The Austin Empire

I made up some cheat sheets for casing that will go on the desk at the case to find those really hard to find addresses that the side cheat sheets don't help with.  It's for those pieces of mail that you just CAN'T find.  I used my original scheme sheet to help me make the notes..... I labeled each case A, B, C, D so you know which case it's on, then the number of the row, and R,C, or L is the position on that row, right, center or left.  Then I went to Excel in the computer and put in the information.  I gave that file to my supervisor and he cleaned it up for me a bit, formatted it some.  I wound up using that to make notes for another project....I still have some things to add to this one, so I'll post updated pics when I get it reprinted.

I was asking for a checklist of things we do everyday, so that I could break it down and make different sections according to when things need to be done.  I did get the checklist, but I also got a route readiness checklist for the regulars.  I guess it's helpful.  It's got ideas for things that can help a brand new sub, and even just someone who's never done the route before.  I'm starting to realize though...after doing so much to make my route as easy as possible, it only works if the subs pay attention to it.  The whole point of doing the things to help them is so that there's no question of what things are or where things go, or how things should be done.  I realize that management is pushing them to be fast, get it done so you can do more, but when is it going to become a priority to deliver things correctly?  Does this start when subs start brand new?  We need to keep telling them, slow down for a second, pay attention, look, read, when you're fee

Unity brings us a great work environment where productivity, customer service, creativity and the resulting profit more naturally occur. There are 5 enemies of unity. 1.Poor Communication 2. Lack of shared purpose 3. Gossip 4. Unresolved disagreements 5.Sanctioned incompetence. This post is focused specifically on one of those enemies.  "Gossip is evil, it is insidious, and it is contagious." When most people think of gossip they think of people spreading rumors, or just talking about other people behind their backs.   "Gossip about the company, or about leadership, is a particularly evil form of disloyalty.  And it is suicidal when the person gossiping is hurting and running down the place and the people who pay him so he can feed his family."  Put yourself in the other person's shoes before you open your mouth.  Problems and gripes are fine but they must be handed UP to leadership/management.  Problems or gripes that are handed down or later

A couple of weeks back I had about 20 different addresses on vacation hold all at one time.  A couple of them get quite a bit of mail and my hold mail trays were jam packed, so much that I missed seeing the resume dates on a couple of different days.  I realized that I needed to find a solution so that I wouldn't miss seeing the cards.  I used to just use the yellow hold cards in the tray, and the white printouts for the ones that were entered online.  The white ones are so easy to miss or get stuck in the middle of the mail, so I came up with an idea to make it all look a little cleaner, easier for me to find when filing, and easier for the clerks when they pull the mail as well.  I grabbed a bunch (probably 20 for my route) of those red plastic cards again.  Used those adhesive plastic sleeves for the labels to go in, and then I marked the cards with my route number so I'll actually get them back when they come to get the mail at the front window.  The way I'm using t

When the post office hires new subs they don't guarantee you'll get hours.  A new sub can start out working anywhere from 1-6 days a week.  Typically the first week is spent in the academy learning the basics, and going through driver's training.  Once you get past that you get to go to the office you'll be working at to train for a week with your regular carrier.  It's possible the first experience will actually be learning with an OJI-on the job instructor.  All in all the first few weeks you'll have around 10 days of pay, ranging from 6-8 hours each day, and possibly spread over 2 pay periods.  After your initial training period you'll start learning other routes, but chances are, (especially in the summer) you may be waiting for the phone to ring each morning.  If you're not scheduled for a route you're considered to be on call.   Take this seriously , it's a requirement and you can be terminated if you are habitually unavai

This is for the regular carriers out there.  Take a few minutes one day and look at your route as if you've never done it before.  That can be tough, but it's important.  Since I'm fairly new on my route, I still remember the first few weeks trying to learn the case, delivery, special notices, all that stuff.  I'm lucky with all of my boxes being in NBU's it's a lot easier to figure out the addresses in the boxes on the street if they aren't marked well, at least you don't have to stop to open the box and look inside.  I know in some more rural areas the houses have sign posts at the end of the driveway so knowing you're at the right house is a little easier, but here in AZ you're just left to wonder sometimes. If a box is not properly marked on the outside, what do you do?  I believe our management says we are not supposed to mark on the outside of the box.  Many times as a sub I had to stop and open the box to see if the address was on the