UPS Ediquette?

I dropped off packages at my local UPS. Very customer-focused operation, open 4-5:30 pm, five days a week.

As the nice lady worked through an issue with printing a label from my Bikeflights tracking number, I looked around.

I thought Hey this is @UPSed’s world I’m in here. He lives and loves this. Right then a driver came walking through the cramped, ramshackle “office” (read: place at the end of a conveyor belt). Hey, that could be Ed right here. The lady asks him Hey, how’s your day? He replies It was great until I saw you. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I had to wonder... Caught me off guard but got an audible snicker out of me. I don’t think that would fly at the jobs I’ve had.

Ed??

 

I find that sarcasm is common place now even at the white collar job positions. There is a right way and time to apply it and a wrong way and time to apply it. There's an art to applying it correctly without offending. I assume that those two see each other frequently. Heck, they might have even been dating or married.

 

I'd guess there's a playful history there... A kafkaesque behind the scenes relationship to which we are not privy. Same vein as when my wife tells me she's on the way home- time to kick out the hookers.

I've worked a few jobs where the standard greeting was, "Hey- Dumbass!" That's actually the norm in NY...

 

Sounds like it was all in fun? If so it's pretty normal at UPS. Even at our huge hub. After all we are just a bunch of truck drivers. Of course you have to be careful as not everyone likes to play along.

 

Of course, this was more documentation of a humorous anecdote than a true inquiry on my part. Rapport is a must for a good working relationship.


One certain account exec was easily the best one I've ever worked with. Knowing people, I imagine some wondering what was up with us two. My boss one day asks us Where are you guys going? She says We were just going to get high. No reply, off we went. To do work.

On one construction site, this new laborer came on. After work his first day he offered to fight anyone that wanted to fight. Nobody was motivated to take him up on it, but it sure built up some instant rapport with the derelicts, ex-cons and other vermin I worked with.

 

This pic was taken during last peak. The little girl in the middle is our supervisor. She talks like a drunken sailor but she's only 30 and is one of the best supervisors I've had in my 30-year career. On my recent yearly observations ride I introduced her as my daughter. She loved it.

 

Love it! Kicking ass in a man's world. My close observation on foul language in the workplace...it gets results!!!!!!!!!

 

Up to a point. And that point is reached very quickly.

 

They're totally doing it.

 

Agreed. With us it's management against union employees and there's a very fine line that is very easily crossed. Comes down to respecting each other for who we are and what we do.

 

I agree!

What I completely failed at communicating was that a woman working in a man's world can assimilate by showing ability to be "one of the guys." It can break preconceptions and put everyone on the team on a common level. I've seen that at close hand. My lass is an absolute master at approaching the line and getting the best from people. And she is universally loved and respected, despite the uh, transgressions.

I came from construction, so not having a foul mouth would make one an outcast. Knock that truss back a c-hair. Common vernacular, IME. If you said a millimeter or two you'd get laughed off the site.

 

except for the loaders, they dream of driving a truck

 

And that dream eventually comes true.

 

And where's your right hand, Mister?