From what I’ve seen during Peak (I was a helper for two years), it boils down to being a “Runner” or a “Slacker” – there’s no allowances for the “in-between” to Management (to them, it’s purely black and white, with no other considerations besides “volume and numbers”). “Runners” are the guys who cut every single corner they can, especially safety corners, and the “slackers” are the guys that take to heart what Management pounds into their (and Helper’s) heads about safety this and safety that – and that “YOU’RE NOT ALLOWED TO GET HURT!!!”.
“Runners” set the bar higher over the “slackers” making the “slackers” look bad that they can’t do the job as quickly as the “runners” – WHILE keeping things safe and smooth, unlike the “slackers” and so “runners” get all the glory (because their “volume and numbers” look good on paper), while the “slackers” take all the crap and just for doing the job exactly as prescribed by Management (when the unspoken double-speak is left aside).
So, what’s the point I’m trying to make here? Management needs to figure out what the hell they want – SAFE drivers (and helpers) who compromise a bit of speed for safety AND efficiency, OR UNSAFE drivers (and helpers) who cut corners and leave the “safety rules” back at the center, forgotten for their so-called “efficiency” which is just a disastrous set up for some major injuries or accidents someday.
I may have only ever been a Driver Helper the last two Peak Seasons, but we pick things up pretty quickly. We see what you guys see, and we experience it and I can tell you, most of us Helpers think it’s a crap situation that NEEDS some rectification on MANAGEMENT’S end, not the Drivers.
By the way, “Helpers” are used as “Runners”… Management tells us one thing in Orientation, but then they expect unspoken expectations and performance when you’re actually out there doing the job – as in, we’re unknowingly expected TOO cut corners, TOO risk our safety and health, TOO do the job more quickly than is safe or necessary to save a couple cents – TOO ignore the safety rules and TOO disregard everything they trained us to do!!! So I know exactly what the problem is here – it’s the “unspoken rules/unspoken expectations” coupled with absolutely asinine and unrealistically impossible “quotas”.
There needs to be REALISTIC goals and rules, so that we DON’T have to push ourselves so far and so hard to meet these absolutely ridiculous and hazardous quotas that someday, you and us don’t get hurt in the process (breaking rule number one: you are NOT ALLOWED to get hurt!)… no more of this say one thing, mean another crap. The question is here, do they want super-speedy, or do they want super-safety? Because you really CAN’T have both at UPS!
They tell us Helpers in Orientation that we ARE NOT “allowed” to get hurt, because it costs them thousands and thousands of dollars – but then they turn face after you’re “in” and doing the job, to push you to do the EXACT opposite of what they SAID they wanted you to do – or the boogie man will get you!
I’m amazed that all UPSers don’t complain about this crap and strike out to get it changed. Isn’t it these kinds of grievances which the unions are supposed to be PROTECTING you and us from? Lord knows they take enough of our wages to do something, but they’re not doing ANYTHING about these specific problems here – and then UPS big-wigs wonder why there are so many injuries and accidents… BECAUSE of their BS, IMPOSSIBLE expectations that FORCE you guys and Helpers also to cut corners and leave all the safety precautions and procedures out the window!!!
Big Brown, get your act together and make up your mind already! Speedy Volume and numbers, or realistically-paced safety and efficiency! REMEMBER, YOU REALLY CAN’T HAVE BOTH!!!
