eating while working

[donna]

Are you guys allowed to eat while casing mail?  

[bob1]

Do you case mail while eating at home?

Casing mail is called "work", not lunch, break or personal time.

[rkbcjb]

It's your time. Eat while you work, who cares?  Bob1 you need to chill alittle.

[macattack33]

It's never been an issue.  I can't eat right away in the morning, so I always take a banana and a granola bar.  I always eat it as I am casing...never a problem.  (although when I see the ink and whatever else is on my hands when I wash them, It kind-of makes me think twice!)

[bob1]

"It's your time."

No, you are being paid for that time so unless you are on a lunch break it is the postal service's time.

The more I read these discussion boards the more it is obvious to my why this craft is in the sad shape it is in.

"Bob1 you need to chill alittle."

Maybe if some of the complacent and apathetic rural craft employees would not have "chilled" to the extent they have, things would not be like they are.

[bob1]

Perhaps I am mistaken, but it would be my belief that this craft has far more serious issues that should concern rural carriers than whether or not they can eat at their cases.

If this is truely every carriers biggest concern, then I am gravely mistaken and I apologize.  Enjoy your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack, all at your case while casing mail.

[something]

We are instructed NOT to have food at our cases, also to work QUIETLY and DILIGENTLY.  How many of y'all do THAT?????  My guess from reading the various posts here is "not many."

Bob1, you are a rare breed, yepper, this is a job, they pay us to do it.  The entitlement issues never cease to amaze me.  

FYI, when you are on the workroom floor at all, you are NOT on "your time".   When you are finished working, you have no business on the workroom floor, including your case, and should not be there.

[rkbcjb]

absolutly! This is one of the lamest worries I've seen on these pages. The reason this craft is in such a mess is because people think if they dare take on management the world will end. They know less than you do. Get the job done. However you like. With a mouth full of food or not.

[Wave]

This is my number one concern.  Eating is a fundamental right.

[idontlikerocks]

i like to bring my sleeping bag to work and catch a nap between casing flats and letters.  if i am really tired, i might catch a couple of more winks between letters and grabbing my parcels.   of course i never eat while i am napping,  so this topic isn't a real issue for me.  however, i suppose if management wants to make a rule about it, they probably can.  usually these silly rules last for a month or two then you can go back to doing things the way you want.  you can always take a break in the morning to calorie up (this may piss them off more than eating in yer case)   hang in there, idiot supervisors don't last for long.

[middle of nowhere]

   if you think about it, there must be something wrong with the way everyone does their job.  do you drink coffee, pop , water, or anything else?  ever pop in a breath mint or piece of candy?  do you blow your nose at your case?  where do you draw the line?   i always have a can of pop or bottle of water at my case in the morning, and even have a cup holder bolted to the side of my case so that it doesn't get spilled.  looking back at the time i have been at the post office, starting in 93, i have never had a supervisor that didn't eat and drink on the workroom floor on a daily basis.    i guess every office is different,  it is what you get used to, and for that , i am glad i am where i am.  i have seen nothing that says you must take break in the breakroom, and i know the 30 minutes you can have daily may be split anyway you want,  but not sure if that includes 360 - 5 second bites.

[Fla Male]

I THINK THERE IS A RULE ABOUT NOT EATING AT YOUR CASE BUT ITS NEVER BEEN ENFORCED IN OUR OFFICE...I USED TO DRINK COFFEE AT MY CASE UNTIL I SPILLED IT ONCE ALL OVER THE MAIL,IT RAN UNDER THE CASE AND I HAD A HUGE MESS TO CLEAN UP SO I JUST STOPPED TAKING ANY FOOD(ESPECIALLY COFFEE) TO MY CASE..

[doug in illinois]

I never eat while casing the mail, but we have a small refrigerator than the PM and carriers put soda, milk, snacks in.

I wait until I am sequencing the parcels, and pop a cookie in my mouth or grab a sip of soda as I am headed back and forth to the cart. Has never been a problem, I usually put down 5 minutes lunch to offset any possible gripe from the higher ups.

Too bad we don't have the same rights as city carriers, meaning two paid breaks plus the option to take a 30 minute lunch. Then it wouldn't even be an issue, DOUG

[joe]

GOOD POINT.  Why don't we have 2 paid breaks.  We should at least have one in the morning like the city carriers.

[Vax]

   You have the option to take 30 min for lunch, most of us dont take it!

[wondering]

Our management brings in donuts for us every so often, and we take them to our case.  We have had breakfast provided for us also.  As long as we don't make a mess and keep the mail flowing its not a problem.   I don't see a problem.  I can chew and case at the same time.  :-)

[reg carrier not retiring]

Yup, donuts at the case, but not too often.  Our supervisors, PM, etc.  the rule is, you can eat, but if you mess up, you clean up.  Besides, can you really case the 2,000 or so letters and 500 flats without stopping at least once? twice?  A little energy from the food means you should be less tired when hitting the street with your llv.  and I believe it is safer to eat at your case than in your vehicle, although I do take a small break at a point in the route, where it is virtually no traffic, no red lights, and no people.