124 Responses to "Working For USPS May Be Dangerous To Your Health"

1. I am so
   Extremely happy that I retired from the USPS in late February 2021. I worked 35 years as a city letter carrier. I worked for some pretty terrible managers to say the least! The culture there is abusive, managers are sadistic, you are
   treated as crap. They all fudge the numbers on their paperwork to make themselves look somewhat competent. We use to have a saying that if one of them was promoted; they must have f-d up big time. I been away now 2 1/2 years retired. You could not even offer me more than $100 a hour; I would never go back to that hell hole! Always look out for yourself and others.
   Work safely always. Do not rush; go by the book. If you get hurt, do not be surprised if they try to get you terminated!
   Postal management is not your friend. They will screw you over anyway possible. They could not do your job out on the street; that is why they are postal managers! To be a
   Successful carrier, most people need to have some good common sense, communicate well, and be organized. Unfortunately, the USPS frowns on that! We were in most instances forced because of the system to give the worst service imaginable to our business customers and residential customers. Hang in there and fight the good fight!

2. I Feel Your Pain. I have been employed with USPS for over 20 years and get the treatment of someone on their 90 day probation. I have been assigned, reassigned and unassigned. when I bid on a job and become the successful bidder, management some how find a way or reason to change the time or schedule day off. In 2018 I was awarded a bid job only to lose it one year later due to a grievance filed by APWU due to the job being reposted with split days off. I was never made aware of the grievance until it was in arbitration one year later. The APWU won the grievance . I lost the position and a coworker was awarded the position along with $18,000 plus in out of schedule pay. He only stayed in the position for about three weeks then bid back on his old job (modified by management). Once again I bid on another job and was the successful bidder. Again the reporting and end of tour time changed after the job was posted and awarded. Not one time have the APWU show any concern for me as a member.

3. I started working at the post office back in March. I’m so glad I have a plan b, so I’m working on getting out asap! I’m an rca and it is the worst job ever! I d8nt care if it’s a government job. They threaten us by saying we have to go out and buy another vehicle to deliver mail. Which is total BS….not to mention I keep getting migraine headaches from driving trucks that leak exhaust into the truck. I recently got sick while on the route but was told we will try and find someone to help you…..they did but at the end of my route. They preach safety first but don’t care two craps about you….just make them look good by getting back by 5. And they treat people like crap, the union does nothing to help you. I’ve been waiting for my 2 days pay missing from back in April. The lady that supposed to be taking care of it has been on 2 vacations, walks around talking yet says she so busy she cant take time out to find the paperwork. it funny how they can go back 2 months and try and write you up about a package that was delivered to the wrong house and expect you to remember, but cant go back and find paperwork to get you your missing pay. I cant wait to leave the post office! I do not recommend working for any post office

4. I have been a rca for 4 years.I hit a mailbox and know been giving notice of removal.I never was giving a notice of warning,plus I have no disciplinary actions.I;m looking arbitration in the face,what can I expect?

   Sharon – you need to post your question at our Rural Carrier forum here:

   https://www.quicktopic.com/16/H/CL3JYbYpvQnSy

5. Hi I completed my 3 day orientation, started the next day at 6pm thinking that this will be my permanent shift. When I get there I was told by 2 acting supervisor that I would start 2 different times. I also mentioned that I had another FT job from 8 to 5 and he told I had to resigned

6. I just quit today after two months being CCA. I am well adjusted to the weather and physical work now but today I met two retired carriers who live on my route. I saw their stitches around the knee area and then I realized that’s why both of my supervisor walk so Awkwardly. When I got back to the office, I found out they indeed all had knee replacement surgery. I told myself that’s it …..no money can buy my health back. You are basically selling your health for the extra pay that you get working for post office. They’re tying you with this seniority program so the more you work for them the more you cannot afford to leave. I’m not gonna fall for this.

7. Oh Boy looking at all these comments I’m not alone. Some employees don’t get hurt or feel the pain each day carrying mail or just don’t want to say it because they know they WILL be harassed!!! I know because my life since I was 29 years old has been dedicated to this job! I love my job I love being outdoors, seeing people and always on the go not looking at a clock waiting to go home. Since I started 25 years ago the pay now is kind of decent especially with the over time. But remember you can never get hurt and I have a folder that is pretty big. When I started up until this last postmaster who thought belittling me in front of others and comments watching me with a clip board etc.. thought I was going to cry and quit like a little girl No way baby! I am human I get hurt especially now with all the amazon packages more lifting and carrying all these bundles and spurs FSS DPS someone is screwing up big time. Do little in the office and take everything to the street. Great but now you are trying to walk with all this stuff on your back up and down steps sometimes to the second floor and trying to sort mail at the same time. Now remember don’t walk while your going through your dps. Do you drop off a package with the mail or do you drop off the parcel then deliver the mail,LOL Way back when it was one swoop into the mailbox and that was also getting the mail out and make sure your mail is ready by the next stop and again this is with FSS in your mailbag with the spurs..Come On lets get real here. We are not machines and don’t think that if a machine was able to deliver mail you would be out the door!!! No matter how much business I try to get I was only good for the day. Anything you do is just for the day. The next day they don’t remember and don’t care. Oh and having a family forget that kids are a burden to the PO especially with woman. I was hung up on, told to get in here now then hang up. Now in all fairness I totally understand the route has to go out but some things like your small children come first. Sorry. Get the lazy Postmaster which is HIS or HER job to do the route!!! You will here about it when you return but tis life! This too shall pass. Now my body is starting to go screws knee replacements hands are killing me feet from the hour extra of walking that another no brain person who wants to kiss butt thought of. Lets get rid of a route and throw an hour on to the other routes and force them to get done in 8 hours,.. This was before the Amazon deal now the extra hour with extra packages with small LLV’s that you have to do 2 trips because these big boxes are over the mail that you can’t get to. Or deliver those packages first then start your route. Mmmm this all takes time doesn’t it. Hell No according to Mngmt. So and so can do it why can’t you. Because so and so have been employed for 2 yrs not 25 dum dum Yes years ago I could to not now. One carrier with a few years of service works out the front of the truck. Twists and turns all day. I used to also. I tried to explain all that motion every day will wear on you over time. Of course they don’t want to hear it..CCA Running the route so they don’t get in trouble but one accident is all they need. I can go on and on and on with what I have seen through the years. I have to admit now that these rural carriers have LLV’s thats the way to go!!! As one rural driver said to me it’s the best job in the PO. No pressure an 8 hour job that doesn’t take 8 hours but gets paid for one. Same money as me but gets back sometimes in 4 hours half the time!!!!! Really??? They are not hurting as bad as us carrying mail on our back and gets paid almost or the same as me?? Did I mention I was there almost 10 years longer.. Anyway yes I am jealous that’s the job I need now with all this pain but thats a different kraft and you have to start from the bottom again!?? Same job!! Son of a gun!!! Well can’t afford that. Bright side I have a healthy heart. OK best I can come up with! LOL Getting back to my injuries I am still fighting a case thats about 3 years old because i said it was because of the job not on the job and the letter from the Dr. wasn’t written correctly. So I had to get a lawyer and pay the lawyer from the 75 percent pay I’m still waiting on. Still in major debt cannot get ahead all because I didn’t lie and couldn’t say I got hurt with the harassment I was getting by my PM. One time he set me up with a table facing the wall and had me sit there like a bad girl with a brace on my leg. Didn’t even include me in the meetings. something huh. If I was soft minded I would have committed suicide with the way he treated me. Telling me I didn’t care about my job would pick on everything I said he was way too much drama. Others also were getting screamed at if they got hurt. I have to admit I wanted to go postal on him a few times but I wasn’t going to steep to his level so he could fire me but when no one else was in the building we did have a shouting match he screwed with me big time. I called him Daddy just so everyone would laugh and take the pressure off when he went nuts!! He hated his job and didn’t care for us..We were the last to know he was retiring he told everyone else but not his own employees. No one answered him and we didn’t care. All we cared about is what crack pot or someone who’s on medication for depression was coming in now. This Daddy is alright and of course I got hurt again after 2 years of feeling great and trying to build up my sick time. I am upset and depressed about it but what can you do when your body is trying to say enough.. I can’t retire not yet anyway because of the money I lost…Some people tell me you have a great job I just say yup. Little do they know what this job is really about and what goes on behind close doors. Post Masters are the captain of the ship they are supposed to give you all the support to make the ship run smooth but unfortunately they do the opposite and the ship starts to sink with everyone on board. For anyone who is treated poorly please do what I did. Be as happy as you can from the moment you walk into that office even if your not you can!! When a PM or supervisor is with that freakin clip board in your face while your casing hum a song like I did. Walk with your head high and know your customers can’t wait to see you because YOU make their day!!! And smile when you walk out because you thank god your not as miserable as them no matter how upper management comes down on them it’s not your problem that they can’t handle it. You are doing the best that you can. Also let them know how you feel show you have class you are not an idiot like they perceive you to be in front of your fellow workers who don’t stick up for you because they are afraid. Hang in there!!!!

8. I was laid off from my computer job at age 51. I wanted to get out from behind a desk, took the postal exam and wound up at an overnight processing plant while I waited to be called for a Carrier position.,I really should have researched the reason why “so many” carriers were leaving that craft and transferring to the plant in droves. I eventually took a carrier’s position, I knew what I was getting into since the job was explained to me by former carriers that I knew and I’m not going to gripe about being a carrier. It does have its upside.. The problem is the nature of the overall system. A majority of postal workers have never worked in the “private sector” and have no idea how the outside world works. It doesn’t take a world of perception to realize that this is flat out the most combative, dysfunctional, counter productive industry on the face of the earth. The so called “Managers” have never seen the likes of a genuine manager’s curriculum, only that of the postal system. They are not taught to develop and accentuate an employee’s upside. rather to berate and belittle. Most of the management that I’ve met in this industry couldn’t manage the snack bar in a Bowling Alley.

9. Horrible Place to Work! They gave Sexual Harassers there Job back when there is supposed to be zero Tolerance. In a Faclity of the the South FL district if you Put in complaints that you were being Constantly Harrased by a co-worker they try to reward the one Harrasing you or a Manager might gang up on you or Victim Shame you. If you get injured usually the bruise shows up the next day so they make it difficult for you to prove it is Job related. If you try to use your insurance they will tell you that they cannot see you because you are claiming it is Job related. I post this because I want people to standup and do the right thing. To be on the side of Righteousness.

10. I have been a cca for a year and a half i have not even made regular yet and my knees,hip and back hurts everyday i can barely stand the pain its to much for me but all these otger jobs dont pay as much without a degree i dont have time to go to school because of the wrk schedule idk im stuck

11. GET OUT IF YOUR NOT INJURED! Once you are injured the bullying and harassment gets worse! When you are told they don’t have a job due to your injury at work, IT’S TOO LATE. They send you home, then they work on cutting you off of everything. One can’t find a job if you are injured and have restrictions. I will suffer with my OJI for the rest of my life. I should have left years ago!

12. To Bill, good for you, I wish you the best in whatever you choose. I was one who actually “stuck it out” and although I receive a pension, I feel like it is just another form of disability payment as a post-surgery quality of life isn’t fun. You made a move that I wish I had made many years ago. I have seen many carriers just simply quit lately and it is easy to see why. I hope you were a very good worker because there is no way they can replace you these days. All these people want to do is hang out and kiss the managers rear end and avoid carrying swings and leave the bulk of the work for suckers like me and you. Congratulations on getting your life back.

13. I just quit after 10 years as a full time rural carrier. It was not worth it to me to wait until retirement. I was miserable and didn’t know life could be so good again! I do not miss it what so ever. Good luck to all of you who are sticking it out.

14. This job SUCKSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!

15. Just started almost a month now as PSE (non career). Working for USPS hub is too much work pressure. Imagine coming to work at 12MN, 1:00AM, or 2AM to work at the dock unloading mails, parcels, etc. on big heavy containers. It’s just so very exhausting and your sleeping time just become abnormal imagine all schedules are early morning. Pay is ok, but family life…nah.

16. The usps is terrible. Skipped over for a career position due to management screwing up seniority, no representation from the nalc. But the guy that got the career spot had just crashed a mail truck into someone’s house. After 3 months of compensation he came back to a career position, regular scheduled raises, colas, tsp, you name it. He’s since caused more property damage. I’ve seen people steal, forge signatures, accidents, misdeliver, etc yet the union can protect them from being an idiot, but if you are genuinely screwed by your bosses they can’t do a thing. Needless to say I haven’t been paying union dues for years.

    CCA for three years now.

17. I am a rural carrier using my own car. I am experiencing pain in my arm and foot. The arm is the one I deliver with, I believe it’s tennis elbow. The foot is the one stretched over to the pedals. I’m afraid of going to the doctor because I may have to take leave. Our OIC puts the conference calls on speaker so we hear everything. They talk out of both sides of their mouth. One day it is we care about our employees. Don’t let them work sick, don’t let them come in. The next day it was don’t let them take sick leave. We will discipline if they take more than three days in a quarter. This is during flu season. One carrier was fired because she walked to a door. Not a sign of a dog, no barking. She started walking down the stairs going back to the vehicle, all of a sudden a dog is coming after her. She fell and hurt her hand. It’s ridiculous. We can’t be sick, can’t have accidents without the fear of losing our job. I’ve been doing this for almost thirteen years and have always loved it. The stress is getting ridiculous. I was also just made safety leader without being asked. I don’t want it.
    Everyday it’s something new. I’m sick of it but stuck.

18. I just had a hip replacement done. They say it couldn’t be from the job. But I actually won my case. Now the doctor wants me to go back and do the same exact work. He says I know 80 year olds who go up and down stairs. Yes but do they deliver mail. He says well you have to do it. This lady at my job had 2 replacement. USPS doesn’t care they thinks it’s normal to get a fake hip. I was in shock to find out I needed one and scared. I do not want a second one. This first one also will fail doing the same heavy lifting. But my doctor made his money and just threatens me saying I don’t care you are doing 8 hours full duty. My boss already says once you go back I have the pivots waiting. Meanwhile they have their favorites who are young and healthy sitting in the office doing nothing. So corrupt. I wanted to live for my kids but this job is literally killing me.

19. The usps is horrible… worst place you could ever work..they dgaf about you..its all about numbers…. i hate it

20. Nothing but harassment from supervisors and management. Watched unqualified workers pass me for positions due to not being part of the good old boy system that only promotes friends and family. Horrible place to work if you can do better don’t waste your time.

21. Wow Teresa that is horrible

22. Teresa
    All usps carriers, familly members are right. I’m a carrier for 11 years more loyal then a dog. I been with stress and anxiety do to all the pressure abuse of power, harrassment, treats of firering me. According to them I’m not good enough for them, and bulling from managers and supervisors. We are presure to skip our luch and breaks. The union ignores the issues. An EEO is not always efective and last time I worked I was picked up by the ambulance, I been hospitalice more then one time for my condition. I was fired and did not received a notice of insurance termination. They took 4 months and it was untill I requested that they mail my checks. I’m not geting disability, I’m fighting to stablish workers comp. I have kids believe me the last I need is to stay home. I need to work, my doctor took me off work. I requested a transfer and is not happening. Usps is not the best work for your health. Voe survey sucks. We get no solutions. I done everything even let management walk all over me just to be able to provide for my kids. The worst some times we are not alowed to leave our routs to go to the restroom wich is impared to our health. Specially when prégnant. All I know is that we are quick to judge when we never been in a situation like ours. Now I have no money, and no job when I worked 11years 10-to 12 hours monday thrue saturday. No day off. Only sunday. Im stress and full off enxiety because of managers and anprofetional supervisors.

23. In the beginning, the CONSTITUTION created the USPS. Where did it EVER mention DELIVERY to the American household? NEVER! And so, It began.
    The UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAD NO LEGAL RIGHT TO SEPARATE THIS ESTABLISHED BUREAU INTO A “DELIVERY” business!!!
    NEVER, EVER according to the LAWS/REGULATIONS set forth per ELM, WERE THESE GIVEN DIRECTIVES FOLLOWED NOR ADHERED TO BY ALL LEVELS OF USPS MGMT TO THIS DAY!!
    FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE LAWS/REGULATIONS HAS RESULTED IN :
    1) EPIC FINANCIAL FAILURE
    2) GROSS NEGLIGENCE RESULTING IN EPIC SICKNESSES/INJURIES!!!

    I AM ABLE TO HELP!!
    29 Year Public Servant of the USPS

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