The majority of regular postal employees work eight-hour days and five-day weeks, and the physical surroundings in the post office are usually pleasant. The closeness of the work areas gives employees the opportunity to develop a spirit of cooperation and friendship among themselves.
In most cases the position of window clerk is considered a preferred job among postal workers. The work is often more interesting and varied than that of the distribution clerk, because the job requires continual direct contact with the public, more mental activity, and less physical exertion.
Distribution clerks must do considerable walking, throwing, lifting, and other types of physical labor. Most of their job tasks are repetitive and routine, with little or no contact with the public. Behind the scenes at the post office, these employees work in close contact with each other, often in teams. Their primary challenge is to increase their speed, accuracy, and overall efficiency.
As departments within the Postal Service adopt new automatic and electronic equipment and as greater technological advances are introduced, the work of distribution clerks continues to involve more labor-saving techniques. Working conditions vary with the equipment used, the size of the postal operation, and the clerk's area of specialization.
In 2001, anthrax was discovered in some of our nation's mail facilities. The USPS has instituted comprehensive safety and education policies to ensure that its workers, as well as its customers, are protected from anthrax and other hazardous substances.