Dear Maker at least give us 24 hours!

[Mamadrae]

I thought about putting this in the Customers department but honestly, I'm the customer and it was the worker who sucked here so...here it is in sightings.

So it snowed last night and was snowing most of this morning today in my cornfield haven. It's a bit slick but not to bad really. Problem of course is that many of us (least out of my pals and family) didn't hear it was due to snow and as such were a bit surprised to have to get the cars dug out this morning.

Now while a fair accumulation it's not that bad. Main issue is it's wet so it's kinda heavy to get moving. Hubby got his car out and about half of mine before the clock forced his hand and he had to run to work. Me and my three year old manage to get my car clear out the rest of the way and we headed off for our obscene morning of errands that had to be done. Our sidewalks and steps still had snow on them but I resolved to be careful going up and down them since I really shouldn't be shoveling the snow. Both kiddo and I are in snow boots as well so I'm not to worried.

Why can't I shovel snow you ask? At 7 months pregnant and counting it's really hard for me to bend and lift. Use a snowblower? Why waste money on one for our small patch of crappy brick sidewalk and steps? So shoveling this year has been a strictly hubby deal like the cat litter so we don't have to worry about me killing myself trying to clear the the sidewalk.

Kiddo and I finally get home again around lunchtime. He's a generally unhappy camper since he's been carted to and from stores on last minute christmas shopping that I couldn't escape. Since hubby was going to be stuck at work till 8pm at his job like he has been for the last 3 months it was either drag the kid with me and endure the fits or try to explain to some relatives why their special snowflake didn't get a gift from us.

So you can imagine how frazzled I am at 7 month pregnant, dragging a kicking and screaming 3 year old into the house while holding onto these presents I had to run out and buy today.

Cue the suck.

I have barely put my bags down and there's a pounding on my door. I mean like I'm expecting to have a cop on the other side kind of pounding. It's a mailman, note I say A mailman instead of MY mailman. I know our regular mailman and this guy isn't him, but mail carriers get their days off and sick days too. I can certainly understand it having been a newspaper carrier for 4 years.

Now mind you I'm trying to keep the door somewhat closed because I have a lab that likes to jump and I really don't feel like letting all the nice warm air in the house out. My 3 year old is STILL throwing the biggest fit and still has his snow gear on, so he's of course flailing snow everywhere.

This mailman is here to complain to me about our sidewalk and steps not being shoveled.

Now I understand he might not realize under all that snow gear I had on still that I was 7 months pregnant but when I explained the matter to him that it would get shoveled when my husband got home he got even more pissy!

Jerk: What's wrong with your arms that you can't shovel?
Me: Sir I'm 7 months pregnant and as such I'm having issues bending and lifting things. That snow is really heavy and wet.
Jerk: So? I already fell once today on some asshole's steps. I ain't falling on someone elses!
Me: I'm sorry to hear that. Seriously my steps will be cleared tonight once my husband gets home. They'll be all cleared tomorrow.
Jerk: They better be! *as he goes stomping off*

They better be? Seriously? What are you gonna do if they aren't? Hold my mail hostage? Good thing the only bill we pay that way is the water bill and if we haven't gotten that it's hardly a bother for my husband to call up the county (most of the folks who he knows by name) and ask what's up and what we owe. Besides the fact that I'm pretty sure that's considered tampering with the mail, which is illegal!

I'm sorry you fell down some stairs already. Having been in those snowy boots of yours I feel your pain. I know lots of people haven't shoveled their walks yet cause you know, they had to go to work this morning. How dare they work for a living and have bosses that demand they be there instead of shoveling their walks. Surely all those customers and managers they deal with will wait an extra 30 minutes or more while they shovel their walks for you, people are understanding souls like that.

I mean seriously, I understand the guy's concern and I seriously feel for him. However pounding on doors and screaming at the offenders really isn't going to endure them to help you and likely you're gonna get a lot of complaints about you. That's not a good way to keep your job here.

[Aethian]

That was un called for on his part. On behalf of my ill mannered brother I apologize whole heartily.

[Lachrymose]

Hey, Aethian, what's the legal responsibility on the homeowner's part as far as time frame to clear the walks or whatever else?

[Aethian]

It depends on the city or local ordinances. The postal service doesn't have a legal standpoint on unswept steps. We carriers are told that if we feel steps or whatnot aren't passable for our safety we are not to deliver.

However, if a carrier dies due to snow, ice, leaves, ect.. the homeowner would be liabel and can be sued by the family of the deceased carrier. If a carrier gets hurt due to those items it falls under workman's comp but the homeowner could still be held liable for those payments.

NOTE I AM NOT A LAYWER this is only what I have gathered from working at the post office and from growing up in the post office.

[Gerrinson]

Besides the fact that I'm pretty sure that's considered tampering with the mail, which is illegal!

While I agree that the mailman was completely out of line, at the same time, I believe they can hold your mail if the access to your mailbox is unsafe i.e. icy/snowy steps, vicious dog in the yard, etc.

Its not like they would be opening your mail to paw through it, they would simply be protecting the health of the delivery person who has a right to safe working conditions as well. But pounding and yelling isn't going to help the situation or make anyone feel like doing you any favors.

We had a similar issue with a mail carrier once, in that our driveway and steps had not been cleaned. In our case, the storm arrived after the three of us had all gone to work. My boss let me leave early, due to the quickly worsening road conditions, and I picked up one of my roommates on the way home because otherwise she'd be walking in a blizzard.

I forced my car through the snowbank and into the drive while the mail lady was next door. I met her at the top of the driveway and offered to take the mail but she felt the need to go on a tirade about how our drive and steps weren't shoveled and it was dangerous and she was going to hold our mail, etc. I pointed out that it was currently blizzarding and that I had just now gotten home for the first time since the snow started, so how was I supposed to have it clear? She handed me the mail with a sneer and just stomped off to the next house. I just said to myself "Oh well, no holiday cookies in the box for her this year."

[Lachrymose]

It depends on the city or local ordinances. The postal service doesn't have a legal standpoint on unswept steps. We carriers are told that if we feel steps or whatnot aren't passable for our safety we are not to deliver.

However, if a carrier dies due to snow, ice, leaves, ect.. the homeowner would be liabel and can be sued by the family of the deceased carrier. If a carrier gets hurt due to those items it falls under workman's comp but the homeowner could still be held liable for those payments.

NOTE I AM NOT A LAYWER this is only what I have gathered from working at the post office and from growing up in the post office.

Okay, thanks.

Seems like it would be treated just like anyone else who slipped and fell on your sidewalk.

And I'm glad they give you the option of not delivering if you feel it's unsafe.

[Aethian]

While I agree that the mailman was completely out of line, at the same time, I believe they can hold your mail if the access to your mailbox is unsafe i.e. icy/snowy steps, vicious dog in the yard, etc.

Correct it is NOT illegal to hold mail if it is unsafe. Holding the mail at the office is not tampering with it's delivery if we are unable to deliver.

[rageaholic]

What an EW. He has no right to demand you shovel your walk. Was it your walk he feel on? Than he should F off.

[MaggieTheCat]

I like the fact that the mailman was pissed that your walk apparently wasn't shoveled to his liking, but that he still managed to make it up to your front door to bitch to you about it.

[Sightings Reporter]

I was at the post office a few weeks ago and someone came storming in and (skipping the entire line) demanded to speak with the Postmaster. She seemed pretty upset and I wondered, what in the world one could be so upset about at the post office. Now I know why one would complain to the Postmaster. (Not that it excused the lady in my story to skip the line and be bitchy about it).

Have you called the Post office to make a complaint. I think it would be good to let the carrier's supervisor know what happened.

[Mamadrae]

Ah, see I would think malicious holding of mail would be considered tampering. Then again what qualifies as unsafe to deliver to likely isn't exactly clean cut either likely.

Like I said, I can honestly understand why the man was angry and such. At the same time though it's like you gotta give folks some time to get it done. Hell when he was pounding on my door was when most folks were just starting to stick their heads out. It had been going most of the morning after all and most around here will wait for it to be done snowing before digging out.

I didn't bother calling the post master. Mainly cause I understand the guy's issues and cause he's not my normal mailman. Everyone's got bad days after all.

Though if he shows up whining about my steps in the next few days cause of all the salt we dump on it I will be mightily miffed enough to complain.

[Red_Dazes]

...I get where the carrier was coming from... but he handled it VERY badly. I'd be tempted to call into his place of employment and file a complaint about him harassing you...

It's one thing to get pissed at a perfectly able bodied person who is just being lazy... it's another completely to get pissed at someone who CAN NOT do it themselves. That would be like telling some little old man in a wheel chair to suck it up and shovel his steps...


...jerk

[Merriweather]

Ah, see I would think malicious holding of mail would be considered tampering. Then again what qualifies as unsafe to deliver to likely isn't exactly clean cut either likely. :confused.

Yeah, I had to collect all my mail at the post office window for a whole year once (which meant basically I was able to pick up mail only on Saturday mornings, since I worked the hours the post office was open during the week).

My neighbor had a large dog (a sweetie if you knew him) who was occasionally allowed outside without restraint, and no fencing. So the mail carrier decided he was dangerous (based only on the fact he was a dog, as far as I could tell) and declared he would not walk along that side of the street, ever - not just when the dog was out, not just the dog's house, but 4 houses total.

I tried every way immaginable to get mail delivery, and the postmaster backed him up completely. Even the dog owners swearing they'd keep him inside didn't make a difference.

Merriweather

[Lachrymose]

My neighbor had a large dog (a sweetie if you knew him) who was occasionally allowed outside without restraint, and no fencing. So the mail carrier decided he was dangerous (based only on the fact he was a dog, as far as I could tell) and declared he would not walk along that side of the street, ever - not just when the dog was out, not just the dog's house, but 4 houses total.

I honestly don't blame him one bit here.

Even the dog owners swearing they'd keep him inside didn't make a difference.

Though they should have reconsidered because of this.

[Bella_Vixen]

When I mailed my Christmas cards, the parking lot and sidewalk in front of the PO were not shoveled/plowed/salted/clean enough to eat off of.

Did I throw a fit? No.

I could have. It is a government building, and there had been plenty of time to get it done (days, in fact). I just walked carefully and thanked my lucky stars that I go to the PO something like twice a year.

That mailman was a jerk, IMO.