Workforce Flexibility – Would it Work for the Postal Service?

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One area identified in the Postal Service’s action for the future is to increase workforce flexibility. A larger, part-time work force would give postal management the flexibility to increase or decrease employees depending on mail volume. Although this change is not as drastic as closing postal facilities or switching to 5-day delivery, it raises questions about what a part-time postal workforce would look like.

The Postal Service has fewer part-time employees than any other international postal operation. Currently only 13 percent of its workforce is part-time. Meanwhile, Deutsche Post employs a 40 percent part-time staff, while the United Kingdom’s Royal Mail employs 22 percent. Local competitors also have a higher percentage of part-time employees. For example, UPS employs a 53 percent part-time workforce and FedEx remains around 40 percent. Generally speaking, the Postal Service is behind the average American private sector firm, which employs a 30 percent part-time labor workforce.

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Is there a downside to employing a larger part-time workforce? Critics argue that part-time employees are less loyal to their employers, and as a result, they increase ”quasi-fixed” costs associated with recruiting, training, and oversight. However, recent findings call these assertions into question. A study in the Annual Review of Sociology found that part-time employees are just as likely as full-time employees to view their jobs as a “central life activity” and to be “equally committed to their organizations.” Moreover, the study also mentioned that employees’ demand for part-time jobs has increased since the 1980s, as the American workforce has increasingly desired job flexibility.

Increasing the number of part-time postal employees would make the Postal Service more flexible in the face of declining mail volumes, seasonal fluctuations, and market volatility.

For more information visit
Newsweek story on part time workers.
UPS info blog.
A look at FedEx labor unrest.

What do you think about the Postal Service’s idea to increase its part-time workforce?

This topic is hosted by the OIG’s Risk Analysis Research Center (RARC).

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Permalink | Comments (30) | Jul 5, 2010

 

 

30 Responses to “Workforce Flexibility – Would it Work for the Postal Service?”

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  1. 30
    Dental Says:
    September 1st, 2010 at 9:16 am

    I can tell you that in Hungary they even closed the postal offices in small villages and we have mobile mailmen serving people from the van. They save a lot of money (overheads, additional costs) and people still get what their mails. It was a bit strange but people got used to it soon.

  2. 29
    jrkakapastateradio Says:
    August 13th, 2010 at 9:07 am

    Here’s the discipline.
    Even convicted felons in federal & state prisons get health care & dental.
    A single payer health policy these days is $350.00/month.

  3. 28
    PTF Carrier Says:
    July 31st, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    My office used to have 2 six hour city routes carried by 3 PTF Carriers. Thanks to maximization they now have an 8 hour route and an aux. route and I have to find hours at different installations. Your question is a mute point-just ask the NALC.

  4. 27
    Lenny Says:
    July 10th, 2010 at 8:16 am

    Justcarryingon-
    I am a small town level 11 PM, and I would love to pick up some OT for a little extra money. There are others that feel the same way. Problem is the union rules don’t allow for it, even though I do not supervise anybody and the work I do is closer the a window clers than a higher level PM. The flexibility in a case like this would be a win-win for everybody.

  5. 26
    Moe Says:
    July 9th, 2010 at 12:22 pm

    I think the USPS could save a greater deal of money by outsourcing the job of OIG. No $100,000 + salaries, no benefts and able to be let go with no recourse. That would help solve a good deal of monetary woes the USPS is facing. Eliminate the Postal Service Gestapo.

  6. 25
    Justcarryingon Says:
    July 7th, 2010 at 9:00 pm

    One of the big problems with use ‘em as you need ‘em employees is that management will abuse them even worse than they do the people who are “protected” under contract. Supervisors and postmasters would give all the hours to their “friends” and those less loveable will be kicked to the curb. Let’s make some of the smalltown postmasters and clerks flexible—-then they can see what it is like to get dirty and EARN a paycheck.

  7. 24
    JK Says:
    July 7th, 2010 at 6:53 pm

    How about a reduction in management? If any reductions are needed, that’s where to look.

  8. 23
    sailor Says:
    July 7th, 2010 at 2:24 pm

    How do you expect people to pay bills when they don’t know if they’ll get 2 hours of work in a week or 40 hours. You can’t pay rent or buy food on 2 hours a week. Why would we want to deprive people of the ability to support themselves and their families and with the flexible hours required of PTF’s, casuals and TE’s, you can’t even get another job because you have no idea what hours you would be available.

  9. 22
    SF employee Says:
    July 7th, 2010 at 12:26 am

    I think money wise, casual or TE is better than PTF. Because PTF have health benefits while casual or TE nothing. Remember health insurance is expensive

  10. 21
    kboxclerk@msn.com Says:
    July 6th, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    hey rmpoo. if the unions are so bad, go into work tomorrow and tell your supervisor you want casual wages and that no longer require a/l,s/l or medical insurance.

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