More support for new hires

[Postaltexan]

More support for new hires
YOUR NAME Carolyn

ISSUES SUBS/RCAS

YOUR IDEA OR CHANGE allow regular carriers to mentor new hires.Perhaps cut the academy 1 day and give the regular carrier extra hours to help the new hire. The regular carrier could come in for a few hours to help the new hire get out and back by the correct time.

WHY DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT
new hires need more support than they receive. It would decrease the high turnover of new hires and pay carriers who try to help their new subs.

[Earl]

It would be more beneifical to send the new hires back to the academy after their probationary period. There is much to learn in a small amount of time. They struggle to remember what they learned because they only work one day every other week. The carriers they sub for and the other postal workers in their office may not want to be bothered. The extra time at the academy would be used to really learn something, because now they have some experience and they have a clue about what is being tought. They can ask all those questions they have without getting snapped at or made to feel like their being a pest. New hires need more education and training, because they do not get to master their jobs in a timely manner.

[Newbie]

I was hired back in November...I wish that I had more time learning what I needed to do...I spent my first week in "orientation"...This was a waste of hours if I've ever seen one...I was there for five days...Most of which was spent trying to stay awake and I came out with little to nothing out of it...Most of the class struggled to stay awake all day...I went to learn not to read the manual or have it read to me...It was split into 2 sections, orientation and the driving part...Orientation shouldn't take more than a day if you hit the high points and rely on the fact that we must all be reasonably intelligent because we had all passed a test to get at least there...The driving still needs to last the 2 days because of the number of hours you have to spend to get the defensive driving certificate...The following week I spent a mere 3 days with my sub...The first day I rode around with her observing the route and what she did...The next day I did the first part of the route by myself...Honestly, it's a shock when you go out the first time and you're not used to how you have to maneuver in the car as well as the car itself...I did the second half the next day...It was extremely frustrating because it didn't go near as smoothly for me as it did for my sub...My third day I got the entire route all by myself, well kinda...Our PM was determined that I be back by 5pm regardless...So when it became apparent that was not going to be the case for me other subs were sent out to help me finish the route and my not so kind PM made me feel about an inch tall for not being able to do this by myself...I did not go to the "Academy" until I had been on the route for over a month...That's when I learned how to case the mail...Was I not casing the mail until this point you may ask...Yes, I had been struggling to case it usually taking at least 4 hours to do so before I left and sometime needing help so I at least left out before noon...With the exception of my PM, everyone including my supervisor was extremely understanding and supportive helping me out wherever I needed it...I felt that I needed more practice and training with casing the mail...Of course I was told that I needed to come in and case any mail that there was during the day so I could practice...I was told that I would not be getting paid for this practice, but it would benefit me...Those of us that are new need more time to learn our route and get accustomed to a new job

[Noppie]

It is really simple. Pay them by the HOUR NO WORKING FOR FREE and allow them benefits.  

I worked at 3 or more different post offices when I started EACH DID THINGS THEIR OWN WAY.  Whatever you teach them in the academe in training means nothing.  Each Post Master has his own way of doing things.  They do not care about the union rules or the Post Office rules.

If you pay them for the actual Hours they work, supply a truck, supply benefits and tell them to be back 5 PM, you will keep RCAs.   If you want them to work 12 hours and get paid for 7, supply no benefits and tell them to use a vehicle in a manner so unsafe ever postmaster should be trail for attempt murder.  You are not going to keep RCAs.  City PTF are paid by the hour have benefits and do not have to beg for truck and they have a waiting list of people who want to work for the USPS.  It not rocket science.    

[RR704062]

I think that the new hire should be given at least a week working with the regular before taking it on alone.

1st day--Sub comes in late to learn office procedures, what the job entails, intro to casing mail. Sub rides and observes delivery

2nd day--Sub cases side by side with carrier, no pressure, just learns where things are on case. Sub drives part of route while regular observes and mentors. Regular finishes driving if needed to get back in time. Both case PM mail.

3rd day--sub starts casing, regular comes in later and helps with casing. Let sub line up parcels (always a challenge).  Sub pulls down and takes 1/2 route, regular takes other half, checks on sub when he finishes, helps with missed mail, questions, takes some mail if necessary. Both case PM mail and review day.

4th day--Sub starts casing, regular comes in later and helps.  Sub drives second half of route, regular drives first half, catches up with sub and offers assistance if needed.  Brief review period upon return to office, then sub cases PM mail.  Regular goes home.

5th day--Sub starts casing, regular comes in later and helps. Sub cases PM mail while regular delivers mail.
 
6th day--Sub cases mail.  Regular comes in briefly on the clock (had several late starts during week) helps sub get out in time.  Sub delivers mail.
Second week--Regular should give sub the day before relief day so sub can pick up own mistakes on relief day.