I work in a very large building... 3 centers, 350 drivers climbing to as many as 500 during peak. You're only allowed to jump out of one center.
Drivers who have a preferred helper complete a form. Traditionally, these assignments would not begin until after Thanksgiving, and they'd give the drivers their preferred helper no questions asked. Before the holiday, as well as after Xmas, they'd use a list available insiders sign to fill the limited available work. Since the recession, they've retorted to cutting routes beginning Nov. 1 and using helpers like crazy. Thus now drivers are paired with their preferred helpers beginning Nov. 1 and concluding in mid-January.
I'm sure the reason they do this is to a) appease the driver and b) cut the work required of management, since calling PTers and pairing them with work is time consuming. Like I said, if I were to file a grievance on it it'd pee off both the drivers as well as management (target on my back...) so kinda helpless situation.
I was paired with a driver last November... he wanted his 18-year-old son to help him, but his son blew off helper orientation. My building's next orientation was in two weeks, but they gave his son the opportunity to attend one at another building about 30 miles away later in the week, but again, he blew it off. All the driver could do is ***** and whine that this was ridiculous, orientation was stupid, he's been doing this job for X years, he could teach his son more than orientation could, blah blah blah. He ran way over one day -- no doubt because he kept calling his son (while idle...literally, several calls per hour), motivating him to show up to that other orientation -- but guess who's fault he felt it was?
