MailmanDave
17 Years Experience
Long Island, NY
Male, 43
I am a City Letter Carrier for the US Postal Service in NY. I've been a city letter carrier for over 17 years and it is the best job I've ever had. I mostly work 5 days per week (sometimes includes a Saturday) and often have the opportunity for overtime, which is usually voluntary. The route I deliver has about 350 homes and I walk to each of their doors to deliver the mail. Please keep in mind that I don't have authority to speak for the USPS, so all opinions are solely mine, not my employer.
I don't have an answer as to what the procedure is if the carrier can't deliver the mail because someone is parked in the loading zone of a building. I agree that the carrier should not be harassing anybody re: this. As far as I know they do have the right to not deliver the mail if there is no safe place for them to park their delivery vehicle. They could mention to the tenants or bldng/office managers as to the reason there may not have been delivery on a previous day, but I believe this can be done in a civil/professional manner. Is the building staff not enforcing the loading zone policy? I rarely deliver mail to an office building but I can see how it may be aggravating when a designated loading zone or short term parking policy isn't adhered to. Either way, nobody deserves harassment in my opinion.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Does%20USPS%20have%20a%20procedure%20that%20a%20carrier%20should%20adhere%20to%20when%20they%20can%27t%20deliver%20mail%20because%20people%20are%20parked%20in%20the%20loading%20zone%3F%20Sympathetic%20to%20his%20problem%2C%20but%20it%27s%20not%20right%20when%20he%20harasses%20building%20tenants.%20What%20does%20USPS%20say%20he%20should%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14812)
First of all, I want to say that it's disgusting that a co-worker would do that. It could almost be taken as a threat from a co-worker and make for a hostile environment. I think you did the right thing by taking a photo of it and getting your shop steward involved. It wouldn't have hurt for you to notify the supervisor since they are next up the chain of command. It sounds like you feel that this is serious enough to go right to the postmaster and I understand that. I don't know if your office has internal video cameras which would cover the area by the time clock. That'd give you all of the evidence you need. Be careful not to just wildly point fingers as to who you think has done the defacing, but if you have had a noticeable conflict with one co-worker you could mention that in the meeting with the postmaster and your shop steward. Nobody at work should have to put up with that kind of defacement or intimidation and I really hope that the management and NALC doesn't take this lightly.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20recently%20finished%20my%20route%2C%20came%20back%20office%20and%20someone%20defaced%20my%20time%20card.%20I%20took%20a%20picture%2C%20notified%20my%20steward%20to%20meet%20with%20postmaster%20on%20Monday.%20No%20point%20in%20notifying%20supervisor%20it%20was%20Saturday%2C%20rather%20go%20to%20postmaster.%20Any%20thoughts%2C&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15409)
You could try again at your next available convenience when the PO is open and give it to a sales and service associate at the retail window. There are 2 other options I can think of: 1)Put the mail directly in the mailbox of the correct recipient. 2) Re-seal or tape the mail and put it in a blue collection box. If you want, you could put a note on the mail (like a post-it note) saying "opened by accident". Finally, you could put the mail back in your mailbox with a note saying "misdelivered" on top of the mail. Again, you could use a post-it note if you want. All in all, I'd say it's no big deal. We make errors in deliveries all the time. Many times the recipients may just discard the mail, so you are doing the correct thing by putting the mail back in the system to get correctly delivered.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20accidentally%20opened%20neighbors%20mail%20that%20was%20put%20in%20my%20box.%20Took%20to%20post%20office%20and%20they%20were%20closed.%20What%20should%20I%20do%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14156)
I don't know how you know for sure the package was delivered to the parcel locker section and the key put into the neighbor's box. If you are sure of this (based on the fact that your mailman has made mistakes in the past) then I would put a notice on your neighbor's door. You don't have access to their mailbox so you can't put it in there. The notice can say: "I believe the letter carrier errantly delivered a package to you (or put the parcel locker key in your mailbox) that should have been for me. If you have received this package, please deliver it to me or leave it by my door. "
You may also want to include your phone number on the notice. Unless your neighbors or morally challenged they should give you the package without incident. I hope this helps you Joanna and you receive your package.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=Hi%2C%20my%20mailman%20has%20a%20bad%20habit%20of%20putting%20the%20wrong%20mail%20in%20the%20wrong%20%20box.%202day%20a%20package%20was%20delivered%20to%20our%20apt%20in%20locked%20box%20thing%20%26%20he%20obviously%20put%20the%20key%20to%20it%20in%20the%20wrong%201.%20How%20should%20I%20word%20a%20letter%20to%20my%20neighbors%20asking%20for%20my%20package%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15228)
Chef
Has anyone ever found anything gross in their food on your watch?
Dry Cleaner
What happens to clothing at dry cleaners that goes unclaimed?
Sushi Chef
Is there THAT much difference in quality between the fish served at mid-range vs high-end places?
I don't know about this. You can request anything of the USPS, but it's probably a matter of policy or your individual letter carrier as to whether or not they will do that for you. We usually refrain from allowing people to pickup mail on any regular basis at the PO unless you go away on vacation, put your mail on "hold" and then pick up the mail at a future date (and that can be done just once per "hold" request). If your landlord would just be away for a few days, I'd deliver the mail to your personal home temporarily, but this has rarely come up for me and I can't comment for sure how others would respond to a similar request.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=If%20you%20lost%20your%20mail%20key%2C%20and%20your%20landlord%20is%20on%20vacation%2C%20can%20you%20request%20it%20delivered%20to%20your%20personal%20home%20or%20for%20pick%20up%3F&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14206)
From what you described there should be no problem in your landlord eventually receiving the check. It's possible that the letter carrier took the envelope thinking it was outgoing mail. Since it had a stamp on it and the landlord as a receiving address, they will likely get the check in a couple of delivery days. If a letter carrier sees an unstamped envelope in a mailbox they will often take it as outgoing mail without looking at the destination address. Thanks for your question.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=I%20left%20a%20letter%20in%20my%20landlords%20mailbox%20in%20a%20stamped%20envelope%20with%20my%20return%20address%20and%20her%20receiving%20address%20when%20she%20checked%20the%20box%20her%20mail%20was%20there%20but%20my%20letter%20wasn%27t%20what%20happens%20if%20mailman%20took%20it%20thinking%20it%20was%20outgoing%20mail&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/15530)
Jason, I'm no expert on the rules and regulations with reference to our union contract (NALC/USPS National Agreement), but I can give you my take on it and anecdotal experience. I feel that if the supervisor hasn't scheduled you before you left work on your previous work day to work your day off you have zero obligation to answer the phone or to come to work. I would probably recommend not even responding if you feel that there will be a conflict if you refuse to go to work. It makes perfect sense that you already had other plans, you are away for the day, had a MD's appt, etc, and you can't come to work. Just to be sure, you never have to tell mgmt what you were doing on your day off. My anecdotal experience is that nothing can be done with regards to discipline for not answering the phone or going to work on your NS day if you haven't been previously scheduled or mandated. I've never heard of an attempt to discipline someone for this.
Share Answer: &caption=Jobstr.com&description=What%20happens%20to%20a%20regular%20carrier%20on%20the%20ODL%20if%20his%20supervisor%20calls%20him%20in%20on%20his%20day%20off%2C%20but%20the%20carrier%20doesnt%20answer%20his%20phone.&redirect_uri=http://jobstr.com/threads/show/4154-mailman-city-letter-carrier-/question/14533)
-OR-
Login with Facebook (max 20 characters - letters, numbers, and underscores only. Note that your username is private, and you have the option to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
(A valid e-mail address is required. Your e-mail will not be shared with anyone.)
(min 5 characters)
By checking this box, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to Jobstr.com’s Terms and Privacy Policy.
-OR-
Register with Facebook(Don't worry: you'll be able to choose an alias when asking questions or hosting a Q&A.)
Browse Jobs
Host a Q&A
Search
Submit Your Question
Host a Q&A
Last 7
