Edited by author 11-07-2009 09:05 AM
postalmonkeyjen /m4598 -- For Social Security, yes, for FERS, no.

does anyone know if casual and t.e. time counts toward years worked?

4596 PM18 - 4 rural route (2210 deliveries)office, 1 PTF 2 hours a day now. You should feel lucky!
4595 scratch - All level 15 and 16s in CPA lost ALL their function 4 hours two years ago. PTFs given Saturday only hours, then being replaced with PMRs.

My 18 I get 40 clerk hours a week. I have 56 this week. 5 route office. My regular clerk retired so I am down to one right now. Approved for a 2nd clerk who will be a ptf.

 Our level 15 has just been given no function 4 hours for the year! We are a very busy office with no other offices nearby at all, no UPS stores, FED ex dropoff places, etc. Is there a place on the computer to compare revenue with other 15's etc. Yesterday was almost 1000.00 walk in revenue. Maybe that's not alot compared with others, but I am curious. Between all the customers and the mail I have no time to do any paperwork, ordering, etc. etc. Thanks

Function 4 just done here, office earned 5.50 PTF hours per day. New FY10 budget is 10 hours PER WEEK, 2 hours per day! Budget is based on Function 4 numbers OR past history of the office depending upon which is LOWER in CPA District.

be glad u r getting 24 hrs a week its like 10 hrs in mine

/4591- I understand why they do a Function 4 and I also understand it never benefits hours in your office. We are a level 18 working with only 2 PTF clerks. Each clerk is getting only about 24 hours a week. The new function 4 doesn't not credit you with all the work you do. They simply come in and measure the amount of flats, and letters you work during distribution. How can this be a fair assessment that they base your hours on. Sounds like a waste of time and money to me.

 If the Postal Service would stop all of these stupid audits and inspections we get in a month they would save millions of dollars. Thus, not begging for monetary help from Congress!

/m4589 Please Help- remember that the purpose of a function 4 is to accurately assess the need for hours in your office. If you do everything as you usually do, they may find some opportunity for improvement (cuts). If you try to be perfect, they will make something up anyway, and you have hurt yourself in the process. In fact, they may have their results and recommendations written before they even get to your office. Just hang in there and do your best.

My office has been accepted for reassign only for a PTF clerk. I had one retire friday.

 My office will be getting a Function 4 next week. I will be the only clerk on this day. Anyone have any input on experiences they have had with the new guidelines? Please help.

mailwoman /m4584 -- so, given the info from the previous post, the answer is "no." You must work more than 6 hours to be entitled to lunch.

/m4584 ELM 432.33 Mealtime
Except in emergency situations or where service conditions preclude compliance, no employee may be required to work more than 6 continuous hours without a meal or rest period of at least 1/2 hour.
http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/elm/h...4_013.htm#ep1034887

Snowed /m4585 -- there are no federal laws dealing with lunch, and, as federal employees, state laws do not apply.

mailwoman-
Lunch breaks are governed by state and federal labor law. For the most part it depends on what time you start your tour. They cannot deny you lunch time if your work time falls within the specified time period(s). I would check your states labor law and federal labor law.