Oh, the irony - Brown Cafe

soberups · 10-17-2009, 11:12 AM

There is a Center Manager in my district who has taken stress-related disability leave.

I'm not making light of this; stress is a real killer on the body and I wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy. This center manager is a human being with a family and my sincere hope is that he makes a speedy recovery.

The ironic part of the situation...is that this guy was transferred back into Operations after spending over 15 years...in IE.

The center he is now in charge of is a complete train wreck, with huge production issues. The impossible expectations that are stressing this guy out...may very well be the same impossible expectations he was a part of creating during his time in IE. Now that the shoe is on the other foot and he is having to try and make the numbers work in the real world ...the stress is literally killing him.

I hope he gets better and finds a way to manage his career without destroying his health.

I hope the powers that be choose to view this as a "teachable moment." I hope they choose to stand behind and support this man instead of throwing him under the bus and replacing him with a younger, cheaper person who will inevitably fall victim to the same issues if nothing changes.

There is a lesson to be learned here. Will we learn it?

NHDRVR · 10-17-2009, 11:33 AM

The fact that this is now common knowledge to the drivers should mean the end of his career as it was. Not that he will fired from UPS but management isn't taught to exhibit any type of weakness (stress) in front of the drivers.

What will training school say...

over9five · 10-17-2009, 11:34 AM

I think that's quite funny! An IE guy sent to operations and has to try to achieve the impossible standards he helped to create!!!! AND he needed stress leave!

Talk about your poetic justice.

MobileBA · 10-17-2009, 12:15 PM

How about the on road supervisor that injured his back on one of the continuing harassment rides and had his injury denied by the UPS insuance carrier. I sense a common theme in the Oregon district.

LED · 10-17-2009, 12:18 PM

There was a management person in my center that got wind that he was going to be fired. He went out on stress leave for about 6 months. As soon as he came back he was fired.

soberups · 10-17-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by over9five

I think that's quite funny! An IE guy sent to operations and has to try to achieve the impossible standards he helped to create!!!! AND he needed stress leave!

Talk about your poetic justice.

It would be funny except for the potentially life-threatening consequences of chronic stress on the human body. My grandfather died of the effects of hypertension...he had a stroke and spent the last 10 yrs of his life blind, impotent and bedridden. Its a terrible way to live and a worse way to die.

Yes, I suppose there is some "poetic" justice here...but the real justice will only happen when the powers that be choose to learn from this situation and make some changes.

Until that happens, there isnt any real "justice"...only another human being getting chewed up and spit out by the Big Brown Grinder.

As an IE man, this guy spent 15 years of his career twisting the crank on that grinder. Now hes just another piece of sausage.

Hoaxster · 10-17-2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LED

There was a management person in my center that got wind that he was going to be fired. He went out on stress leave for about 6 months. As soon as he came back he was fired.

Should have stayed out a year. That's what a guy did in our center, Came back for a couple of days and then he went out again and then he was fired.

Hoaxster · 10-17-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soberups

There is a lesson to be learned here. Will we learn it?

Actually there are two lessons.

And we already know them.
IE controls everything and is the root of all evil.
Management eats their young or in this case, their old.

Quote:

Originally Posted by soberups

As an IE man, this guy spent 15 years of his career twisting the crank on that grinder. Now hes just another piece of sausage.

Having spent 10 years in IE ... he already was just another piece of sausage.

sosocal · 10-17-2009, 01:51 PM

I dream everyday that my counterpart in IE would run a center someday -- But it will never happen because everyone knows HE CAN"T....I often feel as a center manager much like Jack Nickolson in "a few good men" - people sit in their lilly white shirts in their far off desks putting together "goals" for my center as they sip on a diet coke---THEY CAN"T HANDLE THE TRUTH - once you realize this as a manager - you can then be very effective. HOAXTER has the secret to management success at UPS = IT IS WHAT IT IS....Within that framework, do your best, do it honestly and make a difference.

hurricanegunner · 10-17-2009, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MobileBA

How about the on road supervisor that injured his back on one of the continuing harassment rides and had his injury denied by the UPS insuance carrier. I sense a common theme in the Oregon district.

It's a shame he failed to utilize safe lifting methods. I hope they made him recite all the safety drivel.

soberups · 10-17-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sosocal

I dream everyday that my counterpart in IE would run a center someday -- But it will never happen because everyone knows HE CAN"T....I often feel as a center manager much like Jack Nickolson in "a few good men" - people sit in their lilly white shirts in their far off desks putting together "goals" for my center as they sip on a diet coke---THEY CAN"T HANDLE THE TRUTH - once you realize this as a manager - you can then be very effective. HOAXTER has the secret to management success at UPS = IT IS WHAT IT IS....Within that framework, do your best, do it honestly and make a difference.

YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH....UPS STYLE!!!

YouTube - The Truth

upsgrunt · 10-17-2009, 04:26 PM

Nice work!!!!!

dilligaf · 10-17-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soberups

YOU CANT HANDLE THE TRUTH....UPS STYLE!!!

YouTube - The Truth

Sober, this is one of my most favorite scenes of all time. JN is the best.......................

cachsux · 10-17-2009, 06:14 PM

His character in that movie reminds me of my father in law.

Pump Up The Volume · 10-17-2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soberups

There is a Center Manager in my district who has taken stress-related disability leave.

I'm not making light of this; stress is a real killer on the body and I wouldnt wish it on my worst enemy. This center manager is a human being with a family and my sincere hope is that he makes a speedy recovery.

The ironic part of the situation...is that this guy was transferred back into Operations after spending over 15 years...in IE.

The center he is now in charge of is a complete train wreck, with huge production issues. The impossible expectations that are stressing this guy out...may very well be the same impossible expectations he was a part of creating during his time in IE. Now that the shoe is on the other foot and he is having to try and make the numbers work in the real world ...the stress is literally killing him.

I hope he gets better and finds a way to manage his career without destroying his health.

I hope the powers that be choose to view this as a "teachable moment." I hope they choose to stand behind and support this man instead of throwing him under the bus and replacing him with a younger, cheaper person who will inevitably fall victim to the same issues if nothing changes.

There is a lesson to be learned here. Will we learn it?

Why do you care so much about management and their inability to make your life as a driver more efficient

We're all part of a circus. Take your money, maximize it, and laugh all the way to the bank

browniehound · 10-17-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soberups

It would be funny except for the potentially life-threatening consequences of chronic stress on the human body. My grandfather died of the effects of hypertension...he had a stroke and spent the last 10 yrs of his life blind, impotent and bedridden. Its a terrible way to live and a worse way to die.

Yes, I suppose there is some "poetic" justice here...but the real justice will only happen when the powers that be choose to learn from this situation and make some changes.

Until that happens, there isnt any real "justice"...only another human being getting chewed up and spit out by the Big Brown Grinder.

As an IE man, this guy spent 15 years of his career twisting the crank on that grinder. Now hes just another piece of sausage.

+

Sober,
I apologize in advance because I'm going to be harsh and I'm not here to pick a fight. However, its my opinion that stress is a part of life. Deal with it and act accordingly. We all have to deal with the same world and if you and you're body can't deal with it, its not my problem.

You may succumb to stress as I succumb to cancer. People live and deal with it. Most people are going to suffer and die a bad death. Most likely, its going to happen to me so I'm not going to whine on this forum about stress and dying.

The world so full of P whussies who expect to not feel any pain anymore? Sorry, but its nature and you need understand that its a harsh ending for everything that is blessed enough to live...

trickpony1 · 10-17-2009, 07:41 PM

Do you suppose Sober was, essentially, trying to say, "it's hard to count your money when you're laying in a hospital bed"?

Additionally, do you think Sober was trying to touch on the concept of "compassion"?

Hoaxster · 10-17-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickpony1

do you think Sober was trying to touch on the concept of "compassion"?

No ... because he was referring to IE and management.

brownrodster · 10-17-2009, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pump Up The Volume

We're all part of a circus. Take your money, maximize it, and laugh all the way to the bank

Are you me? Truer words were never spoken.

soberups · 10-17-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoaxster

No ... because he was referring to IE and management.

I was referring to a human being who happens to be a member of management.

Your constant attempts to paint me as an IE hater are missing the point entirely.

We need an IE department...but we need it to support operations by providing accurate, realistic data.

From my perspective...we dont have that.

From my perspective, there is simply a lack of accountability in the IE dept. There arent any consequences for the incorrect or unrealistic expectations that are created...until a situation like this occurs and a human being winds up going out on stress disability.

Virtually every single problem that I have ever dealt with in my 22 yrs at UPS has had either unrealistic expectations, poor planning, unsuitable equipment and facilities, or a combination of those factors as its underlying cause. You wind up with a lot of good people...both management and hourly alike...being set up to fail by an IE department who should instead be setting them up to succeed.

soberups · 10-17-2009, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pump Up The Volume

Why do you care so much about management and their inability to make your life as a driver more efficient

We're all part of a circus. Take your money, maximize it, and laugh all the way to the bank

I take pride in my job and I want the company I work for to succeed.

It is frustrating to me when that success is continually hampered by problems that could easily be solved if only the will existed to solve them.

I suppose it would be easier to just step back from it all, collect a paycheck and not give a damn... but I am simply not wired that way.

The contract states that we "will perform our duties in a manner that best represents the interests of the company." For me, that often means telling my management team things that they would rather not hear.

redshift1 · 10-17-2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by browniehound

+

Sober,
I apologize in advance because I'm going to be harsh and I'm not here to pick a fight. However, its my opinion that stress is a part of life. Deal with it and act accordingly. We all have to deal with the same world and if you and you're body can't deal with it, its not my problem.

You may succumb to stress as I succumb to cancer. People live and deal with it. Most people are going to suffer and die a bad death. Most likely, its going to happen to me so I'm not going to whine on this forum about stress and dying.

The world so full of P whussies who expect to not feel any pain anymore? Sorry, but its nature and you need understand that its a harsh ending for everything that is blessed enough to live...

You sound like the half-wit cabbie Wizard in Taxi Driver here's a direct quote from the movie.

"Look at it this way. A man takes a job, you know? And that job - I mean, like that - That becomes what he is. You know, like - You do a thing and that's what you are. Like I've been a cabbie for thirteen years. Ten years at night. I still don't own my own cab. You know why? Because I don't want to. That must be what I want. To be on the night shift drivin' somebody else's cab. You understand? I mean, you become - You get a job, you become the job. One guy lives in Brooklyn. One guy lives in Sutton Place. You got a lawyer. Another guy's a doctor. Another guy dies. Another guy gets well. People are born, y'know? I envy you, your youth. Go on, get laid, get drunk. Do anything. You got no choice, anyway. I mean, we're all f*****. More or less, ya know."

MC4YOU2 · 10-18-2009, 01:24 AM

Does anyone know an hourly emp that has taken stress disability leave, paid or otherweise? I do not, although I do know people who quit from the stress and others who consider it a lot. Has it ever been considered an on the job injury by a physician/psychiatrist and been an actual workers comp claim? It would seem to me it must have been somewhere. Look at all the people on anti depressants and blood pressure meds that we work with each day.

Hoaxster · 10-18-2009, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soberups

Your constant attempts to paint me as an IE hater are missing the point entirely.

We need an IE department...but we need it to support operations by providing accurate, realistic data.

From my perspective...we dont have that.

Fair enough.

I guess my perspective on this is like a couple other managers on BC (not tie) and that is that the numbers that IE puts together and provides to operations are just that - numbers or a tool that is provided to management for them to run their operations.
IE does not run this company ... operations management does.
Operations management is the Operations Management Committee member, Region Manager, District Manager, Operations Manager, Division Manager and Center Manager.
If these people choose to rely on this tool (IE numbers) to manage their operations rather than empowering the center manager and his/her management team, then they are to blame ... not the IE dept.
The centralization of decision making and control at UPS is the underlying problem here. It goes against one of the key principles specified in the UPS Policy Manual that UPS decentralizes the management down to the district level.

Basically, what you are saying is that the manufacturers of guns (a tool) are the problem rather than the people who take this tool and abuse it.

Fuel for thought.

LED · 10-18-2009, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MC4YOU2

Does anyone know an hourly emp that has taken stress disability leave, paid or otherweise? I do not, although I do know people who quit from the stress and others who consider it a lot. Has it ever been considered an on the job injury by a physician/psychiatrist and been an actual workers comp claim? It would seem to me it must have been somewhere. Look at all the people on anti depressants and blood pressure meds that we work with each day.

I know a driver (25 years + seniority) who went out on stress leave (per doctors orders). I am not sure if he was paid by workers comp or not.

He came back for a little while and then went out to have knee surgery. He has been gone over a year now with that.