After reading both yours and soberups posts, I have to side with sobers. No- not all managers and sups fall into that a-hole catagory but from my own experience unfortunately the majority of them do. I worked under 8 or 9 center manager's and can honestly say that only one was a pleasure to work for. He treated everyone with respect, didn't play favorites and went out of his way to make sure the troops were happy. In return I can't recall any flare ups with labor. Every one did their job and got along great. Then there were the ones that played favorites, let problems slide and and weren't around to put out fires. The last of them were a bunch of yehoos. They came in smoking and pissed off everyone -labor and peon management. Everyone ,labor anyway, got their jobs back. These guys (and one gal) WERE number 1 a-holes. I'm sure not everyone will agree with me but that is what I experienced during my 30 at the Brown Machine. As far as job security I'm sure the one DM, one center manager and a couple of sups I know wquld probably argue with you about that---if you can find which MacDonalds they are working at.
I know several management people who are scrupulously honest and fair. Do you know what they have in common? They are 50+ year-old on-car supervisors who have no chance at promotion and who are desperately trying to hang on until they can get out at 55 with medical benefits.
** It is called wisdom! Most drivers also fit into that category as well. It starts to take hold in your 40's and continues to build. It has nothing to do with promotion or hanging on. Though I did find that as you get closer to your retirement goal you tend to stay away from the "edge"!
Job security? Management people are considered "at will" employees. You guys can be fired, demoted or transferred at the whim of your superiors. I had a sup once who got transferred to California...on one week's notice. He had to spend his "vacation" packing and moving.
** A savvy management person knows how to protect themselves from being taken advantage of. Many times I watched managers in the cross-hair come out completely unscathed. The weak get preyed upon. This is no different in the driver ranks.
Paid for every minute? Tell that to the sup who is putting in 70+ hr weeks and taking paperwork home to do on weekends.
** Again the weak get preyed upon and then there are some that make trade offs. I do realize that things have changed since we went public but there are many UPS management people out there who are multi-millionaires and are in the top 2% of wealth. I always felt that I was justly compensated.
Anybody who disagrees with our need for union representation needs to first take a look at how UPS treats its own management people if they want to see what life at UPS would be like without a union contract.
** Contrary to popular opinion, I believe the union is a good thing. It helps to force a harmonic balance. It also forces communication when there is a breakdown of the same. I do not believe it is necessary for all and I recognize there are good and bad elements within management & the union.
I also believe that management needs to have the same basic representation process as non-management. Again this would benefit those who do not understand their rights or protections under the law. It will also help to eliminate the need for lawsuits. The current system is designed to protect the company... not the management employee. JMHO!
The topic of this thread is "how to survive peak." I survive by remembering to be grateful. I am grateful not to be in management for UPS.
As far as job security I'm sure the one DM, one center manager and a couple of sups I know would probably argue with you about that---if you can find which MacDonalds they are working at.
I believe it is Susie driver I fought with over her calling our job , just a job, and with 24 yrs, half my life, I called it a career.
I agree with you UPSLIFER, I was referring to the unfortunate instance with a driver. In the case where a career is ruining your life, or making you not want to live, at that point a career, is just a job.
And you need to leave the work, and find another job or career.
There did I clarify my ownself? There I go flip flopping.
Haha I try to do this as much as I can... get as much work as possible off when you have that helper with you, so you have more time to do things efficiently, safely, and with the least amount of stress during the rest of your already long day. So says a PT driver of 15 monthspeak is easy, make your helper do all the work =) and never leave the truck