Are you for real? Can you believe this – a “Golden Hour” ... a “Quiet Hour” - what's next “Nap Time”?

 

The Postal Service has adopted a theory that the first hour of a letter carrier's workday should be focused on staying at his/her case casing mail. All extraneous functions should not be performed until after the first hour of work. This is not a new revelation. The M-41 handbook outlines what is expected of us. This “Quiet Hour” is nothing new. It's getting back to the basics for those offices that are in need of a standard operating procedure (SOP).

 

 

To call this first hour of work a “Golden Hour” or a “Quiet Hour”, has a very negative connotation associated with it ... and has ... and will continue to produce a very negative reaction from letter carriers. It's degrading, it's insulting, and it's not called for.

“We know how to do our job and … and we do our job very well.”

To think, some supervisors have taken this concept and twisted it to mean that carriers can not talk to one another, or that you can not walk away from your case – get a drink of water or go to the bathroom. That will be the day I or the NALC membership will stand idle for that! We are grown men and women and we have the right to be treated as such. No matter what management wishes to call a particular time of the day ... or what new program is allegedly going to save the post office ... or how we can do things better, management needs the cooperation and the buy-in of its employees.

 

If it were not for the letter carriers and the extra effort we give each and every day we would have been out of business a long time ago. Don't insult our intelligence! How the Postal Service is still in business with managers who lack experience, have little or no knowledge of our jobs or what we do and lack the trust of the carriers is a miracle. Management has mismanaged this postal service to the point of bankruptcy.

 

To think, some “genius” had a revelation and thought of this concept as a way to help save the post office is incredulous. What this brainchild actually did is piss a lot of carriers off and has created a more confrontational climate on the workroom floor. You can't treat people like sh*t and expect them to do extra for you. Don't get me wrong. I know that I work for the Postal Service and I know who the “employer” is and who the “employee” is. I provide a service and get paid for it. I, like my fellow carriers, have no problem with that. I understand there are certain rules and regulations, and policies I must follow if I wish to continue my employment with the Postal Service. Putting aside all the rules and regulations for a moment, how can an employee feel good about his/her employer when they are treated like a child?

 

We know how to do our job and putting everything else aside, we do our job very well. If management would just wise up and let our people do their jobs as they are capable of doing and provide the service that our customers deserve, we might not be in the financial trouble we are currently in.

 

The “Golden Hour”, the “Quiet Hour”, the “Happy Hour” is not going to save anything. The only “Golden Hour” we are going to have is the “Golden Hour” when we punch out from work. As far as the “Golden Hour” goes – you can stick it where the sun doesn't shine. But ... if you want to have a “Happy Hour” - no problem – bring out the food and cocktails – we will join you.

 

If any of our readers – especially our managers – are offended by this article … too bad. I'm offended by your national policy to implement such a demeaning and demoralizing action. To think, the Postal Service is paying someone to give symposiums on how to implement this “Quiet Hour”. This manager should pay more attention in getting his affairs in order in his own backyard – never mind in someone else's.

 

I work for the Postal Service and I am proud of it. Treat me like a man – with the respect and dignity that I deserve – and I will do my best each and every day. The Postal Service, for as long as I can remember, has this ill conceived and maligned notion that you can treat people poorly – bully and threaten their workers – beat them into submission – and expect them to give their very best each and every day. It just won't happen!

 

The most profitable and successful businesses encourage and motivate their employees to be the very best that they can be. Do you think that you can treat us like sh*t and then ask us to promote and sell the business? Get Real! I don't want the Postal Service to go out of business but you (Management) are making it harder and harder for us to stay in business.

 

Wise up once and for all!