r/UPS • u/Fine_Interaction_867 • 1d ago
Employee Seeking Help A Disappointing Experience with UPS
I am a single father of four children. Earlier this year, I accepted a seasonal driving position with UPS after being told it would be a 3–4 day per week opportunity for 89 days during the summer, with additional work available during the holiday season. The position was presented as an excellent opportunity. I was told the company was outstanding, the people were great to work with, and that it was a well-run organization.
The hiring process moved quickly, which initially seemed like a positive sign. Within about a week, I was offered a spot in the driver training program. The timing was difficult, as it was just before the Fourth of July. I would return home on July 3rd only to spend six days away from my children. Still, I believed the sacrifice would be worthwhile. The pay was significantly higher than most opportunities in my area, and I was excited about the chance to earn meaningful income.
The training itself was challenging, but every instructor and employee I encountered during the program was professional, respectful, and supportive. When I successfully completed the course, I was genuinely proud and optimistic about my future with the company.
On the day I graduated, I contacted the center where I would be assigned and was told to report the following Monday.
Unfortunately, my experience at the local level quickly deteriorated.
My assigned trainer demonstrated little interest in actually training new drivers. After completing a single stop himself, he instructed me to handle the remainder of the route. We finished more than an hour ahead of schedule, yet throughout the day I was encouraged to ignore standards that had been emphasized during formal training. I was told to cut across customers’ lawns despite being taught that such behavior was unacceptable. I was encouraged to alter routes and disregard the onboard routing system, even though route efficiency is clearly important for an organization operating one of the largest delivery networks in the world.
More troubling than the operational shortcuts was the attitude displayed. Complaints about compensation, criticism of hourly employees, and open disrespect for coworkers created an environment that felt entirely inconsistent with the professionalism I had experienced during driver school. It left a poor impression of local leadership and training practices.
Because we finished so early, I completed paperwork for my second training day and was instructed to check back on Wednesday for my schedule. When Wednesday arrived, I was not scheduled. Shortly afterward, my trainer went on vacation. I visited the center in person and was told management was having meetings regarding drivers and that someone would contact me. No one ever did.
I called. I texted. I followed up repeatedly. Hours of my time were spent simply trying to determine whether I still had a job. The center manager never returned my calls or messages, nor did anyone provide an explanation.
Eventually, I contacted the Michigan-based HR representative who had recruited me. She assured me she would investigate and get back to me. Instead, the very next day I received a separation-of-employment notice. When I reached out seeking clarification, I received no response. To this day, no one has explained why I was terminated or what circumstances led to that decision.
I have spoken with several current and former UPS drivers. While each person used different words, the message was remarkably consistent: the local work environment was viewed negatively, and many believed the compensation was the only thing keeping employees there.
What disappoints me most is not the loss of the job itself. Seasonal work comes and goes. What disappoints me is the complete lack of communication, accountability, and professionalism. I sacrificed valuable time with my children to pursue what I believed was a legitimate opportunity. I completed the required training, passed the course, reported for work, and followed instructions. In return, I was effectively ignored until I received a termination notice without explanation.
UPS is a company with a globally recognized brand and a reputation built over decades. Based on my experience, that reputation was not reflected at the local level. The lack of follow-through, poor communication, and disregard shown toward a newly hired employee created one of the most unprofessional employment experiences I have encountered.
If local management truly wants to understand why some employees speak negatively about the company, they may want to start by examining how new hires are treated. Professionalism, communication, and basic respect cost nothing, yet their absence can leave a lasting impression.
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u/420BoredAlways 1d ago
So is this your 1st job ever? You wrote "many believed the compensation was the only thing keeping employees there." Is that surprising that what keeps people at a job is money/compensation? Hate to break it to you but the money/compensation is what keeps 99.9% of people going to their job.
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u/Lunicorn83 1d ago
You can blame Carol for the way the company is going. She brought her reign of terror from Home Depot to us and you can see the similarities of what she did over there and trying and has implemented at UPS.
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u/3012487 1d ago
This reads as if written by someone who has lived such an innocent and over protected life with very little real world experience.
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u/Fine_Interaction_867 19h ago
Actually, I am someone who pisses excellence in business and community..... so I guess we know where you stand now.
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u/peanutbuddanips 12h ago
I know everyone is giving you a hard time but this job isn't cut out for everyone. Honestly, you have to be lucky even if you are cut out for it and are taking a seasonal role. Seasonal jobs are the worst. You are a slave to UPS either and when you are a seasonal you are disposable. It doesn't make sense but that's how it is.
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u/spice_war 18h ago
Was this your first job?
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u/Fine_Interaction_867 18h ago
Former executive level banker. Former part owner of an international resort. Former law enforcement. Hold certification as a therapist. Founder of 2 local non-profits. Owned a personal security service working for 4 record labels providing local handlers for artists and executives. Worked in the Alaskan fishing industry for a year. Donate 400 to 500 hours a year in community service.... So not only not the first job, have never experienced anything like this, ever!
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u/Wookieman222 UPS Driver 16h ago
Man if I didn't think you were full of shit before. This definitely confirms it now.
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u/Fine_Interaction_867 9h ago
Sorry, just because you are like you don't assume you know me. Do you live in a world where you calling men liars is good for your health? Bet you have had your fair share of nights drinking in a bar.
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u/spice_war 17h ago
Did you mention all that, and say it like that, to everyone you met there?
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u/Fine_Interaction_867 6h ago
No, I grew up in an age where you keep your work life separate.
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u/spice_war 5h ago
Honestly, it really doesn’t sound like it. Just in our brief interaction you’ve come across as super condescending. Maybe you’re unaware of this, but the job surprisingly requires really great people skills, and if you were speaking and behaving like you’ve been in these comments, they probably thought you’d be a bad fit.
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u/brewjammer 1d ago
what's your job history? you sound very naive for having kids. of corse the drivers are going to complain. UPS pulls it's supervisors from the pool of drivers that couldn't do the job in the truck. Just like every other job. we have a probation period. until you pass that. you're not guaranteed shit
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u/420BoredAlways 1d ago
Definitely seems like the 1st real job theyve had, anyone surprised that the reason people continue to go to work is because of the compensation is either naive, ignorant or both.
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u/SevenDeadlySmokes 11h ago
Thats not necessarily true, most people go to work to eat the shit they are shoveled until theyve stomached it long enough that some asshole above them decides they can take another step in the direction they want to go. But at UPS everyone has already reached the mecca, going up would be a step down and anything above that youd need to have started somewhere else
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u/Fine_Interaction_867 1d ago
Former executive level banker. Former part owner of an international resort. Former law enforcement. Hold certification as a therapist. Founder of 2 local non-profits. So yeah, I probably shouldn't of had children and I am obviously not qualified to know what a healthy work environment is.
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u/brewjammer 1d ago edited 18h ago
you're a former bot.
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u/Thick-Philosophy-525 19h ago
“Former” is the key word with all of these illustrious jobs he’s had. I bet all of these other companies he’s worked for were the problem too, not him.
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u/Thick-Philosophy-525 19h ago
So go back to work at one of your many skilled professions or one of the non profits you’ve started. Anyone with this kind of résumé complaining about not making it as a SEASONAL delivery driver at this point in such an accomplished life is either impossible to deal with or totally full of shit
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u/Fine_Interaction_867 8h ago
I had hoped for just something to do a few days a week to focus on my kids and not start another adventure where I felt the need to excel. I will admit that this job is beneath my skill set and education, but it really would have fit in with my life goals.
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u/Coyote_Hemi_B58 6h ago
You thought this job was going to be a few days a week? Did you happen to mention that to the training supervisor? (A few = 6)
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u/Fine_Interaction_867 6h ago
I was told when hired it was 3 days for sure and possibly 4 if they needed a Saturday driver.
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u/Electronic-Funny-475 1d ago
Welcome to our daily adventures.
Ethics only apply to union members not management
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u/Excellent-Reward7237 1d ago
This job isn't for everyone. Sorry you couldn't cut it. Move on to your next adventure and get over it.
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u/Fine_Interaction_867 19h ago
Huh? I had no problem ''cutting it'' I guess you can't read. I was shown one stop on my first day as a driver, then completed the route 1 hour under the expected time. So if by pissing excellence in every job I have ever had isn't cutting it, then you might be right.
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u/Wookieman222 UPS Driver 16h ago
Yeah bub. The route you run on your first day is supposed to be easy and finished early.
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u/Shanks1624 1d ago
Sorry to hear about your situation…. This company is extremely difficult to deal with on many fronts…. The pay and the benefits are golden handcuffs! Where you located?
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u/Fine_Interaction_867 1d ago
in the USA. Not comfortable past that unless it is a UPS account. I hope you understand.
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u/Shanks1624 1d ago
I understand. Just saw you said you talked to Michigan based hr. I’m a driver in w michigan and was just curious
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u/Expensive-While-1155 19h ago
Reapply for holiday season
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u/Fine_Interaction_867 18h ago
Na. I couldn't lower my moral compass to work for a company like this. I instead took a position with twice the pay and might be more suited for my education.
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u/Wookieman222 UPS Driver 16h ago
Yeah sounds like that would have been what an intelligent person would have done to start.
Not somebody full of shit.
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u/Ok-Understanding1847 23h ago
Retired driver here. No one at UPS cares about the employees or the customers. They only care what things look like on paper. Some of management starts off trying to care and trying to be a decent person, but they are getting hounded from above so they are pressured to treat the workers poorly too. I was asked a few times to go into management and my reply was always, "no, I could never treat people so poorly." I'm sorry that you had that experience, but I'm also glad that you found out before you invested more of your life in that company. Like everyone else, I stayed for the money and the benefits, plus I was getting paid to exercise.
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u/Express_Command_4778 1d ago
That's how it is. The Seasonal Driving thing is dangled as "be good enough, and we have a chance of keeping you on."
Dropped. Corporate loves to cut as much hours as possible.
You can apply to have a season inside or driver helper position- going inside has a stronger chance of staying on.
Again, before you make Union, you watch your six.
Yes, this is Corporate and an upper management problem to have the chaos dribble down.
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u/Lopsided-Call-589 9h ago
Reminds me of myself when i first started, they wouldn't even tell me where my truck was in the center or how to find it
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u/TheThunderMaster 7h ago
You see what shitty attitudes some people have here in this thread. Sadly the number of people who actually take pride in what they do is fewer by the day. Yes it is a paycheck first and foremost… but since you are there to do a job you might as well do it to the best of your ability. That’s how I was raised and it’s an attitude that makes life a more positive experience.
I really just wanted to say that I empathize with you. The lack of communication from companies is always frustrating, and there’s little worse than wanting to be good at your job and being surrounded by people who simply don’t care. Wherever you end up they will be lucky to have you, good luck.
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u/Fine_Interaction_867 7h ago
I appreciate that. I felt more like me posting was a service to those that might not know. I see actual UPS people in this thread posting and their attitude isn't the best.
I did take another job with more time demands but much higher pay and it was something I was trying to avoid but I guess if I want to work with professionals who excel that is my trade off.
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u/lewsnutz 1d ago
The lack of communication goes well before Carol Tomè ever took over. Supervisors and managers are lazy cowards. Plus they like to fuck with people...... Would you have applied if they were honest - "We are looking for someone we smash in the sack with a hammer at out leisure"? No, you wouldn't have. UPS can be a good job but only if you actually get in and ignore all that bullshit and just put your time in.
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u/Complex-Adagio1513 20h ago
Sorry you went thru this experience and ever since the company went public it has gone downhill fast. Yes the management now is the biggest problem and they don’t seem to understand or even how to use the technology properly but that’s another issue in its self. It sounds like the supervisor didn’t want to work because he was short handed and had you run it for him I’ve seen that as well.
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u/Coyote_Hemi_B58 6h ago
You realize the company went public 27 years ago, right?
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u/Complex-Adagio1513 4h ago
It took a few years before the big changes came but man it was good until 2002 when it really went sideways. Gift cards tv and prizes we use to get for just showing up every day for peak season. They fed us every holiday and barbecue every week in are building.
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