Going Postal (1 Viewer)

[Ron Swanson]

It doesn't seem like this happens much anymore. Why?  Did the Post Office do something to curtail it or did it stop for another reason?  Anything we could learn from this to apply to the current rash of school shootings?

 

[IC FBGCav]

No

 

[KCitons]

No

Yes. They secured their buildings. When my wife still worked there they had card access to get into the buildings. Prior to that, the back doors were often left wide open. I used to be able to walk in and find her on the workroom floor. 

 

[IC FBGCav]

Yes. They secured their buildings. When my wife still worked there they had card access to get into the buildings. Prior to that, the back doors were often left wide open. I used to be able to walk in and find her on the workroom floor. 

I worked there and my father and uncle.  My sister and 2 cousins.  In PA it must be different.

 

[KCitons]

I worked there and my father and uncle.  My sister and 2 cousins.  In PA it must be different.

I did too. So did my MIL, step FIL, SIL, and my wife. Most buildings now have card access. A lot of places have moved to card access to monitor employee activity, eliminate key costs, and due to active shooter incidents. It's not a perfect solution and doesn't prevent a current employee from gaining access while armed. But, it is a slight deterrent as you can shut off a persons access in seconds. You can also create different access levels that would prevent them from gaining access to safe rooms even if they did get into a building. At the last place I worked we had card access on all doors. There were a few IT closets and file rooms that had higher level clearance. If there was an active shooter, odds are the shooter would not be able to gain entry into every one of these. Far from perfect, I know. 

 

[IC FBGCav]

I will let them know they need a card to get in.  TIA.

 

[IC FBGCav]

To be fair, never seen a PO with more than one level.

 

[IC FBGCav]

While we are measuring, I have been told I was the only casual that got transfered.  From New Castle to Erie PA.

 

[KCitons]

To be fair, never seen a PO with more than one level.

You should get out more. 

Main Post Office here.

 

[Ron Swanson]

Interesting.  Thanks, guys.  Probably wouldn't work in a school but maybe some parts of it could help. Restricted card controlled access that is.

 

[RokNRole]

It doesn't seem like this happens much anymore. Why?  Did the Post Office do something to curtail it or did it stop for another reason?  Anything we could learn from this to apply to the current rash of school shootings?

They are lashing out at younger ages before taking a career in the PO

 

[RokNRole]

Yes. They secured their buildings. When my wife still worked there they had card access to get into the buildings. Prior to that, the back doors were often left wide open. I used to be able to walk in and find her on the workroom floor. 

How long ago was this?

Thats alarming that just any old shmuck could just waltz in and have access to the mail like that.

 

[KCitons]

How long ago was this?

Thats alarming that just any old shmuck could just waltz in and have access to the mail like that.

If I had to guess, I would say sometime around the turn of the century. Maybe in ought 4. 

 

[Moonlight]

It was mentioned to me that many years ago that while other federal agencies utilized Employee Assistance Programs (EAPS) to assist troubled employees that the Post Office did not.

I worked for a company that provided EAP services to different federal agencies throughout the state. For example agencies we served included Social Security, Department of Defense (civilians only), Department of Interior etc. Basically, all that were located in the state.

I asked my supervisor why we did not have a contract with the Postal Service and was advised that they had chosen to handle things internally with their own supervisory personnel.

I do not know if this true but this is what I was told.

In my work I had come to appreciate that some employees did not trust confiding in people who were seen as connected to the management system and that establishing the EAP as structure that was confidential and outside management was important in having trust and people using the service.

Providing mental health services and support can make a difference in preventing someone from exploding and becoming violent.

 

[KCitons]

It was mentioned to me that many years ago that while other federal agencies utilized Employee Assistance Programs (EAPS) to assist troubled employees that the Post Office did not.

I worked for a company that provided EAP services to different federal agencies throughout the state. For example agencies we served included Social Security, Department of Defense (civilians only), Department of Interior etc. Basically, all that were located in the state.

I asked my supervisor why we did not have a contract with the Postal Service and was advised that they had chosen to handle things internally with their own supervisory personnel.

I do not know if this true but this is what I was told.

In my work I had come to appreciate that some employees did not trust confiding in people who were seen as connected to the management system and that establishing the EAP as structure that was confidential and outside management was important in having trust and people using the service.

Providing mental health services and support can make a difference in preventing someone from exploding and becoming violent.

I'm not sure what services you provide, but my wife and I did seek out marriage counseling when we were about 10 years into our marriage. It was provided via a program offered by the Post Office at no cost. This would have been around the year 2000. 

 

[Moonlight]

I worked in EAP in the middle 80's.

 

[KCitons]

I worked in EAP in the middle 80's.

What type of services did you offer?

 

[Ilov80s]

It doesn't seem like this happens much anymore. Why?  Did the Post Office do something to curtail it or did it stop for another reason?  Anything we could learn from this to apply to the current rash of school shootings?

The wife of my good friend lost her father in one of the more famous postal shootings. It seemed like a case of a disgruntled employee. What are the statistics on those kind of shootings?

 

[RokNRole]

If I had to guess, I would say sometime around the turn of the century. Maybe in ought 4. 

Even more surprising post 9/11

 

[Hooper31]

My folks both were career letter handlers. Both heavily involved with the postal workers union as well.

The number of Vietnam Vets in the postal service was off the charts all through the 80s and 90s. The all got heavy duty bonus points on the civil service exam. My gut always told me the ratio of Vietnam vets had something to do with the term "going postal". 

 

[Mister CIA]

Thanks, Amazon.

 

[-OZ-]

I did too. So did my MIL, step FIL, SIL, and my wife. Most buildings now have card access. A lot of places have moved to card access to monitor employee activity, eliminate key costs, and due to active shooter incidents. It's not a perfect solution and doesn't prevent a current employee from gaining access while armed. But, it is a slight deterrent as you can shut off a persons access in seconds. You can also create different access levels that would prevent them from gaining access to safe rooms even if they did get into a building. At the last place I worked we had card access on all doors. There were a few IT closets and file rooms that had higher level clearance. If there was an active shooter, odds are the shooter would not be able to gain entry into every one of these. Far from perfect, I know. 

Could use this for high schools. Effectively lock an active shooter in the room they're in, theoretically anyway. 

My folks both were career letter handlers. Both heavily involved with the postal workers union as well.

The number of Vietnam Vets in the postal service was off the charts all through the 80s and 90s. The all got heavy duty bonus points on the civil service exam. My gut always told me the ratio of Vietnam vets had something to do with the term "going postal". 

Gut maybe but were any of the shooters vets?

 

[Hooper31]

Gut maybe but were any of the shooters vets?

No idea. Just a random thought. 

 

[-OZ-]

No idea. Just a random thought. 

Given the various issues they had, not an illogical one at that. I'm just curious. 

It's somewhat amazing to me how far the treatment of vets has come. Now vets are almost always considered heroes and treated very well. Most deservedly so, but the difference is striking. The VA isn't perfect but it's actually a really beneficial, if slow, system.

 

[KCitons]

Given the various issues they had, not an illogical one at that. I'm just curious. 

It's somewhat amazing to me how far the treatment of vets has come. Now vets are almost always considered heroes and treated very well. Most deservedly so, but the difference is striking. The VA isn't perfect but it's actually a really beneficial, if slow, system.

This is an interesting point. Maybe the government doesn't care enough about it's people. Whether it's some type of gun regulation or establishing mental health care. 

 

[Moonlight]

What type of services did you offer?

Assessment and referral. Short term counseling. Anything that looked like it would take over 6 sessions to resolve we needed to refer out.

Majority of clients were civilian Department of Defense employees. Many were ex military as they were preferred candidates under civil service.

 

[-OZ-]

This is an interesting point. Maybe the government doesn't care enough about it's people. Whether it's some type of gun regulation or establishing mental health care. 

I don't know if it's quite that easy. 

For the federal workers, do you view the organizations as businesses, social programs, a combination of both, or something else?  Few businesses do more for their people than the federal government. Few have more protections, more powerful grievance systems, or more programs to help. None have the resources at their disposal, but they also don't have the fiscal policy makers as concerned about perception of others outside the organization. It's a unique combination of influences that other businesses / workplaces don't deal with.

 

[KCitons]

I don't know if it's quite that easy. 

For the federal workers, do you view the organizations as businesses, social programs, a combination of both, or something else?  Few businesses do more for their people than the federal government. Few have more protections, more powerful grievance systems, or more programs to help. None have the resources at their disposal, but they also don't have the fiscal policy makers as concerned about perception of others outside the organization. It's a unique combination of influences that other businesses / workplaces don't deal with.

I think you misunderstood my statement. It was more towards the U.S. population and less about government workers. As was mentioned, we hold a special place for service members and the help they are now receiving (as compared to Vietnam era members) is better. We need to find ways to get help for the general population in the same way.

 

[-OZ-]

I think you misunderstood my statement. It was more towards the U.S. population and less about government workers. As was mentioned, we hold a special place for service members and the help they are now receiving (as compared to Vietnam era members) is better. We need to find ways to get help for the general population in the same way.

Gotcha. Ok 

 

[Chemical X]

son of sam was a postal employee

 

[Leroy Hoard]

When my wife still worked there they had card access to get into the buildings. Prior to that, the back doors were often left wide open. I used to be able to walk in and find her on the workroom floor. 

Yes, they also used to get away with drinking on the job.