Fedex careers?

[quadro]

And policy states that hiring mgr must contact employee's mgr to inform him he has received a signed offer letter. If transaction wasn't completed, according to hiring mgr it was up to my mgr whether he allowed me to apply for other jobs, not set in stone like you say. Said mgr was asked to ask HR whether I could withdraw from job and said he was told I could up to reporting day. Said there may be a penalty involved. Didn't know what penalty was although just discussed with HR and knew about penalty. Was HR not clear about process? Mgr could let me apply, knew why I was applying, chose to stand behind policy and say no dice. Fine by you, mgr was correct and you know for a fact that he has always been correct. There, I said it for you. No, nothing funny going on here. You quoted FedEx2000 but even he said mgr not knowing what penalty was was crap. And you don't think I should even ask for an exception to be made even though process was never completed according to policy. And that I should be aware of any applicable policies when applying but make allowances for mgr "not knowing" even though as a hiring mgr he should know applicable policies. Not necessarily you say but a courier should, even though mgrs deal with hiring all the time but couriers don't transfer often if at all. Doesn't matter, if surprise to courier too bad. We must follow policy. And as I've pointed out from my own experience many mgrs don't follow policy but do anything they can get away with and company sweeps under carpet. And if you dare say geez, I've worked extremely hard for you for 20+ years, for once can you make an exception? Nope, and we'll ridicule your service with snide remarks. How dare you think you should get anything for doing right by us, even while getting screwed. We have the power, and if you keep whining we'll set our old courier attack dog, Astro, er, Quadro on you. Yeah, I know, he's really a mgr wannabe, that's why we like him so much. You can learn a thing or two from that fellow. Bleeds purple and orange, and that's rare these days. FedEx Cares!

Holy cow! I was out of breath reading this. Ever hear of a paragraph?

Two wrongs are never going to make a right. Just because the hiring manager had not yet informed your manager that he had a signed offer letter doesn't mean A. he wouldn't, and B. that you're off the hook. HR was right, you can withdraw up to reporting day, it's just that there's a penalty that goes along with that.

I have no idea if your manager has always been correct or not. This whole thing is irrelevant. You have already stated that you weren't going to accept the job so it doesn't matter whether your manager knew the penalty or wears pink underwear, both things are irrelevant to the consequences of you withdrawing after signing the offer letter.

You can ask for an exception all you want. Your situation is not different from hundreds of employees that want to live near family. The process was completed, you signed the offer letter. Once again, just because the hiring manager hadn't yet notified your manager is irrelevant. And as for making allowances for the manager not knowing policy, I don't expect him, you, or anyone else to know all the policies. All you had to do before signing your offer letter if you had any doubt in your mind that you might not accept the position is to ASK what happens if you sign and then withdraw. You don't know the policy and neither does your manager so either one of you or both of you then go and look it up. If your manager won't help you, then HR will.

Again, I'm not attacking you, I'm attacking your argument. I'm sure you are a great guy even though you are a stubborn b**tard. And I mean that in the most endearing way possible.

Just because you've worked hard for 20 years, a court is not going to accept that as a reason why a manager/FedEx treated you better/differently than someone else, especially if they are in a protected class. If you don't like that then start the political process to change the law.

If you accept the fact that you had complete control over this situation and it isn't anyone's fault that you didn't think to ask in advance, it'll do wonders for your blood pressure.

 

[vantexan]

The movement toward general employee apathy is gaining momentum every day. I see it when people laugh openly during Frontline, or mock stupid policies and decisions that come from the Memphoids. You and I have both been around long enough to know that this is the polar opposite of the way it used to be. They have turned loyal employees into the enemy, yet continue to expect a 100% effort for nothing in return.

In Tuesday's USAToday there's a good article about what's happening in the U.S. workplace compared to Europe and Japan. U.S. companies have greatly increased productivity with less employees since the collapse, becoming very profitable. European and Japanese companies held on to as many employees as possible, making work for them like sweeping floors, painting, whatever they could do. Result was much lower productivity, much less profit, but much higher loyalty to their workforce. Different cultures, looked elsewhere to trim costs, not at their workforce. And that's the hallmark of corporate America these days, things are taken away from workforce first to support profits. Anyone who points out FedEx hasn't laid off at Express, I don't think they didn't just to be kind. It's in their interest to hold on to people rather than be caught short when the economy improves. But they have certainly taken plenty from us and every downturn results in our having to sacrifice payraises while they maintain profits. I'm not convinced that socialism is the way to go, but we certainly could alot about how to treat employees from companies overseas. Our dog-eat-dog approach leaves alot to be desired.

 

[LTFedExer]

European and Japanese companies held on to as many employees as possible, making work for them like sweeping floors, painting, whatever they could do. Result was much lower productivity, much less profit, but much higher loyalty to their workforce.

This would not work. I don't mean at FedEx, I mean in the US in general.

 

[vantexan]

This would not work. I don't mean at FedEx, I mean in the US in general.

Works for them. There are other considerations in life besides profit for stockholders.

 

[vantexan]

Holy cow! I was out of breath reading this.

And I knew I was wasting my breath writing it but I figured it would get get a diligent response from you. Works every time, hee hee hee.

 

[LTFedExer]

Works for them. There are other considerations in life besides profit for stockholders.

Americans don't think that way. If your manager came to you and said you weren't going on the road and you were going to paint the break room, you would thing he lost his marbles.

 

[vantexan]

Americans don't think that way. If your manager came to you and said you weren't going on the road and you were going to paint the break room, you would thing he lost his marbles.

You are reading that wrong. What the article was saying was alot less people in Europe and Japan were laid off in the crisis. Rather than expect their workforce to bear the brunt of the financial pain they instead carried their people, giving them "make work" rather than letting them go. Alot less profit, productivity way down, but they are loyal to their people.

In America however alot of people were laid off and it looks like many of those jobs aren't coming back. Companies discovered that by tweaking things they could get more productivity out of less people. Which translates into more profit. Whether it's shipping jobs overseas or working people more for less money, American companies put making money first. If they were willing to reward all the hard work with better pay that would be great. But these days most companies, not just FedEx, are pushing people to accept less and less while CEO compensation and dividends for stockholders are emphasized.

 

[LTFedExer]

You are reading that wrong. What the article was saying was alot less people in Europe and Japan were laid off in the crisis. Rather than expect their workforce to bear the brunt of the financial pain they instead carried their people, giving them "make work" rather than letting them go. Alot less profit, productivity way down, but they are loyal to their people.

In America however alot of people were laid off and it looks like many of those jobs aren't coming back. Companies discovered that by tweaking things they could get more productivity out of less people. Which translates into more profit. Whether it's shipping jobs overseas or working people more for less money, American companies put making money first. If they were willing to reward all the hard work with better pay that would be great. But these days most companies, not just FedEx, are pushing people to accept less and less while CEO compensation and dividends for stockholders are emphasized.

If it means European companies were accepting less profit by 'creating' jobs so their employees wouldn't lose their jobs and stay loyal, then I read it correctly. But, it doesn't work that way here in the US. Companies and employees alike are only interested in ONE thing.....making money. Not only is making money #1 on the list, but doing it with the least amount of people (companies) or for the least amount of work (employees).

But, you said yourself 'alot of people were laid off and it looks like many of those jobs aren't coming back.' Why were they laid off? The economy sucked and the work just wasn't there. Now companies learned how to do the same amount of work with less people.....sounds like good business sense to me. Does it suck? Yes....for the workers.

 

[vantexan]

If it means European companies were accepting less profit by 'creating' jobs so their employees wouldn't lose their jobs and stay loyal, then I read it correctly. But, it doesn't work that way here in the US. Companies and employees alike are only interested in ONE thing.....making money.

So you are saying that in a serious crisis with huge layoffs, employees would prefer that instead of companies looking at other ways to save money and keep their employees? Of course American companies are going to do layoffs, but I'd much rather they emulate foreign companies and hang on to their employees. We have millions out of work who may never find decent work again because American companies worked on efficiency and productivity with the fewer employees they have now. So now you have millions out of work and many millions more stressed out with overwork and less pay. Sounds like a recipe for disaster but it seems all that matters is profit. We need to be better about taking care of people rather than holding up Social Darwinism as our best model.

 

[LTFedExer]

but I'd much rather they emulate foreign companies and hang on to their employees.

Isn't that exactly what FedEx did? Nobody in Express got laid off. Instead of layoffs, the 'cutbacks' came in the form of no raise, cut back/eliminate 401K match, management pay cuts, etc etc. Were employees upset? Yes But, given the other option, I'd say they did a pretty good job hanging onto their employees. The company could have said.......'You want your raise? Fine, here you go, but say goodbye to your co-worker because we're going to lay people off.'

You, being an employee, might not agree with the way some things are done. But, from purely a business standpoint, the company is VERY well run.

 

[MrFedEx]

Isn't that exactly what FedEx did? Nobody in Express got laid off. Instead of layoffs, the 'cutbacks' came in the form of no raise, cut back/eliminate 401K match, management pay cuts, etc etc. Were employees upset? Yes But, given the other option, I'd say they did a pretty good job hanging onto their employees. The company could have said.......'You want your raise? Fine, here you go, but say goodbye to your co-worker because we're going to lay people off.'

You, being an employee, might not agree with the way some things are done. But, from purely a business standpoint, the company is VERY well run.

FedEx isn't well-run if you start considering factors like employee turnover, worker satisfaction, and long-term planning. It is well-run from the short-term perspective of Wall Street.

 

[vantexan]

Isn't that exactly what FedEx did? Nobody in Express got laid off. Instead of layoffs, the 'cutbacks' came in the form of no raise, cut back/eliminate 401K match, management pay cuts, etc etc. Were employees upset? Yes But, given the other option, I'd say they did a pretty good job hanging onto their employees. The company could have said.......'You want your raise? You, being an employee, might not agree with the way some things are done. But, from purely a business standpoint, the company is VERY well run.

I was talking about American corporations in general, but with FedEx there's a caveat. It's not easy for FedEx to layoff, even in serious downturns. When the economy improves they can be caught shorthanded and hiring is a lengthy and expensive process for them. They have to depend more on attrition and not replacing employees who leave. Inspite of the economy I've seen alot of turnover at this station in the last 2.5 years. And we all know FedEx cuts it close to the bone anyways, pushing us all to be as productive as possible. FedEx has been a leader in this push to do more with less. Do they really care more about us by not having layoffs than other companies do? Really?

 

[LTFedExer]

FedEx isn't well-run if you start considering factors like employee turnover, worker satisfaction, and long-term planning. It is well-run from the short-term perspective of Wall Street.

Really now? Wouldn't an easy, short term, solution to the loss of volume/income have been to layoff employees? As van mentioned below, the long term solution was to cut costs (no raise, cut salary, etc).

I was talking about American corporations in general, but with FedEx there's a caveat. It's not easy for FedEx to layoff, even in serious downturns. When the economy improves they can be caught shorthanded and hiring is a lengthy and expensive process for them. They have to depend more on attrition and not replacing employees who leave. Inspite of the economy I've seen alot of turnover at this station in the last 2.5 years. And we all know FedEx cuts it close to the bone anyways, pushing us all to be as productive as possible. FedEx has been a leader in this push to do more with less. Do they really care more about us by not having layoffs than other companies do? Really?

I agree van. But, every company is different. Some laid off employees, some cut costs other ways, some did both. Also, when I started with the company out east, the turnover was so great/fast, I stopped learning new hires names until they were there a month or so. I find it hard to believe (in the last 2.5 years) the turnover was THAT great, with the economy as it was and jobs hard to get.

 

[vantexan]

I agree van. But, every company is different. Some laid off employees, some cut costs other ways, some did both. Also, when I started with the company out east, the turnover was so great/fast, I stopped learning new hires names until they were there a month or so. I find it hard to believe (in the last 2.5 years) the Denchasturnover was THAT great, with the economy as it was and jobs hard to get.

Guess it depends on where you're at. The economy in East Texas has slowed some, but it's one of the best in the country. My mgr complains he can't keep part-timers. A few become full-time, but most quickly realize there's no future here and leave. Before someone reams me I've heard plenty of part-timers say that and my mgr has admitted that to me in private. We just went through a week with mgr running a rt for 3 days due to being shorthanded. Another mgr is at sister station as they now don't have a mgr(again). We were sending people there last year for several months they were so short-handed. Big oil area and it pays much better.

Another reason FedEx doesn't layoff is they use that as tool to retain people. When people leave for oilfields it's always pointed out that yeah, it pays well, but how long until the next downturn and layoffs? When you see people doing really well over there it's very tempting.

 

[MrFedEx]

FedEx didn't have to lay anyone off due to high turnover rates. As van and others have said, it doesn't take long for most people to see that they can do better elsewhere for a lot less hassle. We were still having couriers leave during the worst part of the recession. FedEx made the most of it by acting like they were doing the rest of us a favor.

They weren't.

 

[Cactus]

There's so many people in and out the door these days I stopped learning new people's names. Can't keep up with that kind of turnover pace.

 

[bbsam]

There's so many people in and out the door these days I stopped learning new people's names. Can't keep up with that kind of turnover pace.

Odd. We don't see alot of turn-over in our building.

 

[MrFedEx]

Odd. We don't see alot of turn-over in our building.

Every location is different, but over here at Express there has been a steady exodus of employees (especially newer ones) since the recession began. FedEx played-up the "no-layoff" angle, but that only applied to hourlies. There were numerous administrative personnel who were let go. As others have pointed-out, they cut very close to the bone anyway, and whenever someone left, they simply expanded the route boundaries (and workload) of the remaining employees. IMO, FedEx also stepped-up enforcement of policy, and a lot of employees started to get written-up for things that would have been under the radar before.

It's interesting that one area in which enforcement did not rise was the area of falsification. Management fully recognized that collapsing routes, studying gap times, and increasing workloads would lead to massive falsification on the part of couriers who could only get done by working through breaks and cutting corners on safety by driving faster.

 

[snackdad]

Every location is different, but over here at Express there has been a steady exodus of employees (especially newer ones) since the recession began. FedEx played-up the "no-layoff" angle, but that only applied to hourlies. There were numerous administrative personnel who were let go. As others have pointed-out, they cut very close to the bone anyway, and whenever someone left, they simply expanded the route boundaries (and workload) of the remaining employees. IMO, FedEx also stepped-up enforcement of policy, and a lot of employees started to get written-up for things that would have been under the radar before.

It's interesting that one area in which enforcement did not rise was the area of falsification. Management fully recognized that collapsing routes, studying gap times, and increasing workloads would lead to massive falsification on the part of couriers who could only get done by working through breaks and cutting corners on safety by driving faster.

Falsification is rampant everywhere, when you inform management they will say "oh I know, they should not be doing that" and then turn their backs to you when you bring it up in a safety meeting or state of the station meeting. Run the reports!!! What is the excuse for not rooting out this systemic problem. Run the reports for who is manually entering AB numbers or doing pickups minutes yet miles apart in hilly residential areas.
Our station is currently trying to make a lot of full timers work on the Tuesday to Saturday rotation and controlling their hours during the week as to avoid paying them overtime on Saturday. Another shameful take away, like it is worth it for a courier to get up early on a Saturday, to drive an hour each way to go to work for about 4 hours pay and ruin his or hers weekend for that!

 

[Mr. 7]

FedEx played-up the "no-layoff" angle, but that only applied to hourlies. There were numerous administrative personnel who were let go.

Yeah,
I don't know why anyone on here keeps saying "FDX has a no lay-off policy".
Weren't there like 1,700 admin type people layed off 2 yrs. ago?
I personally know, in my area, every sta. eliminated at least one ops. mgr. position. And, were not really given the chance at a CRR position. Some of them did (luckily) get CRR positions but, that was just luck.

So, I say, there is no such thing as "FDX has a no lay-off policy".