Becoming a better UPS employee

old brown shoe · 03-11-2008, 06:55 PM

Can't believe they spent a whole 3 minutes with you. Most don't get that much training.

thebrownbox · 03-11-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDoLessWorkThanMost

When I was preloading as a part-timer, it was 3 trucks and a belt split - not p32s either, one 24 and two 700s....and during peak- they #$*$*% me- two 24's and a Rental p500 size.

You have it good!

Pre-PAS or post PAS at your building>?

It's Post PAS at this building I did not ask the date when they got it but they said it has not been that long.

I hope I wont be doing this during peak I just might go nuts

IDoLessWorkThanMost · 03-11-2008, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebrownbox

It's Post PAS at this building I did not ask the date when they got it but they said it has not been that long.

I hope I wont be doing this during peak I just might go nuts

Take your time. Make sure management knows that you are 100% capacity. If everyone on your belt hurries alot, you're in trouble. They generally underestimate the time involved in the process of sorting/splitting the belts in my experience, too.

Back in the days before PAS at another center, I was all over the building as a cover preloader (or something). Usually it was for filing a grievance!

Just do your job, and convince any junior on your belt to take their time and don't go for the glory ;and gusto

thebrownbox · 03-11-2008, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDoLessWorkThanMost

Take your time. Make sure management knows that you are 100% capacity. If everyone on your belt hurries alot, you're in trouble. They generally underestimate the time involved in the process of sorting/splitting the belts in my experience, too.

Back in the days before PAS at another center, I was all over the building as a cover preloader (or something). Usually it was for filing a grievance!

Just do your job, and convince any junior on your belt to take their time and don't go for the glory ;and gusto

That happened on Friday I was told to "stack a little better" and my main job was to split the belt instead of loading the cars.. I understand that but boxes building up behind me was just too much on Friday so finally I got a little help.

everyone always asks me so how do I like it over here versus the primary.. I tell them it's pretty much the same only thing is I don't have to lift 70lb boxes over my head now.

each day I say to myself I wonder where they are going to throw me next.. but the real reason why I'm on the belt is the guy who was doing it before me left UPS to work at another job that was F/T so that was that.

I guess the only good thing is you can interact with the drivers that you load the packages onto.. most still act a little cocky.

brownrodster · 03-11-2008, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ill Bag You

By the way...the radio comment (lol) reminded me... I regularly see people with MP3 players. But as far as I know it's against company policy, code, or however they choose to word it to bring these kinds of things in, no?
.

You are in small sort so you have absolutely no clue how much almost every other part time job at UPS sucks. Our turnover is so high that they ahve to let our part timers listen to their ipod or they'll even have a harder time finding people to do their crappy jobs for minimal pay.

DS · 03-11-2008, 08:27 PM

Heres my take on your query, bag you.
You don't realize how important the work safely advice is.
That one time you try to do more than you should, could be
your last day at ups.Everyone is different,and you will find your
own ways of being efficient over time.Be aware of the different jobs
people around you are doing,and strive to move into one that appeals
to you.
If you go all out to impress management,they will notice,all it will get you is more work.Unless you want to be a sup,all you have to do,is
be dependable,consciencious,and accurate.

tieguy · 03-11-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDoLessWorkThanMost

Take your time. Make sure management knows that you are 100% capacity. If everyone on your belt hurries alot, you're in trouble. They generally underestimate the time involved in the process of sorting/splitting the belts in my experience, too.

Back in the days before PAS at another center, I was all over the building as a cover preloader (or something). Usually it was for filing a grievance!

Just do your job, and convince any junior on your belt to take their time and don't go for the glory ;and gusto

Work slow down?

dilligaf · 03-11-2008, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tieguy

Work slow down?

Typical mgt............Don't worry about it, work safe and if you are a little slow at first at least you are doing it right!!!!!!!!!! You will go faster with time.

cwmaxxout · 03-11-2008, 10:24 PM

ONLY TIME, AND EXPERIENCE WILL GIVE YOU THE SPEED YOU NEED TOO SUCCEED! GOOD LUCK ROOKIE!

Ill Bag You · 03-11-2008, 10:41 PM

Nice replies guys. I try to keep safety in mind when I'm there, being aware of how I'm moving my body and what's going on around me. I do lose sight of it somewhat when I'm trying to move it along when we get backed up. I noticed my speed has actually increased over the past week or so. I'm thinking partially because I finally started using gloves, but I'm also beginning to find my rhythm. The only thing my sup said to me is basically either go fast, or go slow and be accurate. I used to get all flustered and lose my head when they would move me from one spot to another in the middle of the shift, but I stay on track now.

By the way, I wasn't downing the ipod thing. I think it's good to have them, I'd just rather not try sneaking mine past security. Not much of a rule breaker.

DS, thanks, I like the way you worded that

and everyone else who's pushing the issue of safety. I guess it makes sense to focus on being smooth and accurate and letting the greater speed come with time. I just can't stand being one of the last ones bagging out, or sometimes THE last one. But like I said I'm picking up the pace and I've done it without sacrificing my safety. Small sort is pretty easy, sometimes I think the reason for my lack of speed is that I've lost 120 pounds over the past 2 years, despite my exercise at home and whatnot, my body hasn't grown used to having to be so energetic! But I love what I do compared to most of the other jobs I see, still want to become a sorter somewhere down the line.

But man, today sucked, 60% of our mesh bags were wrecked for whatever reason!

I don't even know how many people filled a bag, zipped it up, and went to throw it on the belt only to have all the packages fall out of the bottom.

Ill Bag You · 03-11-2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old brown shoe

Can't believe they spent a whole 3 minutes with you. Most don't get that much training.

that's pretty sad. there was boxes coming down from the sort, that i was supposed to be doing specific things with. some off to one side, some to the other, 3 different belts, a cart, some i was supposed to keep tally of. he explained all of it in that short time, then said ok you have to go FAST and he walked off. keep in mind i had never done anything but bagging before. i held my own for about 40 minutes then they sent me home because they were "overstaffed" so i'm guessing i wasn't as useful as they needed me to be. i would never go back to the pre-load shift though, it's awful compared to twilight. even for the dollar extra. these people didn't even know i was coming in or where to put me.

dannyboy · 03-12-2008, 05:18 AM

Finding your rhythm is part of what we are talking about being smooth. When it all comes together, you can be both fast and accurate.

YEars back, too many really, there were two of us sorters in the unload area. Between the two of us, sorting smooth and fast, we could at times stop the conveyor belts with the number of packages on them. Usually on the sort, there would be 4-5 sorters, and they never could do the same.

Your motivation and desire for success will go far at UPS. All the people I have trained at UPS, those that wanted to learn and do always did well. The ones that did not do well were the ones that either already knew everything, or just really didnt want to do the job in the first place.

d

tieguy · 03-12-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf

Typical mgt............Don't worry about it, work safe and if you are a little slow at first at least you are doing it right!!!!!!!!!! You will go faster with time.

Dilli I'm gratefulll that you give me all the credit in this case. But you should probably also credit many of your brothers in the ranks who don't want to have to pick up the slack for someone who learns to do the job slowly. As outspoken as you are you may not get that feedback from them but its out there if you listen.

Otherwise your advice is sound.

dilligaf · 03-13-2008, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tieguy

Dilli I'm gratefulll that you give me all the credit in this case. But you should probably also credit many of your brothers in the ranks who don't want to have to pick up the slack for someone who learns to do the job slowly. As outspoken as you are you may not get that feedback from them but its out there if you listen.

Otherwise your advice is sound.

Tie I know that you are right in that there are others that don't have the patience to allow a new worker to learn how to do the job. It sure would help if they would remember that they too were in the same position once, but alas, we don't work in the perfect world. LOL

PassYouBy · 03-13-2008, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ill Bag You

By the way...the radio comment (lol) reminded me... I regularly see people with MP3 players. But as far as I know it's against company policy, code, or however they choose to word it to bring these kinds of things in, no?

I'm guessing it's just the sups giving slack the way they often do with cell phones. I sure could use a radio by my area though, it might drown out some of the yelling.

You could invest in something like this!

Amazon.com: Logitech 970173-0403 mm50 Portable...
Amazon.com: Logitech 970173-0403 mm50 Portable...

http://www.overstock.com/Electronics...=1#custreviews

coldworld · 03-13-2008, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Channahon

Ill Bag You,

Keep the work ethic that you have today, communicate effectively between your co workers and management and you will continue to grow at UPS.

Experience in your job will enhance your job performance. Follow the methods and work safely. If there are other postions available in your job classification, ask your sup for some cross training in other jobs on your shift. It may give you an opportunity to do something different and cover for absences.

One last thought, manage your love/hate relationship with UPS effectively. Stand up for yourself when you know you are right, and accept any constructive criticism you may receive. That in itself says a lot about a person.

interesting thought coming from a management person, actually kinda of refreshing. Much better than the "shut up and work as direct", type of talk that really has no purpose or need in this company.

coldworld · 03-13-2008, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilligaf

Typical mgt............Don't worry about it, work safe and if you are a little slow at first at least you are doing it right!!!!!!!!!! You will go faster with time.

please, there's a reason mgt doesnt stand in the trailer anymore with a stopwatch(anyone remember that?) timing you on mar. Work slow down, come on. Its typical ups, very true, you know everybody does the job the same speed, everybody has the same energy level, same wellness level, same emotional level, come on...theres no reason the 55 year old unloader has any excuse to go slower than the 19 year ex highschool track star...yeah, its the old ups labor relations machine rolling down the track, and they want to know why employee relations is so bad at times.

tieguy · 03-13-2008, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldworld

[/size]

interesting thought coming from a management person, actually kinda of refreshing. Much better than the "shut up and work as direct", type of talk that really has no purpose or need in this company.

shut up has its place too. some are not used to the rugged lifestyle of being a upser and need one of those shut up and work as directed talks. I've had quite a few folks in the ranks that were willing to make the point when I was not.

coldworld · 03-14-2008, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tieguy

shut up has its place too. some are not used to the rugged lifestyle of being a upser and need one of those shut up and work as directed talks. I've had quite a few folks in the ranks that were willing to make the point when I was not.

You are almost at 6000 posts...how many years have you been on here?