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What Are the Causes of Postal Worker Stress?

The term "go postal" has been coined due to the incidence of violence caused by stress within the postal system. Whether there is more stress within the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) versus any other big industry remains to be seen. After all, the USPS is largest employer in the United States. Interestingly, violence and stress in the postal sector has been well documented as a global issue by the International Labor Organization. Occupational fears and pressure appear to be the foundation for postal worker stress.

  1. Constant Surveillance

    • Postal workers feel they are consistently "under a microscope" with managers watching their every move, ready to find fault rather than praise them for a job well done. Workers are continually pushed to work faster, leading to errors that generate poor evaluations.

    Poor Management

    • Length of service, rather than ability, is a criterion for promotion to management. The skills to manage workers often are lacking. An autocratic management style does not translate into postal worker job satisfaction. Postal workers also have low authority in decision making.

    Work Environment

    • Mail sorting is done in a gray, industrial, windowless setting. Concentration is required, so there is little interaction with other employees during the process. Poor work conditions contribute to job stress.

    Required Overtime

    • This is a two-edged sword. To cut expenses, overtime is given to avoid new hires. Postal employees begin to factor overtime income into their budgets and then stress over having no recreational time due to their overtime commitment.

    Unmarketable Skills

    • Postal workers have somewhat unique assembly-line jobs that are generally well compensated due to union representation. However boring their job is, postal workers do not have the option of getting another job that would pay as well, since their skills do not translate well into other positions.

    Unions and Management

    • Poor work is tolerated due to union backing, while management turns the other way to avoid change. On the other hand, there is little opportunity for self-development in postal workers, resulting in conflicts within the work force that generates stress.

    Employee Profiles

    • The USPS is known for hiring both minorities and ex-military members, resulting in clashing socioeconomic backgrounds. Intolerance and prejudice lead to stress for all parties involved.

    Downsizing

    • As email has been replacing "snail mail," the USPS has been forced to eliminate positions. This "early retirement" program has resulted in the loss of many seasoned, well-qualified managers. Many postal workers fear for their jobs.

    Temporary Hires

    • There are two sides to this story. Management hires temps to avoid paying benefits to a full-time employee. Full-time employees lose overtime. Temps question whether they will ever become full-time employees. Stress and resentment build between all parties.

    Health Issues

    • Chronic back pain and carpal tunnel are just two health issues that can result from doing the same tasks over and over. Workers stress over the toll the job takes.

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