Last weeks thread here

Welcome to this week’s casual kōrero thread!

This post will be pinned in this community so you can always find it, and will stay for about a week until replaced by the next one.

It’s for talking about anything that might not justify a full post. For example:

  • Something interesting that happened to you
  • Something humourous that happened to you
  • Something frustrating that happened to you
  • A quick question
  • A request for recommendations
  • Pictures of your pet
  • A picture of a cloud that kind of looks like an elephant
  • Anything else, there are no rules (except the rule)

So how’s it going?

  • shellieg@beehaw.org
    3·
    7 days ago

    I started working for UPS as a delivery driver in the USA and I am so surprised (and also sadly not surprised) at just how bad it is. Not just how demanding the work is, but:

    • no benefits (health insurance, retirement, unemployment) for the first six months
    • no access to medical leave (I planned a surgery before getting the job, and when asking for unpaid leave the response was “the optics aren’t good, can you come in the day after?”)
    • tons of unpaid work before/after shift
    • not getting paid if we leave the facility early (tried adjusting the start time myself once and they changed it back right away, although this is a certain manager I think)

    Maybe I am spoilt after living and working in NZ and Europe, but it just seems so insane and such a horrible way to treat people.

    Also I am dreams/nightmares about trying to find things quickly (like a package in a package car) or being stuck while driving 😅

    • deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz
      1·
      6 days ago

      Maybe I am spoilt after living and working in NZ and Europe, but it just seems so insane and such a horrible way to treat people.

      Not spoilt. It is horrible. It’s inhumane.

    • Dave@lemmy.nzOPM
      2·
      7 days ago

      To be fair, in NZ I believe delivery drivers for NZ Post are contractors. So other than healthcare and unemployment, I think the rest would also apply here (including the chance of a crappy manager).

      But it’s something in the media from time to time, how it’s pretty crappy to be a delivery driver.

      • shellieg@beehaw.org
        2·
        6 days ago

        I guess it is. I’d be really interested to know if it’s the case in Germany/France. I know Uber is banned because they can’t classify drivers as contractors, so I wonder if delivery companies face any of the same restrictions.

        And maybe I wouldn’t mind so much but my delivery route is kinda rural, so I’m delivering to Trump supporters and it’s the combination of factors that get to me.

        • Dave@lemmy.nzOPM
          1·
          5 days ago

          NZ Post are in court every few years about the status of delivery drivers as contractors. For a while they lose a case and they have to treat them as employees, then it gets overturned and they can be contractors again. The current government is planning on introducing a law that means if your contract says you’re a contractor then you are, which is going to be ripe for abuse I’m expecting.

          • shellieg@beehaw.org
            2·
            5 days ago

            That does sound ripe for abuse. Probably opens up other opportunities for other sectors to start to classify people as contractors as well

            • Dave@lemmy.nzOPM
              2·
              5 days ago

              I’m curious how long it will be until every minimum wage job is hiring “contractors” as standard, so they don’t have to give them annual leave or sick pay or KiwiSaver.