Understaffed at many USPS offices in mid-Florida, luck of the draw on whether or not you make a career position, flat-rate pay, no benefits other than mediocre medical if you get "appointed" a second term/year, unpredictable schedule that will take away from any personal life or appointments you may have... some post offices are running seven days per week now, little to no union representation, can be fired anytime (let go/replaced; no job security; I actually replaced another person due to the elimination of their position and I did the same exact job… just a matter of time before I was replaced and no retirement funding opportunities etc. to show for), feeling of being underappreciated given that you are not officially apart of the post office, get paid less doing the same work as regulars.
I was in for a little over a year and there were people in nearby offices that made career in just months, while other offices upwards of years. One person (who was an excellent worker… a mother with children) in particular took ten years to just make a part-time career position (this was a large office too that covered two cities). The Post Office advertises each year record earnings and success, but don't expect to get any bonuses or other means of compensation for hard work above and beyond the call of duty... while this is common with other businesses… only higher-ups get bonuses. I observed many times people working off the clock to get the job done so offices could meet their miniscule budgets. There is no excuse for this and people should not have to do this with a federal job (poor representation of what our government/congress allows).
I continually had customers complaining how terrible offices looked due to poor landscaping, maintenance etc. Many regulars I worked with would not recommend the USPS to family or friends… the Post Office only seem interested in part time employees that will work irregular full time hours so they do not have to pay you your worth or provide you benefits to care for your family.
The USPS is a descent job, but it’s not a career. I’d only recommend it if you are single or have a spouse that has benefits and this job is only supplemental, which was the case for me.
