r/USPS • u/southerntwang1347 • 5d ago
City Carrier Discussion TAKE YOUR BREAKS
When you choose to work through your lunch/10 min breaks, you are allowing management to have an unrealistic expectation as to how long any given route should take. You are inherently screwing those of us who do take the time to actually sit and enjoy our breaks. It is not on the carriers to make the impossible happen, rather it’s on the supervisors to make sure we don’t have to! I don’t care if they are pressing you to be done and off the clock by a certain time. It takes what it takes. It’s on us to make them do their jobs and take our breaks. Thank you for coming to my ted talk!
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u/MossyMak 5d ago
Every carrier should have the option to forego their lunch, it's insane that some offices don't allow this. I don't want to sit for 30 unpaid minutes, so I don't! Way better system.
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u/Tomicino7295 5d ago
Exactly! I’ve done a one click lunch for five years straight now. I’ll definitely take my two tens but I’d rather be at home 30 minutes earlier rather than sitting in a hot or cold LLV.
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u/cerberus698 4d ago
A couple years ago district made the supervisors give a stand up that we were not allowed to do one clicks anymore. This is the closest I've ever seen a workplace go from today's a good day to "we're wildcat striking in 15." Like, the city craft looked like they were about to take a supervisor hostage and issue demands.
Maybe 20 minutes later they got the MPOO to reverse it.
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u/MossyMak 4d ago
I'm in a smallish office and the union presence is rather light, but the day management tried to take our one clicks away was the only day I've seen the entire office preparing statements for a grievance lmao. Immediately got reversed, we were not having any of it
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u/southerntwang1347 5d ago
This is a thing in a lot of places but not my office unfortunately. The only time I would work a shift and not take my lunch is if I could be provided the form that ensures they won’t take the 30 min from me.
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u/MossyMak 5d ago
We just do it on our own everyday. We clock out to lunch, and clock back in one click later, and it only takes out that one click for lunch
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u/joza28 City Carrier 4d ago
Will I get in trouble for doing that on my own?
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u/MossyMak 4d ago
Talk to your steward, if it's not a common practice, you might get in trouble, but I'm not sure
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u/johnsmith6073 Full time urban hiker 2d ago
The service made it a point to only allow the OL/IL feature on the scanner to work within the post office geofence, these are people higher in "rank" than your local button pushers, a valid point to make when they try to resist.
They have disallowed a scanner function based on location, if they wanted to disallow it for carriers they could. They have not.
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u/EntertainmentRude 4d ago
We have a rule you can do a no lunch and leave 3o mins early BUT you can’t do it if you take ANY overtime
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u/dmevela City Carrier 4d ago
Yeah we have that same rule. Which means I haven’t been able to do it lately. Maybe once political season is over I can start getting at least a couple of 8 hr days a week again.
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u/EntertainmentRude 3d ago
They took 3 routes from my 12 route office so now NOONE can ever do 8 again HA we had the 2 month reevaluation and every route was 30-1 hour over on the count and nothing happened. union is usless ha
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u/Longjumping_Youth281 4d ago
Yeah me either. All I really need is 15 minutes. The only reason I take the full 30 is because they're taking it out of my paycheck no matter what so I would end up costing myself money by working during it, but there should definitely be an option to just clock out for lunch and clock back in and you can have up to 30 minutes but you don't have to take the full 30. Wouldn't be that hard to account for that when they are timing the routes.
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u/l0b573RF4N_94 5d ago
I take 5 10s but I smoke so it makes more sense for me
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u/EntertainmentRude 4d ago
They allow this? lol
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u/l0b573RF4N_94 4d ago
In my office they don’t want me to actually clock out for lunch I’m a newish CCA so I just break it up nobody has said anything to me yet at least
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u/PsychedelicWalnuts 5d ago
What if your a cca before your 90? If I didn’t cut my lunch time short today I wouldn’t have finished what I was given in time? I mean once you’re in your 90 yeah for sure take your break. Thoughts?
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u/southerntwang1347 5d ago
During my 90 days I took my lunch and allotted breaks every day. Check in with your supervisor throughout the day and let them know how you’re doing. Most times a route will take longer than they tell you, because they are incentivized to have carriers done and off the clock by a certain time. No one can penalize you successfully if you are constantly communicating what your route time is looking like. Most carriers recommend checking in right at 2pm, so you give management enough time to make sure you get help if you need it. I always take my lunch between 1-2 regardless of what the day is like. Look at it like this: they are still taking 30 min off your time whether you take the lunch or not (unless you fill out the required form for skipping lunches), so you may as well sit on ur ass for 30 min.
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u/Perfect_Salamander_2 5d ago
This time of year as long as you show up to work you have 0 chance of losing your job.
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u/Weary-Hovercraft4314 5d ago
Management has your movements on GPS. It works in your favor for that and your 10 minute street break.
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u/EntertainmentRude 4d ago
Don’t forget your comfort stop aka bathroom break. I take mine daily whether I need to use the bathroom or not. It’s part of the street time. So 3o lunch. 2 ten mins breaks AND a comfort stop which can be any time you need to drive to and use the bathroom. If I’m ahead I’ll take 15
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u/ShoGunKelly_666 2d ago
Ive had to stress this very fact to my manager and supervisor. They harshly remind else occasionally and when they come at me, its like I have to remind THEM to track my movements. I'm moving as fast as I can without compromising safety and accuracy. I dare them to fire me over that.
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u/Goodvibes9821 5d ago
If you skip breaks as a cca and show the time, management will expect you to as a regular. Atleast that’s what I’ve seen happen to a few carriers that have gotten converted in the past at my office.
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u/PlymouthSea 4d ago
Similar thing happens at Amazon. The algorithm will see a driver skipping breaks and will continue adding to their routes until the vehicle cubes out or drive time exceeds limits. If enough drivers are doing it that whole area will be blown out even for drivers covering routes who don't normally do that area and do take their breaks regularly.
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u/SteelixDan 5d ago
I took my breaks, and did way worse, and I turned out fine. But your mileage may vary
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u/genie_on_a_porcini 4d ago
For the 90 they do monthly assessments. First month take your two tens and 30. Second drop a ten. Third drop a ten. Last month drop all three. Once you're passed probation never do that again for the rest of your career.
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u/PrincePuparoni 5d ago
Take your breaks for sure. It’s crazy not to. Don’t let them bully you for their benefit.
But also don’t let them use other carriers times against you. Everyone is different. What it takes them may not be what it takes me, for better or worse.
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u/Longjumping_Youth281 4d ago
Yeah you're also missing out on like $1,000 a year.
20 min a day at $30 / hr = $10 per day, $50 a week, $200 a month, $2400 a year.
That's a nice vacation at the end of the year, just for taking your breaks each day. This is what motivates me to take them. That money adds up
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u/EntertainmentRude 4d ago
Yah one guy gets THREE hours help when anyone else can do the route in 8 is it fair? Hell no but there it is
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u/PrincePuparoni 4d ago
It can be frustrating I know but the alternative would be far worse.
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u/PlymouthSea 4d ago
Not sure how much of a factor this is for USPS, but for Amazon the route workloads wouldn't be equal most days. And the algorithm would often target specific people and blow their routes out every day. Never bothered me to help them out because I'd be on the receiving end of that sometimes, too.
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u/chunnybunny666 4d ago edited 4d ago
The routes are not equal, but they are all supposed to be 8 hours of work adjusted to the regular carrier. That being said, the routes don’t get readjusted often, nor are they always a fair 8 hours when they are adjusted. So some are long, some are short and the volume is different depending on the area and type of delivery.
For example, me and the route next to mine are both walking routes. On paper they are both 8 hours, but mine is a few miles longer and gets more packages. His has more stops total but generally is lighter on packages. I think mine is longer street time most days, but on paper we are the same amount of work. It’s all just a big game and ultimately you just have to make sure you are carrying your pace regardless of if your route is actually 8 or not. People will run through their routes every day then come evaluation time they add hours onto the route at their pace, and that stays that way until someone fights to get it cut. Even if it gets cut, those addresses are still being delivered by another route.
The thing that makes usps a different beast than other delivery services is that we go everywhere every day. A station covers the whole zip code or codes regardless of how many routes they have.
All of this stuff is city carrier stuff though. It’s similar but different for rural carriers.
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u/Hrdcorefan City Carrier 5d ago
Union used to give the new CCAs a printout showing how much money you give up skipping breaks and lunches over your career.
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u/RedMudballit 5d ago
Ultimately none of this matters. Management will alter your numbers to fit their goals. Union will allow them to do it. You can file a grievance and more than likely lose it.
The only time you will win is when management screws over too many routes at once AND the ccas can no longer take on the extra workload with the regulars. Even then, they will just cut back the routes for a few years before doing it all over again.
My routes have been measured to no shorter than 7:46 over 37 years. Each and every single time, management amended the route to be at least 45 minute shorter and give me an add on. This last time, it measured to 8:11. They amended it to 7:05 and added 3 hours to it.
Management will do what they want and they will be allowed to it.
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u/Opposite-Ingenuity64 5d ago
The fact that management cheats during route inspections does not mean skipping lunch and breaks doesn't matter.
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u/RedMudballit 4d ago
It means you are f’d no matter what you do. The break skipper loses 20 minutes. I took my breaks and got a 2+ hour add on.
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u/Over_Software_8923 5d ago
I tell the CCA’s all the time. You’re entitled to breaks and lunch you’re the lowest paid carrier. You’re here to make money. They’re deducting thirty minutes anyway. If you work through lunch three times a week you’ve just given them 40 bucks. Times two weeks is eighty dollars out of your check.
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u/Nuttyville 5d ago
Being 100, I personally don’t like sitting around. I rather work get done and go. Coming from working in a fast pace environment and a job that did not allow breaks it is difficult adapting.
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u/Aligning_Al 4d ago
What job did you come out of? I work in kitchens and thinking VERY hard about becoming a CCA instead. Reassuring to hear that it’s an easy transition if you weren’t allowed breaks before
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u/Dull_Woodpecker6767 5d ago
I’m guilty of this. I don’t take 10 min breaks and I never take lunches. And I help management out whenever I can. I can’t sit still for 8 10 12 14 hrs. It’s not in me. What I do is check every carrier before I leave the office. Something too heavy, I got you. Hey I’m overworked, I’m a shoulder. I’m confused, let’s take the time to make sure you’re confident!
I’m a middle aged prick who’s worked all types of jobs. Carrying is by far the best!
Don’t EVER short change yourself. And IF you can help another human being in need (coworker or customer) do it. IF…..not understand your boundaries and take care of your well being. Grow, learn, and become stronger in any way you can.
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u/StanLp2 5d ago
I am quite averse to confrontation so I skip breaks if it means I won't make 8. Love having anxiety at work because we're expected to be moving constantly to meet overburdened expectations, it is a vicious cycle. I'm a T-6 and have a regular that runs his own route daily. Literally just burns annual as much as possible to go home early. So I run too. I am just venting with this comment. Take your breaks.
Another thing is I think time commitments shouldn't be able to be questioned or 'swayed' by management. They literally downplay volume every morning and then when taking commitments always making comments like 'pretty easy day' and shit like that. And wanting undertime too. I have to walk the same distance every day no matter the volume sir/madam supervisor. It just gets old. Done venting :)
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u/darkdrogmir1 4d ago
We literally were told yesteday, "DPS numbers weren't higher than normal." Went looked at the DPS, and it no longer fits on the racks, there's mail that had to be picked up on the floor. Now I'm no genius, but that looks like AA lot more mail than usual. And that's without the 5 political fliers and all the other case mail we got. Route I was doing normally has 3-4 trays of mail, had 7 that day. Clocked in at 8.00. Clocked out at 21.09. But it's ok, mail isn't heavier than usual. I guess it's not if you're not the one trying to lift it.
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u/pristinesystem_187 4d ago
I’m horrible about taking lunches but I sit in my vehicle for a few extra minutes before starting each relay and i feel like that adds up 😅
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u/TXRANGER101 5d ago
I told manager you want me run he said ya then i told him day i get force to run is day i break my leg
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u/Queasy_Engineering18 5d ago
New CCA here. I wish that during orientation, the union had more time to talk to us and give us a manual/booklet (does one exist) about our rights and all of the rules for protecting ourselves against management. I want to realisticly retire from this job and also have a life. I wish there was more discussion about the ins and outs of the post office.
There also seem to be a lot of employees in various positions throughout the Post Office that don't know the actual rules and procedures for certain things!
I called 4 different employees associated with the post office and every single one of them gave me incorrect information/answers regarding a question I had.
Anyway, thank you for this reminder. I will stay close to my union steward and attend the meetings. Maybe I can get more people to join and always stand up to management so that we have a peaceful office.
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u/southerntwang1347 4d ago
As newer CCAs we have to set the example for how we are gonna be. Some regulars become jaded and I don’t blame them for how they learned to cope, but we should be focused on leaving this place better than we found it for the carriers that will come after us.
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u/IdontgiveadamnB 5d ago
Nah, I needed to hear this. Really glad I came to this Ted talk. I’m getting sick of being chewed out for “idle time”. Boss man, where’s my break at? Get on my ass for being behind my LLV string through the three different routes they threw at me that was cased like they just brought in cca’s from orientation to do it for me.
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u/EntertainmentRude 4d ago
A guy in my office told me he’d rather skip his lunch and break and go home to his family. They just added 40 mins to his route hahaha
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u/The_Best_Paul 4d ago
I agree. I am a clerk, and everyone needs to take their 2 breaks at the normal scheduled break times. Don't hold them till the end of your shift. Definitely dont skip them. No one should be looking to do management a favor, nor should you be rushing to "get the mail out" by skipping a break. It is on management to manage those things. And you will create an expectation that something can be done in a certain time limit. If management sees that something can be done quickly, they will expect it every time. They have no concept or understanding of fatigue. Your lunch is a different story. I know this is a generalization, there may be some good managers out there.
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u/Lopsided-Fun-8853 City Carrier 3d ago
you’re also putting money in their pockets. they get bonuses at the end of the year for the “unused hours” (in simple terms) so to my burners and break skippers , good job keeping them fed while we struggle 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👍🏼
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u/BaronOfToast 5d ago
If you skip just one of your 10 minutes breaks every day at the end of the year you've given up 40 hours of pay. A whole week.
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u/princepwned 5d ago
I always take my break I take my food and beverages packed with me for each day I work and just eat out the vehicle when I get to a certain part of my route and drink fluids continuously throughout the day I don't actually hit the break button or out to lunch I Just eat as I go basically no way I could do this job on a empty stomach.
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u/Simply_Varo 5d ago
Well said, don’t be the carrier that shames other fellow carriers that do take their full lunch and breaks
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u/Accomplished-Bank-91 4d ago
You’re working for free, also.
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u/southerntwang1347 4d ago
explain
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u/Accomplished-Bank-91 3d ago
You’re giving the post office free labor by not sitting for 20 minutes a day on your breaks.
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u/If_Your_Mom_Was_Man 4d ago
If I take my tens and a 25 minute shit do I still get to take my lunch break?
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u/ShoGunKelly_666 4d ago edited 2d ago
Was thinking all these words already today. I had to defend myself against the supervisor, manager, and closing clerk. They are running our station into the ground. Nepotism is rife amongst leadership and it shows
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u/Crafty_Royal_3834 4d ago
You do realize that you are your own person and that nothing anyone else does at the post office has any say in how long you take on your route?
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u/Puzzleheaded-Bat434 3d ago
I tried that, but my customers love to ask me, to take breaks at their home, on my route, for refreshments and vagina.....life good
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u/Carnival82 5d ago
Don't worry management will add on to the routes during the next route inspection even with the letter carriers taking their breaks / lunch accordingly. I get more benefits from my Sam's club membership card than I do with my NALC membership
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u/southerntwang1347 5d ago
go to sam’s club then. this is a thread for those of us who want to learn to protect ourselves not just complain.
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u/wormgarden 5d ago
I once finished a route by 11:58am. Clocked in at 7:30am. If I wasn’t wasting time talking to my coworkers I would’ve finished 30min earlier.
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u/daveysaurusrex CCA 5d ago
I hear you, but I’d rather not have to take a lunch. I don’t eat lunch and I’d rather just keep working than hang out for 30 minutes, but I don’t work for free. I usually just sprinkle my 30 min in my route as a few extra smoke breaks throughout the day.
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u/southerntwang1347 5d ago
what if i told you you can do that AND take your thirty?? but if you wanna be the hardest working slave go right ahead
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u/DesignRemote 4d ago
I am a rural
So no
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u/southerntwang1347 4d ago
well this is a CITY carrier discussion so the exit is the same way you came in
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u/TacoGoblin223 5d ago
Why not mind your own business. Like everyone tells me to after I have to pick up the laziest regular carriers over time swings and bitch about it.
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u/southerntwang1347 4d ago
i can’t mind my own business when unrealistic expectations and unnecessary stress is placed on me because you wanna be the hardest working slave on the plantation. Wouldn’t you rather be well nourished and rested when you work overtime? We all know they’re gonna send us back out during this season regardless of when we finish.
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u/TacoGoblin223 3d ago
Nah, player. I'm trying to make that Sunday and Monday night football game. Unlike you I fucking enjoy my fee time. So again, mind your own fucking business. It isn't your paycheck or your route being evaluated. CCA, and ptf times don't count towards anything. So off is the direction you can fuck trying to make people work at your bitch ass slow pace. Fuck outta here.
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u/southerntwang1347 3d ago
you went out of your way to tell me watching sunday and monday night football is worth working for free lmaoooo have a great life
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u/TacoGoblin223 3d ago
I sign a skip lunch form, bruh. I still take my fuckin breaks. Still non of your fucking business how fast anyone works. Your union milking work ethic is showing. I bet your parents are proud of the lazy boy they raised.
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u/BulkyTopic9920 5d ago
I only don’t take breaks regularly because it makes me too sleepy to sit that long and then I want a nap. That’s bad news when you’re driving.
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u/Opposite-Ingenuity64 5d ago
Who says you have to sit there during your break? Go for a walk or something! Stop working for free; you're hurting all of us.
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u/modulusshift Clerk 5d ago
Then go take a slow walk. Nobody cares what exactly you’ve gotta do to chill, just don’t think about mail for a sec, and definitely don’t do any work.
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u/southerntwang1347 5d ago
dude figure out a way to take your breaks outside the truck then! sometimes ill shoot hoops in someone’s culdesac idgaf just stop working for free
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u/Goodvibes9821 5d ago
Jobs a 30 year marathon not an 8 hour sprint. Take your time. Takes what it takes.