in the family and asked for FMLA and was told I do not have FMLA. Correct me if I am wrong, but according to the Fair Right to Work Law everyone has FMLA? I have small children at home and a sick husband that is the only reason I haven’t quit, but I seriously don’t know how much longer I can hang on. I love delivering the mail, but the added stress and no benefits and being told that you can be somewhere over 10 years or longer before you make “Career Position” just about has me to my breaking point. Some days I feel I need to go check my self in the hospital just to get some rest. Another thing I do not understand is why they keep sending us the Postal questionnaire, they know people are unhappy and things are cruel that we go through daily yet they do nothing, so why bother to ask us. The sad thing about all of this is I actually have a bachelors degree, but no job opportunity for my degree where I live so I guess I am stuck as just a CCA until I die..
I had an affair with my usps supervisor for two years, his wife followed him to my house. The burden was too heavy for me to carry. Ive worked there 5 years. Now I drink too much and ive run out of leave. Went to AA meeting yesterday. Called union rep yesterday to explore my options. Its 5:35 pm. and I haven’t heard from anyone. I’m no angel but its not all my fault. EAP counselor has all the info.
It’s the same in my city, I’ve been working for usps three years, and it just gets worse. The doctor told me if I don’t do something about the stress I’m going to have a stroke. I’m in my 20s!!! I don’t want to have wasted all this time but do I really want to waste my life? I keep thinking about the carrier who shot himself in the parking lot at a station in our city. I wonder how long before it’s me, how long can I keep this up? But now with a stroke looming I may have less time than I thought.
Biggest problem is work load is not distributed evenly. Employees who work very hard and still gets pushed around to do more and more while employees who work very little and use their work place as social club gets to do that day in day out. Supervisors Can’t do anything about the bad employees and good ones are easy to push them around and use scare tactics.
I have been a Postal supervisor since 1998. I started working there in 1993.
Up until about 12 years ago this was an enjoyable job, We as supervisor get less respect than anyone in the company.
Our managers and Postmasters are the true bullies. This is the only way to move up through the system.
I have been denied promotions, denied time off. I was injured on the job that resulted in back surgery and I have had many of my clock rings tampered with.
I do not enjoy getting up to go to work.
We are given unattainable goals and we are st up for failure.
My stress level is through the roof!
my wife been at the post office for a good 30 years, only thing kept her going is because she’s got a very positive attitude in life and in general. however, within the past few years that place runs by a bunch of power control managements hasn’t a clue how to run the place has changed her. now all she says is that she hates her job. unfortunately its the reality working at the post office, it’ll make anyone hate working there. even i had my share of whole 4 years working there, and i don’t regret a bid till this day that i had quit that place. I’m just pray to GOD that he will keep my wife sane for a few more months when she take her early retirement. unfortunate thing is that she doesn’t meet the retirement age even she’s gave them 30 long years of her life there, her pension is gonna be less then $900 a month. I told her just get out cuz I don’t want her waist anymore of her time at that hell hole of a place called post office.
[…] subject. For example,Dr. Steve Musacco is a Ph.D., a Postal employee for 30 years stated on, Postalemoloyeenetwork.com, that while he worked there, there were 3 suicides within a 2 year period. He accredited this due […]
I’ve been here 30 years. I’ve seen so many people come an go. Some are able to retire and live a healthy life afterward. Some die, some just quit. One was murdered several committed suicide. Personal relationships with coworkers present problems down the road. I’m old now and I don’t care anymore. I used to care about what people thought about me and the job I do but not anymore. It doesn’t make any sense to work your life away for a company full of unqualified managers. I was harassed many times and at one time to the point that someone was going to get hurt. I had to call the FBI because the management would do nothing. Eventually the harassment stopped but only because I was able to show that I had enough sense to relay my problem to the right people.
Read the book Post Office by Charles Bukowski it tells the truth. I’m surviving and I hope the rest of you do too. I’ve seen people totally ruined by management harassment. Yes, I’ve seen coworkers arrested on false charges just like in the other person’s comment. The outside world doesn’t get to see what happens inside these walls with no windows. I know why people snap. New managers are shocked by my blunt honesty. Sometimes they’re embarrassed because the manager’s manager gets the same honest answers. I’ve worked so many jobs I know more than the average postal worker. People are shocked that I know the answer to most of their questions. I’m shocked when someone gives me a complement. It’s sad. I know how to do my job better than anyone else. I do the managers jobs too most of the time and better than they do. Some get insulted some are grateful some just don’t like me but as I said before, I just don’t care anymore. Like me or not it doesn’t change anything.
What ever you do , Do not get hurt while employed by USPS. Here in Michigan there has been a
string of poisoning at Flint, Pontiac, and Clarksville among other Places. It doesn’t matter which
place. The Government will try to tell you that the deaths or other things are all due to natural
causes. I worked for USPS for 22.5 years, before given food that turned out to be loaded with
Zinc. I went for 33 days with bp 220/120 or higher until having a stroke taking out 3/4 of the back of
my brain. I spent 6 days in hospital, and only found the underlining cause after my bp started to
return. After having heavy metal tests I am finally on the road to recover. No thanks to USPS, or
the Government at this point. Just a bad worker , They say.
I’ve been working as a PSE for 2 weeks now. The postmaster was hardly there at first, but last week I got chewed out 3 times one day. Only one of those “chewings” were legit. The other two were just completely mean and uncalled for. I went home feeling depressed and not even wanting to go back. Then I went in today with a good attitude and kept my head down only to get chewd out again. This time for something I am POSITIVE I did not do. I came home depressed again. Why would a “boss” want to make their employee feel like that. A boss should be encouraging not plane mean. I dread going to work now. And it sucks because I like the job. What do I do?
In response to Robert Smith: no, working in a non-union environment is not necessarily worse. There is NOTHING like the PO and it is Toxic plain and simple. Every office is different and for those who responded here I am truly sorry. Put your earbuds in and remember to work safe!
Hey Lawyers, who wants an easy win challenging USPS for insafe vehicles, unsafe practices. While everyone career pre-2013 might be moderately happy on account of higher starting wages, we the post-2013 hires arent that loyal to this slave-style operated organization.
Class action all the safety violations, lack of PPE on the job, as well as basic human rights violations no breaks or lunches or time to clean up after sweaty long heavy day, and anyone post 2013 hire will gladly join, and perhaps even pre 2013 that had enough.
So here is the deal, if you are looking for a long term career in a normal healthy environment USPS is not a place to be.
Anyone hired after 2013 gets 30% less starting salary (which over 12 years when max is reached means you loose $80,000 in comparison to anyone turned career employee before 2013 with starting salary of 26/hr instead of 16).
It is run as a low life slave sweatshop, satchels weight about 8lb empty due to heavy leather straps, no uniform for 4 months (i strongly advise against playing a team player and plunging your own cash for their uniforms, if employer doesnt want to invest in you, why should you?) one and satchels/mail is dirty so choose clothes you are ready to burn or throw away in the end of your temp employment (unless you are willing to give up all plans, ambition and personal life and die a postal donkey of course). No PPE, no goggles to protect eyes, no utility gloves to protect hands from all the broken mailboxes and sharp metal edges (blue crappy rubber gloves are for anthrax, they do nothing for cut protection), no lightweight hip and double shoulder bags to ease mail transport and delivery (if lucky theyll let you use personal bag at your own expense).
Cars breaks dont work (yeah, BREAKS DONT WORK, YOU RELY ON EMERGENCY BREAKS A LOT), you notice it on hills the most, no AC or heaters. Stinky dirty old cars, locks do not work, visibility awful, very risky.
Workload is ridiculous, especially Sundays, truck or van is filled beyond limit up to front passenger seat and dashboard.
Overall, you pretty much have to fight and stand up for your rights on daily basis.
Managers do not aknowledge OSHA, they believe to be beyond those basic safety rules, so be informed and stick it up to them when they try that game occupational safety is not a joke and USPS is on US turf, so document all issues, take photos of all communication and report to OSHA if supervisors push you to do unsafe work, and just dont do it.
Funny thing, most supervisors used to be carriers, yet instead of improving workplace morale and practices, to nurturing team based on empowerment and building uour employees to growth, theyinstead carry on a mentality of slave style labor, abuse and penny pinching even when you dont take breaks for 7 or 8 or 9 hours straight as there are rarely routes with parks or places to rest or use bathrooms when on foot, and you cannot leave route when you are in car.
Only time being at USPS (temporarily)sort of justifies itself is overtime, sunday work, and extra penalty overtime x2 rate, but no holiday pay or special rate, cant take holiday days off, and getting paid lowly regular rate.
So in the end if you need a job while you getting other things lined up to pay the bills in a meantime, it may carry you on, you will be exhausted physically, living on coffee to get energy to do anything that matters after long USPS workday in efforts to get out, just make sure to run before major holidays 😉
Good luck finding something more suitable to human being!
The toxicity in the USPS is orchestrated from the top.
The hopelessness, harassment, loneliness, mistreatment, false allegations, anxiety, depression, fear of a new day, nervousness, being set up for failure, lack of proper training, mental and health deterioration are daily occurrences from upper management.
For over twenty years I have treated USPS employees with dignity, respect and compassion as I would like to be treated.
However, for over twenty years I have been a victim of this malicious, tainted rolling machine that chews, devours and replaces District Managers and their POOM`S with every change of an area Vice President.
Recently, we had a change of area Vice President — which needless to say — we are receiving some very, very unnecessary, tough, sickening and unfair gestapo style treatment.
This new Vice President has already shuffled the present POOM`S and they are responding with the USPS top management toxicity. As the years pass — I remind myself that — on several occasions I have placed my life in harm`s way in distant hostile lands — to protect my stars, stripes and the pursuit of happiness in return – of living a tranquil and dignified existence.
The USPS continues through these very tiring and unfulfilling years – to lie and betray the trust of our many, many honorable and noble men and women — The USPS has unjustly mistreated, disciplined, fired and scarred for life many of our good innocent working employees. Unfortunately for me — I am one of the current statistics that fall under the falsely accused and falsely disciplined — and like many of our co-workers — no one to listen and no one to assist.
It’s so illogical! How can this be?!!! Annoying people are PROMOTED (moved to a second post office). As soon as the second post office realizes this person is annoying, the annoying person is PROMOTED to another post office!…So mentally disturbed individuals are in high positions in the post office, and the postal employees have no place to turn! Thanks to the crap Reagan said to the air traffic controllers IE “Either you go to work, or you’re fired” , clerks and mail carriers are forced to go to work, with no recourse when the disturbed management harasses/bullies them! (And my specific supervisor, makes a point to harass/bully, where she can’t be monitored!)
I was a letter carrier for 8 years. I was hired at age 28, a healthy male. Prior to working for the USPS I was a happy go lucky optimistic individual. I NEVER had to take a sleeping aide, anti-depressant, anxity medication or saw a psychiatrist. WITHIN 1 year of being a letter carrier all of these things were my reality. It was management and CO-WORKERS! Everyone was MISERABLE and tried to inflict as much pain and misery to make themselves feel better. It was a sick and hostel environment. It was like that movie Groundhog Day, the same jokes EVERY DAY! The same tearing down of people, the same “over the line” jokes about workers wife’s, kids, sexual preference, culture race, NOTHING was off limits….and it was all just yelled out across the work room floor. I FINALY got out of the “AO” and what would you know….no more medication or going to doctors. Working in a Post office “AO”, is an extremely toxic environment, which breeds hostility. And the UNION, PLEASE…….forget about them. Don’t count on them. When the *** hits the fan, file an EEO AND GET A LABOR LAWYER. They will move mountains for you.
I recently became an RCA, but after a month I am being Bullied by my supervisor to get faster. The regular thinks the route is too big, so that says something, and I am suppose to finish within 8.5 hours but it takes me 10 or 11 hours, which all things considered I don’t think its that bad. But, he cut my hours even more. How can I get faster if I cant work enough to practice getting faster? I cant live on what I am making, and cant seem to get another job. I feel stuck. What is the Postal Unions doing to make it better for the postal employees, and why are we paying dues when it seems nothing is being done. Why does the Government not take care of their own when it comes to fair treatment? I have lost faith in the Government because of this.
Managers get it too . My boss is a workplace psychopath who keeps trying to set me up for things I didn’t do and then issue my discipline I treat employees working for me very well , often to do the opposite of how I’m treated
I have been at the USPS for 2.5 years now, finally got my career appointment in Dec. 2015, but I agree with this article completely. I have never worked at any job that has had such a hostile, toxic, and stressful environment. There is no team, there is no family, no morale, no job well done. It truly is the bottom line, as a CCA I fractured my ankle on some concrete stairs that gave way, apparently management had been aware these stairs were bad, but failed to follow up. I sat in the office filling out paperwork and listen to the PM tell a manager that they were going to have to make this my fault. I’ve been harassed by both management and union reps for working to fast or working to slow. There is nothing in the USPS environment that is helpful or fulfilling. I called out sick one day and my Union Rep said you’re going to end up getting fired, don’t you want to get in your 30 years and get your retirement. I actually laughed in her face, and said I won’t be here in the next five years. The only reason I am still employed by the USPS right now is I have a family to support while I finish college. After that it is c-ya bye. As for happily being in a Unionized work environment, having been a CCA, I feel bad for them how management uses them and the union doesn’t care, they are looked as if their is hundreds of others that want to get their foot in the door, one down another comes in.
I worked for the usps as an rca for about 2 mths and a half. I put my sweat blood and tears into that job! I honestly tried my hardest. Supervisor told me not to worry as i will get better in time. But everytime i got back late i would be told not to worry but try to get faster.there were days i got off early which i loved and days where i was late which was horrible.my 1st week i wanted to quit so bad. But Im no quitter so i stuck with it. After 2 weeks of working i began to have back and knee pains. It felt like i was 25 going on 80! Doesnt help much when rca’s dont get healthcare.one day it was so hectic that i didnt start delivering till 4 pm! I was frustrated irritated madd as hell! They did me wrong! That day I had enough! So I told them I quit! All the supervisor did was beg me to stay. The postmaster even apologized about what happened and begged me to stay also. Until that following monday the supervisor fired me saying i dont think this job is cut out for you. When she said that I wanted to raise hell in that bitch! But i felt such a sense of relief! I felt enslaved there and now I was free! So i left and never looked back. It was totally wrong the way they tryed to beg me to stay but then turn around and fire me. Smfh! I didnt go to the union because I didnt want to be a slave to the usps for the rest of my life. I worked everyday 10 hrs a day and got only 1 day off! Im sorry but 1 day was not enough to recuperate especially to rest my body.im 25 feeling like my grandma! It sucked! I did my very best and all they did was bitch at why i was coming back late.they know it takes time to get the timing down but all they did was bitch about it.working there i mainly was quiet and stayed to myself.but there were people who were all about drama and trying to f each other over! Amazon sundays were horrible! They never had the packages ready so we always waited like 2-3 hours until we cud start.why make us come in so early then! On top of that i wasnt very fond of the supervisor she was very unprofessional! She was rude and played favorites. I noticed she gave people whom have worked there awhile routes they wanted and gave the newbies the shitty routes! Wasnt any better seeing the rcas trying to switch routes with the new hires.it was dead ass wrong and its not like the new hires knew any better. The sup played favorites and i shud of complained but who am i to say anything with all the crooks they have working there.even the dude that trained me never followed the rules.im no snitch but the usps has their priorities f’d up.no wonder they cant keep ppl and always hiring.you have no life once you work there. Dont get me wrong the money was good but it doesnt compare to being exhausted tired and stressed out everyday. It affected my health and my personal life .Karmas a bitch! After they fired me they had 3 more ppl quit! Hmmmmmmmmm……..”I wonder why?”
My husband works in USPS in Bronx NY and I’m thing you guys it’s a devastating job. Sometimes he won’t come home until 10-11pm and having to work the next day. It’s taken a toll on our marriage he’s hardly home. He just tells me about how stressful his day was how managers are always bitching about something, they have him driving these trucks with no AC in above 90 degree weather. I want him to leave this job so bad.
I walked out of my job at the USPS on December 1, 2015 and I told the manager at the facility where I worked WHY I walked out. I provided documentation to prove it from my doctors office. My grown daughter in nursing school says even though I have been without a paycheck since January of this year she knows how much better I am and how sick that place made me. But, the interesting thing is they (meaning the managers where I worked) don’t even acknowledge that I told them anything! Not a word! They do NOT CARE and that is what makes them so lethal. They can “say” all they want in the press or with their skewed statistics, but you cannot treat people like they do not matter and expect them to be healthy. It’s not rocket science, and as much as they want to skew it to say people are just trying to scam them,(which they often did where I worked when people left on disability) no one is skewing anything. They are just too lazy and greedy to fix the problem, because no one is making them!
Thank you for your post Francine. I apologize for deleting the video link, but it is safer for our readers that way. PEN
it saddens me that there’s still this consciousness going around that you have to “put in your time” or suffer or endure a prolonged period of wasted virtue to get where you want or need to be – and call that “WORK.” earning your “stripes,” if you will, by being some sacrificial lamb of sorts. what a distortion!
as much as i have this newfound respect for mailmen across the world, my heart grieves for these folks who are enduring these terrible conditions. the labor and workforce in general all across the world, in general, are really putting themselves through hell. i went through a week of paid orientation, then paid training with an instructor – STILL overwhelmed like i’ve never been before. today would’ve been my first day to deliver a route by myself, but i have too much self-respect to keep the shackles on.
take it from me and all of these other folks – the city carrier assistant is BY FAR the worst job i’ve ever had. i know this country and much of the western world was built on the backs of slaves – but this subtle form of exploitation is happening because we allow it to.
i can’t blame the US government for functioning like a corporation, and i can’t blame its “citizens” for being victims. i cannot blame my previous generations for their conditioning patterns, nor dishonor their experiences for “paying their dues.”
but it is my hope we can get to a point someday where we can rise from this patriarchal cycle of needless suffering and exploitation. i honor this humbling experience and pray for healing for those who don’t have the means otherwise to break from their own shackles.
I work since may of 2016 I am cca in durham nc this job is the worst job ever the supervisor are so mean to you they just want you to do the job fast my supervisor was very mean to me every day I got tired of that and finally I call the union president and tell him how bad she was that conversation with him make it worse she was more mean and she don’t give me any days to work i am depressed because I quit my other job thinking usa post office was a better place but I made a big mistake working here is stressful bad ….
I was just terminated as a CCA this past week. I was told I needed to get a certain route done in 3.5 hours. When I did, the supervisor said now try for 2.5. I only had 30 or so days under my belt. Regulars couldn’t even do it that fast.
On Wednesday I canceled an appointment on my off day when I got called in. On Thursday I told them I needed to be at an appointment by 5pm. They sent me two helpers at 4;30. I split what I had left between the two. They were my friends, and we’re both fine with it. I still arrived 45 minutes late to my appointment. When I finished on Friday my supervisors asked why didn’t I split it three ways, and do my share? I told them as it was, I was 45 minutes late. They said that I caused a half hour overtime, and that I wasn’t a team player, and asked me to resign. When I said NO, they terminated me.
TRUE STORY
Also there union sucks. The union reps are so busy trying to make their own quota, they have no time to talk to you. No rep present when they fired me. No one has even called me.
I just came across this site when looking for issues in regards to the post office, as I was the victim of harassment. Nobody should have to put up with what goes on in those offices. When I got hired for an RCA position in Southwick, MA, I had no idea as to how bad the work environment was. I was excited that I got the job and optimistic. The training went real well and they were all very professional, made the PO sound like a really excellent place to work.
But upon getting to the office, I found my experiences to be quite the opposite. Being told that I was too slow almost two or three times a day. Being blamed for lost packages when I know I didn’t lose them. Being forced to not take lunch breaks to finish the route in 90 degree heat. Being told that I have to do a route of 600 units in four hours. Also I was told that the only way I could do the route in an efficient amount of time was to violate driver safety protocol. The lady who was training me, drove like a lunatic.
On the last day I was there, I was told I was doing the casing wrong, doing it too slowly by my trainer and that I better speed up because the boss was getting mad. The boss also told around that time frame that I had better speed up.Then I was given a list of three units that were missing packages and I know I didn’t misdeliver them, I was being setup for a fall.
Also, after that week was over, they didn’t even have me scheduled for any hours for the entire month of August. I was so upset, that I went outside to get some air.
Then the boss came out and I told her that I was having problems, she responded ok without a care in the world and asked for my badge, went back inside. My guess is with all this is they were trying to force me to quit or try to terminate me.
Just happend across this page, and read some of the comments. While some are valid, many others are simply frivolous. Folks, if you think you have it bad, try working for a non-union company in the private sector. I thnik many of you will appricate your USPS jobs a little more.
After 11 years on the job in Brooklyn ny East New York post office 11207 having to deal with so much the people in the area are extremely rude and disrespectful to the postal carriers i was assaulted on another’s carriers Route on my off day should of never came to work that day i fought back my life flash right in front of me i was fired After being dedicated for so long and then be dismissed without a second thought is heart wrenching God i knw you have something better plan for me everyday i wanna give up on life but i knw everything happens for a reason
i am interested in knowing if anyone has had a Postmaster go to their home to retrieve a Doctor’s note and it wasn’t even MY Postmaster???? This is AFTER she called and left a message on my machine that she needed the note ASAP!. Years and years this PM has bullied her own clerk, now is bullying a neighboring PM (my office) because she needs coverage and guess who can’t get any Annual Leave approved because I’m too busy covering that office!!!!
I just got hired as an RCA at a small town post office. I’m reading through these comments and just nodding along like “yep..yep”. I work the absolute hardest I can every freaking day -literal blood, sweat, and tears- trying to get better and faster. All I get told is how I’m not good enough and am threatened to be fired at least once a week. My PM tells me constantly that it’s okay to make mistakes…that making mistakes is normal it’s how we grow, amd yada yada yada. But whenever I make a mistake, I get scolded for it. Repeatedly. I have only been doing this for a little over a month and I’m already so mentally and physically drained from the harassment I receive from my postmaster. If I have a bad day, I cringe going back to the office because I know she’s going to drag me down furather than I apready am. If I have a good day and did really well, I’m all excited when I get back to the office hoping my PM will notice and acknowledge my effort. Instead I get torn down with all the things I did wrong. No matter how much I improve, I constantly get torn down. I can’t afford to quit and I’m terrified of talking to my union rep about it because I’m afraid of the repercussions I might face once it gets back to my PM. *sigh*
I have only been working add an rca for 3 months. I’m struggling with picking up my time and threatened to be fired everyday unless i pick up my time. I feel humiliated and hopeless about ever getting it. I have tried to tell my trainer that this is the opposite tactic that works for me. I feel devastated nearly everyday. I know, and it’s been explained to me, that it’s only a scare tactic that is barbaric and cruel. I’m traumatized. I will not quit because my family needs the money, but i must tell you that it would be a relief to actually be fired. It’s truly horrible to hope to be fired from your job.
My post master is a bully who takes hrs especially over time from us ,she changes our time on the computer even though we clock in or out ,or tells us not to clock out she will do it.no one holds her accountable she does whatever it takes to make herself look good.
a new carrier supervisor came in the back door not liking me.i have no clue why im white and he was black. however any disagreements I had with others were based on personality not race. I will condense a lot into a little [I could write a book] I was given a 2 wk paper suspension for drinking a cup of coffee in my truck. this “rule” only applied to me. the clerk supervisor, on his daily trip to a sub station deviated from the approved line of travel to a store where postal employees, omong others, got free coffee. NO PROBLEM. I filed a discrimination grievance and won but the new gameplan was never spoken of to other carriers oh I forgot to mention that the supervisor was usually obviously drunk by 2pm. NO PROBLEM. once while drunk he said “you could be the first white boy I ever cut.” I had a witness but he got fired/resigned for some serious shit before this all came to a head. BUT I got the last laugh. I called at 5 pm and said I wont be there tomorrow. I am retiring. send me my papers. management called the next morn and said I couldn’t do that. I said I just did. what are u gonna do fire me? I gave a scathing critique of USPS in my retirement speech. and the rest is history. 10 yrs later I say USPS take this job and shove it I REALLY FEEL SORRY FOR NEW HIRES.
This is happening to clerks too. I was threatened with being fired due my diarrhea because of the chemotherapy due to brain tumor that might take my life they put me out the street for it. Management doesn’t care if you live or die
Omg. I agree 100% with every word. I have despaired of life because of my job. I have worked at PO since 1997 and I cannot afford to retire and am too old to do something else. I feel I have no hope and think about death being only way out. I will not do that, but I feel hopeless. I was ok before I transferred to new facility and lost my seniority and now we are treated like kindergarten students and have no A/C turned on in 90 degrees indoors and we are working very grueling totally physical jobs on parcel machines and heavy equipment and if you don’t hv Dr note, must work 72 hrs week and it’s all hurry, hurry, hurry. I saw the steward for 5 mins and was paged back to work, unable to work out a problem because of that. Then, not allowed to see steward a few days later and steward is too wimpy to fight. Something has to give. I cannot bear it for the rest of my life. Our Union is worthless here. It was a strong Union where I used to work before transfer. I have no house and no spouse . I don’t know how I can withstand the fear and physical pain of this Job much longer.
I am SO So sorry to hear these stories.
I just don’t know what to think.
I am deeply saddened and concerned by your losses.
GOD keep you all.
dear persons,
I was rehired at usps recently.
in the last 2 days I have been assaulted by my ex husband. once with a knife, the other time, he shoved me back into my apartment.
all my usps supervisor said was
“fill out a 1260 for why you were late.”
I did.
but I don’t understand …the police even went inside to tell her that FMLA gives me the right to time off work to file a restraining order.
but instead I worked overtime.
I am a PSE since rejoining.
can anyone offer guidance? the regular took off early to go to her sons baseball game…yet I stayed and didn’t get to file a restraining order
This email was just sent to 2 union stewards who are supposed to advocate for my brother who has been on unpaid administrative leave with Orange, CA post office for the past 19 months and counting. The statute of limitations has run out, there are no criminal charges pending, and yet they refuse to give him an arbitration hearing or let him go back to work.
Dear sirs, Neither one of you deserve the title of union brother. There are several OBVIOUS conclusions that I have come to over the past several months I have been emailing you regarding my brother: 1. It is obvious you are in kahoots with management and do not want to represent a union brother. He paid union dues over 35 years and this is what he is getting for it? Deplorable! You should be charged for mismanagement of union dues. 2. There are no criminal charges against ANYONE, yet he is being asked by his supposed union advocates to provide a criminal defense attorney? Even the attorney he contacted said this was a ridiculous request and is just a tactic to make him go away. But wait, you already know that. 3. The statute of limitations has run out. Oh wait, you know that too. 4. Obviously, the post office lied about Advantage Mailing losing millions of dollars. But wait, you also know that to be true, along with the 95,000 pieces of paper that were destroyed on purpose. 5. Read your own ethics laws. You are in complete violation of your own laws. 6. The union has no intention of advocating for him and that is a crime. It is your obligation as union representatives in any capacity or title, to represent him and not further the cause of the postal service management. Again, a violation of your own ethics laws. I have had it with your complete and total disregard for your duties to assist employees who are wrongfully accused and play into the hands of management. I am posting this email on social media. I want everyone, not just the thousands of disgruntled postal service employees to read it. You should be charged with dereliction of duty. I have never heard of a union showing such utter disregard for the employees who pay dues to make sure they are fairly represented and can be at peace knowing that the union has their back. Not in this case and not by a longshot.
My husband was a 13 year letter carrier, who committed suicide at our home. I’m convinced it was job related, as there was yet another round of route adjustments and his string went from 15% walking and mostly businesses, to the exact opposite. I can’t prove it, but I know it was the job. May those responsible for creating job stress get their full and well-earned rotten karma!!
29 yrs as a letter carrier, and I am so mentally burnt out that my doc has diagnosed me with work-related anxiety and depression, and told me he sees more and more USPS employees every day! I will have 30 yrs of service under my belt in September, BUT, I cannot retire until I work THROUGH my 30th year because of my age! I have watched my office go from a small, Happy, friendly, fair environment, to a horrible nightmare of a job!!! I am not on the “ODL” yet they force me to work overtime so someone on the ODL can leave early to get a haircut!!! TRUE STORY!! Also, the discrimination against Caucasians is OBVIOUS!! If ur not of African American decent, you get treated like crap! I do my job by the book, yet every day someone has been “written out” by management, let off early, and PAID for OT they did even though they came back a couple of hours EARLY!! It’s a toxic work place, and it is ruining my personal life! All I talk abt is how stressful my job is when I have a day off. Can’t stop stressing abt it even after I punch out and get home! I’m mentally drained, worried and have panic and anxiety attacks because of the USPS! If you want to stay sane and keep your family…. DO NOT work for the USPS. It will consume you, ruin relationships with family and friends because all you do is constantly think abt ur job! I may literally lose my mind, my family and my friends if I have to work 2 more years!!! No one cares abt u at the USPS. they only care abt the bonuses the supervisors get for making the carriers work harder, and SUCK up the OT and come back to the office on time! I LOATHE my job!!! Sad but true, and at this stage of my life, I cannot start a new career…. So I have to such it up! God I hope my family doesn’t leave because of the stress of living with a postal employee!!
I retired after 36.5 years of service. In the last facility I worked there was an ASP flunky who basically knew nothing. He ego was highly inflated and like being a bully. Glad I retired but before I did I threw a few vulgar words at him. He gave me a LOW. I laughed it off realizing that all he wanted to do was exercise his power.
I feel sorry for the folks working there now having to deal with all of the pettiness & belligerent managers. They only care about the numbers &show bug of a bonus they will receive.
My condolences to the families who lost alive done while they were employed by the USPS.