US Postal Service Rural Carrier Associate (RCA) reviews

I have received very little respect as a person, sure, there is the occasional supervisor who does care but they never seem to stick around. The management from top to bottom seems incompetent and doesn't seem to care about anybody but themselves. There is absolutely no life outside of work, 60-70 hrs./week, minimum 12 hrs/day, 6-7 days/week is common and expected- subject to disciplinary action if you don't. You can request time off but it may not be approved. You WILL work EVERY Saturday and at LEAST every other Sunday... again minimum 12 hrs/day. You will work all holidays except you MAY get Thanksgiving day and Christmas day off but expect to work all days surrounding them. No differential pay for working holidays or weekends. All this and you will only be guaranteed 1 day/week of work. The benefits are lousy...only crappy, expensive health insurance as an RCA, we do accrue 1 day per month in vacation and sick time, but we really can't use them since we ALWAYS work more than 40 hrs/week. We can and do work in 100-degree weather with no air conditioning and 20 degrees below with minimal heat in the super lousy vehicles (not uncommon to break down). I am up in age so my options of going elsewhere are limited but if I were younger there are many better options I would choose rather than the USPS.

Hot days, you have to use your own vehicle, you will work saturdays, advancement in a small town is very rare.