August 18, 2014 – The white paper (report) released by the O.I.G. today states that USPS paid $1.3 billion in workers’ compensation claims and $67 million in administrative fees in chargeback* for the year 2013. [*Claims the Department of Labor pays on behalf of Postal Service employees and the assessed administrative fee for the period July 2012 through June 2013.]

For many years records have shown that the vast majority of FECA claims by government employees each year have been filed by employees of the United States Postal Service. Why? the nature of the job(s) – repetitive duties, harsh climates, hard trerrain, job pressures and stress, etc all contribute to injuries and diseases that postal employees may sustain while performing their duties…expensive? yes, avoidable? probably not…at least not under the working conditions that currently exist.

Letter carriers, especially those who have full or partial walking routes, almost always experience a sprained ankle or joint, damage to their hips, knees, ankles, and feet…not to mention arms, shoulders, and hands – all of these injuries become repetitive injuries…meaning, for example, a carrier sprains his/her ankle while making deliveries and continues to work while nursing the injury. The next day the carrier returns to work with this same injury and compounds the problem by walking on difficult terrain while carrying mail and parcels BEFORE the ankle has time to heal – over and over the injured joint sustains further damage until finally the joint requires surgery and/or developes permanent arthritis. These type injuries can expand from a one time injury claim to an occupational disease claim down the road.

The OIG states:

FECA reform could help control workers’ compensation costs; however, the Postal Service must overcome political, employee, and union challenges to adopt practices that are common in state governments and the private sector. FECA reform legislation has been proposed in each congressional session since 2011; however, to date, these reforms have not passed. Management should continue to work towards overcoming these challenges by educating lawmakers on the need for change and by addressing the questions and concerns of employees and unions.

Additionally the OIG says:

The number of employees decreased by 19 percent, from 765,088 in 2008 to 617,714 in 2013; however, the cost of workers’ compensation increased by 35 percent, from about $1 billion to more than $1.3 billion.

Those who do not perform the duties of postal carriers, clerks, mail handlers, etc cannot really understand or appreciate the short term and long term injuries that can be sustained while performing postal duties.

You may read the entire OIG report here (PDF).

Rick Owens
Postal Employee Network
www.postalemployeenetwork.com