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.
Thank you for your question. Paraphrasing the USPS website: As per the CDC and the Surgeon General, there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is being spread through the mail. I don’t particularly think the term Chinese Virus is appropriate.
I do worry often about getting sick or getting someone else sick. In my personal life I have distanced myself from my family for fear that I could be an asymptomatic carrier of the virus At my particular USPS facility we practice safe social distancing. While delivering mail, I don’t need to interact face-to-face with most customers so I feel that is low risk for transmitting or catching Covid-19. If I need to interact with a postal customer I can do so at a safe distance. If an item requires a signature we may sign on behalf of the recipient as long as they give us a verbal agreement that they would like the item. Starting today I’ve decided to wear a mask while inside the USPS facility. I went shopping today at BJ’s Wholesale after work and was impressed by the amount of shoppers who had their nose and mouth covered. Along with social distancing this is an effective way to help you from unknowingly transmit the virus to somebody else. I am thankful that so far I’ve shown no symptoms of the virus as I’m worried about getting it. While the majority of those who succumb to complications of the virus are usually older or have underlying medical conditions, there is. I guarantee that a younger, healthy, person will survive this virus that spreads so rapidly.
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That is a very timely question. I have a lot of faith in the Postal Service able to handle the volume of absentee ballot applications as well as completed ballots. Due to the coronavirus pandemic I believe it is much safer for people who prefer to vote by mail be given an equal opportunity as those who want to physically go to a polling site. In June, 2020, the area where I work had 2 elections. One was a Democratic Party primary. The other was a school budget vote. Both seemed to go smoothly with respect to sending out and retrieving and processing election mail. Several states have been conducting VBM elections for years and I don’t believe there are any major issues that have arisen with respect to voter fraud or ballots being counted.
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Fortunately, no. The only thing I’ve ever seen in my office was a package that may have smelled like marijuana. I don’t know what ever became of it. We are trained to be on the lookout for suspicious packages.
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Fortunately I’ve never had this happen to me and I do work in a generally peaceful and safe area. If it were to happen I would probably call the police, secure my vehicle, and maybe walk away if i could. I would never engage a violent or vandal-driven protestors. We have not been given any guidance on what to do. (May, 2020). I tend to be a de-escalator of situations whenever possible. Stay safe.
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Certified Nurse Aide
Is it true that STD rates in nursing homes are going through the roof?
Toll Collector
Do you think there will be a time where all tolls are automated?
Meter Maid
Is it tough to have a job that consists exclusively of ruining peoples' days?
I think it’s just a general caution strobe that means this truck may make many starts and stops and it may be slow moving. I think it’s similar to hazard flashers.
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Fortunately, no. I believe if I were involved in a motor vehicle accident, I’d first call my supervisor, and then call 911 (unless there were apparent injuries or fire where we would call 911 first).
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On the postal route, not particularly. I’m pretty easy going. I don’t really care when people just talk to you because you aren’t just a body. I mean they aren’t conversant and just want to talk about their accomplishments around the house, etc. Truthfully, it’s a waste of my time so I can tolerate it in small doses. If they get too long winded, I walk away and don’t give an excuse. I realize that wasn’t your question Rarely do I ever get complaints about my delivery or the time I arrive. The latter is out of my control. Mail is quite unimportant these days so many people don’t care when, or even, if they get a delivery. I can’t think of any stupid complaints. Every now and then there is a complaint or comment about mail being wet due to sweat on my arm. I don’t find that an unreasonable complaint, so for that customer, I try to keep her mail dry.
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