Sylvester Black, VP Western Area Operations

1
Mar 4, 2009
No time for overtime
20 billion pieces. Thats a lot of mail. But
between last year and this year, that may be how
many fewer pieces we will deliver. That
staggering figure is why you are seeing such
sweeping changes in our operations. One current
focus is overtime. Ive asked you to take a hard
look at this, since much of it is within your
control as managers. Frankly, its difficult to
justify any overtime when our workload has fallen
so dramatically. Often, overtime is presumed
because of past practice or historical volumes.
Its our job as managers to look hard at our
operations and make sure every single hour can be
justified. Creeping overtime has always been a
productivity drain. We tend to overlook 10 or 15
minutes, but when multiplied over an entire unit,
the cost can be substantial. And when you bring
someone in on a day off, the overtime cost is
automatic. You cannot manage scheduled overtime
it manages you.
It is better to look ahead and prepare than to
look back and regret. Jackie Joyner-Kersee
I realize that this kind of talk isnt always
comfortable, because it affects paychecks and
lifestyles. But if we want a secure future for
our organization, we must be diligent in making
sure we are as efficient as possible.
Sylvester Black, VP Western Area Operations