Friday, June 17, 2011

Cell phone ban? Smart?

It's against postal policy for employees to talk on a cell phone while driving a postal vehicle. In many states, it's illegal.

Do you think this a good policy? Why? Comment.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can understand the distraction it may cause, but it's also very convienent to reach my carriers when they are on the route. Also it allows for them to contact me when they have delivery problems, road hazards, and to keep in touch when they are driving in snowy weather. I don't think they should be talking to friends/family but I think they should have their cell phone on and with them.

Anonymous said...

That's NOTHING!! How about a cell phone ban by our postal customers while they are in the lobby or at the service counter? You have no idea how many times I've heard this, "Hold on...The clerk is asking me a question."

Anonymous said...

Maybe we need signs letting customers know, "We will be happy to assist them AFTER their call is completed."

Phone in the vehicle yes, talking while in motion, no.

Grannybunny said...

Phones should be turned off while people are driving. Once they are safely parked, they can check for calls missed while driving. If a missed call is related to Postal business, they can return the call "on the clock." If it's not Postal -- absent an emergency -- they can wait until they are on their own time.

Anonymous said...

I don't see the problem with them having them as long as they pull over and stop while talking. I do have a problem when it is of personal in nature and delays them on their route. They are getting paid to deliver the mail not talk on the phone. I wished they made it to where we could text or send a message to the carrier per IMD scanners.

Anonymous said...

How about banning personal cell phones and providing carriers with a postal cell phone. USPS doesn't pay their cell phone bill for postal bussiness. Talking while driving should definitely be banned either way.

Anonymous said...

Agreed.. but we can get a discount thru AT+T.. that takes the edge off ;)

Anonymous said...

In Transportation contracts it is a requirement that they have cell phones with them in their vehicles. It also states that the vehicle is not to be in motion while they are talking.

On the floor we have people that talk on the phone. They text while they are running the AFCS...pick up one letter at a time because the other hand has their cell phone in it. Drive the forklift while talking on their cell phone. Stop working parcels so they can text.

There is one individual that says "It is part of my FMLA condition that I have to go to the bathroom a lot". So what do they do when they go into the bathroom...talk on their cell phone.
As for myself I do not have a land line I use my cell phone. A cell phone is a privilege not a right. No matter what you do many people will still choose to talk while driving...good idea...no.

Anonymous said...

I believe they shouldn't be talking on their cell phones. It is ok to have them in case of an emergency. They should just leave them far enough away from themselves so they wouldn't get tempted to use them.

Anonymous said...

We need to stop baby sitting adults. Allow cell phone usage, its part of the new age communications generation, but I agree it should be limited to official business while they are on my time. If you can't talk and drive safely, then you loose your job....it's that simple. We can't stop drunk drivers....why do we think we can stop people from driving and using their cell phones??

Anonymous said...

I've got a hands free so I'm all set ;)

Anonymous said...

Cell phone usage is okay as long as they have pulled over and aren't actually driving. I have been in the car too many times when my manager is talking on their blackberry(all work) and are very distracted. Nothing we do is so important that the person has to be driving and talking on their phone...hands free or not...the postal service managed for how many years without people having cell phones? NO phone usage while driving.

Anonymous said...

A ringing cell phone can be quite a distraction as well. The second someone loses attention while checking to see who is calling can be the second that causes injury, property damage or loss of life. Why would any manager/supervisor want to chance that with an employee just to conveniently reach him/her? All the other reasons for employees to reach supervisor allows the phone to be off until needed.

Did you know? Studies have shown that talking on the cell phone while driving can be just as hazardous as driving drunk?

Anonymous said...

The HCR driver that brings our mail every day and picks up our dispatch in the evening has the hands free that he wears on his ear. He is on the phone none stop. He has said he is not a postal emloyee he is a contractor so the rules do not apply to his. But after being reported to transportation he has cut down a little. He has almost hit one of my customers head on due to driving and talking. He can hardly walk while he is talking. I some times have to wait 15 minutes for him to unload our mail. The same thing happens at the other 6 offices on his route to drop off our mail in the mornings. He is late a lot because he is always talking on his phone. It has done no good reporting him because he thinks he can do whatever he wants.

Anonymous said...

Carriers should not be talking on their phones while walking their routes, either. I was working in customer relations when I received a phone call from a very concerned customer. She said that her carrier was walking down the street on his route talking to himself and yelling. She was actually frightened and concerned about his mental state. Turned out that he was arguing with someone on his phone/bluetooth.

Cell phones are wonderful conveniences, but a lot of people forget common courtesy to the people around them.

Anonymous said...

This may help
Two posts ago...it was said "I some times have to wait 15 minutes for him to unload our mail. The same thing happens at the other 6 offices on his route to drop off our mail in the mornings".

First of all they should be given 5500's each and everytime they are late.

If no one local will help contact your DNO. When contrats go up for bid the Postal Service is suppose to pick the "BEST Value for the Service". That is where the 5500's come into play. If they have a ton of them they may not get the contract.

Also the HCR has rules in place that prohibit talking on the phone while the vehicle is in motion. That clause is in all of the contracts that I have.

Anonymous said...

ABSOLUTELY !!! I THINK IT SHOULD BE A LAW AGAINST "EVERYONE" USING THEM WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING. IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY, THEN YOU SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD YOUR TRAVELING ON AND PLACE YOUR CALL THERE... OTHERWISE, KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL AND YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD AHEAD!!!!!