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Old 11-03-2022, 08:08 PM   #167 (permalink)
JSH
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hersbird View Post
UPS is just the better choice if you want this career. They start higher and within 5 years you will be making more than I do after 23 years at USPS. 23 years ago they were all much closer, I wanted my Navy time to count as well which it does for those with military or other federal employment.
Maybe 15+ years out. The local UPS depot is advertising package handler jobs for $15.50 an hour plus weekly attendance bonuses.

In 5 years you would likely still be working as a part-time package handler working 20 hrs hours a week and starting at 3 am. UPS has no direct path to a driving job and lots of the office jobs require degrees. You work as a package stacking grunt in the warehouse until enough drivers retire or quit to move you up the seniority list to get a shot as a driver.

I worked as an UPS package handler in college for 2 years and wasn't close to a driver slot. On the plus side with the early shift you can work UPS as a 2nd job to get medical benefits. A LOT of the long time package handlers were doing that.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hersbird View Post
I think even working for a FedEx ground private contractor may be better too.
The 2nd time I worked for UPS was in 2015 as a seasonal driver for the Christmas rush. I had a bunch of FedEx ground drivers in my training class. They said they got paid better as a seasonal driver at UPS than they did as a full-time driver at FedEx contractors. Looking at FedEx proper - their package handler employees get medical, 401K with 4% match, no pension, and 1 hr of PTO for every 20 hours worked. In a standard year that would be 2 1/2 weeks.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hersbird View Post
I tell many people it almost doesn't matter where you go to work, if you stick with the same organization for 30 years and work you will be in a good position. I could have started at Walmart 23 years ago and if worked as hard as I have here would probably be making more money there by now. What the PO might be good for is someone who doesn't want to actually work hard or apply themselves to move up as they will still pay well and just let you skate along. All hard work gets you here is more work, everyone gets the same money.
Anywhere you work if you work hard you will get more work without much more pay. Promotions are based on likability not performance. Being good can help of course but if the managers don't like you you aren't moving up.

When it comes time for layoffs it works the opposite. I've seen some of the most productive employees let go first because they just sit at their desk and get things done instead of socializing. Nobody wants to fire their friends or drinking buddies but the shy nerd in the corner - who is going to miss them? At least that has been how it has worked at the 8 places I've worked in my career.
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