dannyboy
From the promised LAND
The Fourth of July, Independence Day. And rain, Blessed rain. And some time to spend at the computer.
I had another poster send me a PM that got me to thinking a bit. It goes well with some of the other threads that have been in action this week. Here is part of that PM.
“Where in the world has the ethics and morals gone? Not even that, where have they gone within this company? This company was built on ethics and codes of conduct. And it means nothing. There was a time when a handshake and a promise meant something. Nowadays, it's nothing more than whitewash on a deteriorating fence. It looks pretty but there is no substance or foundation to it.”
I just got back from Sam’s, got a large crowd that I am feeding tomorrow. Hamburgers, fruit salad, chicken and swimming pool time! Anyway, I happened to end up at the men’s room, which the guy had just cleaned. He was pushing the mop bucket out and had opened it back up.
Anyway, I was inside one of the stalls, when someone else came into the bathroom. They walked to the far side, and then backed out. I could not help but notice that the individual was peeing in an S pattern on the floor as he backed up.
Now to my point.
There is a group of you that have just read the post that derive pleasure, admiration for the pee-er, or just get a kick out of chaos in general. The group that has long given up on trying to be the best that they can be, and have settled for being (in the words of one here) the “worstest” they can be.
There is also another situation, that of McDonalds. While not considered fine dining by any means, they have a standard. They live and die by that standard……..it’s called consistency. While the food you have might not be great, it’s the same day in and day out. The big mac you eat today tastes just like the one you ate last year, and will eat 2 years from now. Consistency.
Same with UPS. They have standards, which over time, have been borne out by results. One of those is the appearance and the productivity of the driver. Also to an extent, the demeanor of said driver. That is what the customer has come to expect, and what they demand. What they have lacked is an overall consistency. That is partially due to management allowing freedoms to the drivers due to self governing of those drivers.
Over the last 5-10 years or so, the shift to more outwardly self expression has become popular in our society. Some of that is to be expected, some goes a bit overboard. But this is America. You can self mutilate yourself if that is what you want to do. Poke holes in your ears, nose, lips, tongue, ink up your body all you want. Be belligerent, obnoxious, etc all you care to be. Sure, get in the mans face and tell him no. And by all means stand up to all those that would put a curb on those things you do or do not want to do. It’s your right, your God given right, nailed down in blood by those that came before.
Problem is that when the culture clash comes to a head, then things get ugly. And the younger employees want to participate with an “in your face” zeal that is more vocal now than in the past.
Take our center. Until this year, tats and other body mutilations were not an issue. Most drivers either had them covered, or didn’t make a big deal out of it. But that was not good enough. Some of the newer drivers saw what everyone else was getting by with, so they started to push the edge.
So starting this week, any one with exposed tats will be sent back home. Without pay. You will be required to cover them at all times while on duty. No ear rings (with the exception of the ladies), no lip, nose or tongue jewelry. Shoes to be polished, hair to be cut to standards or a cap worn over the hair with it being tucked up under at all times. No non-standard UPS clothing to be worn (this in response to several of the younger drivers wearing caps other than brown, and wild colored clothing that was longer than the UPS uniform i.e. shirts and shorts that showed past where the uniform stopped).
To the majority of the drivers, its business as usual. For the ones that it affects, the crying and moaning started. And several talked about discrimination.
Sorry, not its not discrimination, its called market share protection. Protection from a bunch of circus clowns (actually the case could be made to call it more the circus freak show), that don’t understand personal responsibility for their actions.
And it was not enough that UPS allowed a certain level of this behavior to go without pushing back, they had to try to go further.
Yes, that 1800 dollar art work you have is very nice and great detail too! (sure does let every one know what side of the sexual fence you are on as well), but it is a bit too graphic for UPS to allow you to make deliveries out in public. And they do have the right to decide what image their drivers will portray in public. Notice, I said their right, as certified by legal action.
So it is up to the person to decide, artwork, personal statement, self aggrandizement, or a career at UPS, undeniably the best delivery company in the world. Maybe not the best employer, but that is another subject. And to have become the best, they had to uphold their core beliefs and standards.
Over the last few years, there has been a lot of slack given in many areas. Look for that to decrease over the next year. Self governance has not worked in many areas, so look for management to enforce things that last year were not an issue.
And for those that have made it their life’s ambition to be the “worstest” look for the next few years to be very tough.
d
I had another poster send me a PM that got me to thinking a bit. It goes well with some of the other threads that have been in action this week. Here is part of that PM.
“Where in the world has the ethics and morals gone? Not even that, where have they gone within this company? This company was built on ethics and codes of conduct. And it means nothing. There was a time when a handshake and a promise meant something. Nowadays, it's nothing more than whitewash on a deteriorating fence. It looks pretty but there is no substance or foundation to it.”
I just got back from Sam’s, got a large crowd that I am feeding tomorrow. Hamburgers, fruit salad, chicken and swimming pool time! Anyway, I happened to end up at the men’s room, which the guy had just cleaned. He was pushing the mop bucket out and had opened it back up.
Anyway, I was inside one of the stalls, when someone else came into the bathroom. They walked to the far side, and then backed out. I could not help but notice that the individual was peeing in an S pattern on the floor as he backed up.
Now to my point.
There is a group of you that have just read the post that derive pleasure, admiration for the pee-er, or just get a kick out of chaos in general. The group that has long given up on trying to be the best that they can be, and have settled for being (in the words of one here) the “worstest” they can be.
There is also another situation, that of McDonalds. While not considered fine dining by any means, they have a standard. They live and die by that standard……..it’s called consistency. While the food you have might not be great, it’s the same day in and day out. The big mac you eat today tastes just like the one you ate last year, and will eat 2 years from now. Consistency.
Same with UPS. They have standards, which over time, have been borne out by results. One of those is the appearance and the productivity of the driver. Also to an extent, the demeanor of said driver. That is what the customer has come to expect, and what they demand. What they have lacked is an overall consistency. That is partially due to management allowing freedoms to the drivers due to self governing of those drivers.
Over the last 5-10 years or so, the shift to more outwardly self expression has become popular in our society. Some of that is to be expected, some goes a bit overboard. But this is America. You can self mutilate yourself if that is what you want to do. Poke holes in your ears, nose, lips, tongue, ink up your body all you want. Be belligerent, obnoxious, etc all you care to be. Sure, get in the mans face and tell him no. And by all means stand up to all those that would put a curb on those things you do or do not want to do. It’s your right, your God given right, nailed down in blood by those that came before.
Problem is that when the culture clash comes to a head, then things get ugly. And the younger employees want to participate with an “in your face” zeal that is more vocal now than in the past.
Take our center. Until this year, tats and other body mutilations were not an issue. Most drivers either had them covered, or didn’t make a big deal out of it. But that was not good enough. Some of the newer drivers saw what everyone else was getting by with, so they started to push the edge.
So starting this week, any one with exposed tats will be sent back home. Without pay. You will be required to cover them at all times while on duty. No ear rings (with the exception of the ladies), no lip, nose or tongue jewelry. Shoes to be polished, hair to be cut to standards or a cap worn over the hair with it being tucked up under at all times. No non-standard UPS clothing to be worn (this in response to several of the younger drivers wearing caps other than brown, and wild colored clothing that was longer than the UPS uniform i.e. shirts and shorts that showed past where the uniform stopped).
To the majority of the drivers, its business as usual. For the ones that it affects, the crying and moaning started. And several talked about discrimination.
Sorry, not its not discrimination, its called market share protection. Protection from a bunch of circus clowns (actually the case could be made to call it more the circus freak show), that don’t understand personal responsibility for their actions.
And it was not enough that UPS allowed a certain level of this behavior to go without pushing back, they had to try to go further.
Yes, that 1800 dollar art work you have is very nice and great detail too! (sure does let every one know what side of the sexual fence you are on as well), but it is a bit too graphic for UPS to allow you to make deliveries out in public. And they do have the right to decide what image their drivers will portray in public. Notice, I said their right, as certified by legal action.
So it is up to the person to decide, artwork, personal statement, self aggrandizement, or a career at UPS, undeniably the best delivery company in the world. Maybe not the best employer, but that is another subject. And to have become the best, they had to uphold their core beliefs and standards.
Over the last few years, there has been a lot of slack given in many areas. Look for that to decrease over the next year. Self governance has not worked in many areas, so look for management to enforce things that last year were not an issue.
And for those that have made it their life’s ambition to be the “worstest” look for the next few years to be very tough.
d
