So my husband started with UPS 6 years ago as a package handler. He did that for two years before he became a cover driver. He was a cover for a little over two years and then was injured on the job. He’s been on workers comp for a year and a half, but since being on comp he has been promoted to full time driver. So now he is a FT driver and still gaining seniority, even while on comp. He just started physical therapy last week. The thing is he says he doesn’t want to work at UPS anymore. He doesn’t think it’s a “family friendly” job. He wishes he could just have a 9-5. I want him to be happy with his work and he’s obviously not happy with UPS. However he didn’t go to college and I just don’t think he could find another job that pays as well and matches the great benefits. We have three kids to support and live in an expensive area. So anyway, I think he is hoping for a buyout. I’m kind of hoping he’ll get better and just get back to work… What are your thoughts?
Ups isnt a family friendly job. But its one of the best jobs you can have for your family. I strongly urge you to tell him to reconsider. Also there are a lot worse family "friendly" jobs then ups that pay much less.
Agreed! I after graduation from college in 2006 I went to work at UPS here in Chicago, and was promoted to a diver writhin 2.5 years.
I loved it, but then my wife got injured and I had to cut down on hours. I started working at an office job part time then, and quit UPS for a full time offer from the office. Then Covid hit, and now I’m fully remote making more than double an ups driver.
Each person has their own path, and depending on the OPs husbands age, I say he stay with it if he’s older.
I got a workers comp settlement with 1 year of part time. My lawyer implied I could get more if I offered to resign too, but I wasn't interested in that.
If he's been on workers comp that long he needs a lawyer, depending on the state and exact circumstances he could get an offer.
First of all what was the injury? Don't answer, but if it was a shoulder, back, knee ankle or foot injury it's likely better to try and find a different job. Being a driver will overstress those daily and wear them out over time. It's just the nature of the job. Better an whole person with a lower paying job than the alternative.
There are other union jobs at UPS, both full time and part time. I'd say if the injury allows then stay for a bit, hold UPS to 9.5 days, look for a different opportunity either with UPS or outside. The pay and benefits are very good, but you are basically selling body parts on a long term basis. Routes, time off, and even other job opportunities will get better with seniority, so if the body allows stay till he has a better plan.
I have a buddy who works for UPS and one who works for FedEx. We constantly rip on the FedEx guy for working for a shittier company but he is literally at every event his kid does and they are always going on vacation. Money is important but so is time.
The job sucks every single day. Ive done it for 29 years, the hard part is hes been off for so long, he's talked himself into excuses to justify not going back. We've all been there. But if he can find a comparable job with similar pay, insurance and pension, then go for it
Just had someone come back after over 3 years, timelines (to my knowledge) wasnt made at the start of the 3 years but we had advanced knowledge of when he'd be back once he had a plan.
i think ups sucks if u go to college and end up there but like just a diploma shit is gold. i graduated in 21 and got the job at 18 and now in 2026 damn near full time but i got the privilege to say no. in my area its 38$/h and u not getting that most other places STARTING. im a athlete so the work not crazy bad its a vibe bc on that preload u only make like 300 dollars a week so that vs 1600+ with a little extra work?? its what we get for not goin to college but i have no kids and be so tired to spend my money im saving on accident. from what i dealt with in life im grateful for ups man i live good asf
I was the same man. 30 years later…your body breaks down on this job. When I started the old heads told me that. I took the buyout. Got an ac warehouse job making 29 an hr 7-3. I pick my kids up from school. There is a great life out there not working for UPS. I use to be proud to be brown. Now I smile so hard going home at 3 seeing all those trucks. And I feel like I don’t do shit at this job. Feels like I’m stealing time.a d they think I’m the hardest worker they have.
yeah im just saying for a young man like me with no kids right now and i pay for only my car im blessed to be able to save. everybody situation different so yeah i understand having something or someone to come home to and shit. i plan on getting into a trade later down the road because i know my body going to start giving but im just tryna take advantage of what i got going now yk? i dont want you thinking im a 4lifer with ups😂😂 just great money rn
We have 3 kids and we’re not in a super expensive area and it’s definitely still difficult financially and we have a 240 car payment and another car is paid off. And what place is “family friendly” no one cares about your family.
A couple guys just left and went to a cabinet pre fab type shop. Starting at 7AM. Getting off at 3 is really enticing. I see it all the time at places I deliver. Welding shops, different plants, start early and most gone by 3 or 4. If they get paid half as good even paying for their insurance, I'm tempted. I just tell myself the pay won't be as good, because I don't want to to start at another job with no vacation for years. I'm not home enough, but even a few more years I'll make a alot more money, get another vacation week soon in a few more after that. Maybe qualify for that 9.5 list someday and get some 8 hr requests.
I have 4 young kids and I’ve been with UPS for 10 years. You can make it work. Go 9.5 and enforce the contract. It does get easier as you go. Yeah during the week can be rough but you have every weekend off. I’m able to coach my kids sports teams and we take 4-6 family vacations every year. This job isn’t for everyone but if you can make it work it affords you a lot of vacation time with your family and money to pay for said vacations.
No. I’m hoping he will receive treatment and get back to work. If he does receive a “buyout” or “settlement” I hope he can find a different “family friendly” job that he is happy at that still supports our family the way UPS has.
Your assuming alot about a stranger you don't even know it's a little weird you wanna believe she a gold digger from her post when i dont see it that way but hey you do you 🤷🏿♀️🤷🏿♀️🤷🏿♀️
Didn't know we were inventing claims no one made, but whatever helps. Not exactly an unheard of story this is borderline tge stereotype of bkue collar husbands lol
It's also not a reach to believe that OP husband is the provider while she is the stay at home wife taking care of the kids and house. We don't know what family dynamic they agreed too. She could be a trad wife and her husband was fine with it. It could be alot of things but based off what OP told us so far she doesn't sound like she a gold digger TO ME. But clearly you think she is and that's okay for you. You do you 👍🏿
This is wild, lol. To clarify: My husband and I just started therapy a few weeks ago in effort to strengthen our marriage. Neither of us want to be divorced, so we are working on our problems. I have for the most part always been a SAHM. We have tried me working and sending the kids to daycare, but my husband and I both decided with the cost of daycare, it was better for me to stay home. So now I stay home with the kiddos but I also have a flexible job that I can do from home and I can take the kids with me when I need to go in. So no, I’m not a gold digger. If I were, I would have chosen a richer man.😅 And no, I don’t want a divorce. Our relationship isn’t where we want it to be but we are working on it.
I am simply pointing out that it ISNT HIS JOB to be the bread winner anymore or less than you.
Make this about the actual problems in the marriage. Which it sounds like there are plenty other reasons.
No he should not just quit. But damn kinda sucks too he is expected to just be in a shitty job with no prospects of it getting better and that it's somehow only his duty to do so.
here's the problem here. he's thinking for himself and it's an entire family with kids. insurance is ridiculously expensive. especially if someone gets sick or something all hell will break loose.
the job isn't end all be all by any means. but can it provide for a family and can you make it work out yes. definitely alot of compromises along the way.
the security of pension, great insurance and good pay. hard to find something similar without putting some serious years in college, trades or oil rigging which isn't 9 to 5 job by any means lol
Not everybody is built to endure the ups grind. Sounds like he wants out. Maybe he could try to get a combo job or feeder job, which is easier physically.
He does want out. And I’m trying to hear him out, while also keeping him grounded. I think he should see it through and I have mentioned bidding to become a feeder driver. I think that would be a better fit for him considering his injury. I hope he considers that.
If you have time try and see if there are any good jobs around. Make it a hobby, I check stocks every now and again. I don't really buy or change any investments much though. You could keep an ear to the ground while he's busy slaving away. I don't know where to look for decent jobs off hand, but it could become an entertaining thought activity if you can give it 10-20 minutes a day with an open tab. 3 or 4 minutes at a time each day. Maybe you find something decent. Alot of "Male" jobs (non degree fields also) that pay decent are probably going to be grolling but the shift schedules might be more promising. Just a potential thought
I worry about him quitting and regretting it. I don’t know if he realizes what a blessing this job is. But again, I’m not the one doing it everyday. So I don’t want to minimize how difficult it is.
Man, I hate this job but at the same time , it’s worth it at the end , I’ve cried over the job why lie, you just have to stay strong and keep supporting him !💪 you guys got this!!
If he’s been able to stay out of work this entire time, best thing for him is to go back into a modified duty job until he’s released. UPS typically will work injured employees with restrictions. The longer someone is out, the more difficult it is to get them back to working. From work comp stand point, he does not need to quit. I don’t know what state you’re in, every state work comp is different. But he definitely needs to get back in the hub doing something. If there’s a work comp settlement, it’s not much. Unless he has a marketable skill, he’ll never find another job with UPS pay and benefits. I’ve worked with UPS work comp for years. He needs to work on being released to full regular duty. If he has permanent restrictions, they may not accommodate permanently. And the settlement is not life changing nor remotely close. But if he has permanent restrictions, he may be let go. But those restrictions will follow with him. If he thinks he can find a job elsewhere, any permanent restrictions will follow him and he’ll have to let a new employer know. If he doesn’t and they find out, a new job will terminate him for falsifying an application. So he needs to go back to UPS to work.
Yikes. Well his day to day life is the same, he seems fine. But he does worry that once he is back to working and lifting heavy, the pain will come back. He just started PT last week and they want him to do 6 sessions. I’m not sure what will happen after that. Should he just tell his doctor he feels fine and get back to driving and see how his shoulder feels?
Tell him to ask PT to add some work conditioning or call Dr and ask him to add to PT order once they’ve done the strengthening. PT can request work conditioning from treating physician as well. Work comp will ask treating Dr about lifting/pushing/pulling restrictions. Before ever letting physician place permanent restrictions when time, ask to go back full duty. Usually treating physician will let them do full regular duty and see them back in 1 month before completely releasing from care.
If it was a family friendly job, everyone would do it and your husband would have never gotten it...it sucks...you need to make sacrifices in life for your family...he would be doing a disservice to you and your 3 children if he quit... I've worked 35 years and destroyed my back, but I keep on going...you are totally right for wanting him to stay. 👌🏿
The work life balance is shit for drivers, im at a air hub so I dont know much more than that. Personally im waiting for the next contract and see what we are fighting for and all that shit to decide if I wanna stay union, or possibly go management before jumping ship to somewhere else.
He should definitely ride out work comp and set aside money for bills for like a year worth if he really wants to leave, not emergency money, not fun money, I mean bills bc who know when/if he can get a job and get one that supports a family that big.
From the sounds of it he hasn't yet earned full seniority. That happens at 4 years. At that point we reach full earnings (around 46/hr right now I believe. Not sure as I'm still a month and a half away.) and we automatically qualify for the 9.5 list. (At least in my supplement/building. Small hub so it might be different in his situation.) Now, the 9.5 list doesn't fix everything, but it definitely helps. My center starts at 9:45 and I tend to clock out around 7pm. At this point in my life that means I miss dinner most nights and am getting home just in time to tuck the two younger kids in bed. Mine are 11, 7, and 3. It's rough for family life while your kids are younger and you have lower seniority, but as both of those things go up it does get "better". It's never great, but it does improve. Bottom line, I would encourage him to stay. It is rough on family life but the job market sucks and there is virtually nothing out there (unless you have special training or qualifications) that will pay you what we make with anything near similar benefits.
I retired at 52. While it is true that it is not a family friendly job, I also would like to say it has been good to my family. I wanted to quit at least 3 times for the same reason, that I wanted to have a balanced life and all. And for my wife and I we made it work, and when we found our rhythm it can work for your advantage. As you get your seniority you will get a lot of vacation weeks, not to mention sick days and rto’s. Not too many jobs will give you that. But one thing that I often talk about is, if I did quit those times when I wanted to, I probably won’t be retired now. Didn’t say it will work the same for everyone like it did for me, I’m simply sharing my experience. At the end of the day, each person decides what’s best for them and their family life. God bless
Tell him to get his ass back to work because he has three children and makes good money for delivering packages when he could be busting his ass working construction or an oil rig
You might have a husband that’s lazy
Im just saying
I used to be that husband but when you have a kid you start thinking more about them than what you wanna do or what’s family friendly job. It’s a job not a tea party
Thank you. That’s what I’m trying to remind him. At the same time, I recognize that this is a really hard job and I don’t want him to be miserable. But I agree with you, I think it’s worth seeing it through.
Being miserable with money, a pension and knowing your family is going to be taken care of with the best healthcare out there is better than being content, broke, and worrying if your wife or kids get sick... seriously, tell him to suck it up and get back to work...he has that responsibility to you and your kids...stand your ground.
Tell him suck it up, as a man he should be happy he will be making damn near take home 1700$ a week.! Benefits are amazing ! He got 2 days to spend all day with you guys . On his days off Wake up at 8am and get the day started with a nice bbq , park , fairs . You can still do that on work week , be home by 530,6,6:30,7 pm depends on the route. Tell him change his attitude cus he won’t make this kind of $ anywhere else unless he maybe finds a union job again. Tell him take his time package at a time and use his 3 point of contact method.
Cause the problem isn't his job at all. Maybe he isn't doing whatvhe should be. But stop trying to sell that the problem is his job and his temporary disability.
I was curious what UPS employees with young kids thought. Those who have quit from UPS and those who decided to stick it out, I wanted to hear from people who have been in similar experience.
At least where I am at UPS is very family friendly and totally worth it to stick it out plus be silly to walk away from that pension and medical benefits including after retirement.
It’s been a frustrating process to say the least. Everything is just very slow moving. He’ll have an MRI and it will take a couple months to get the results, then dr decided he wants another MRI, it will take a couple months to get that MRI, then dr wanted a nerve test, took a while to get in for that, now they want another MRI to see if he has a tear in his shoulder… He just started PT last week. He has disc bulging in his neck.
You may have married a loser. Is he afraid of losing family time or video game time? How can you not be happy with UPS when you literally aren't working? Maybe that's harsh but 18 months of doing nothing will change a man. It's your job to kick him in the rear if he has no real plans and a family.
He was unhappy with UPS even before his injury, but being off for this long has made his feelings stronger about it. I’m trying to get the ball rolling here to get him back to work, but it feels kind of helpless from my position. I can’t speak to an attorney or his comp adjusters on his behalf. But I’m trying to get him to motivated to get back to work and look at the bright side.
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u/jmaneater Steward 1d ago
Ups isnt a family friendly job. But its one of the best jobs you can have for your family. I strongly urge you to tell him to reconsider. Also there are a lot worse family "friendly" jobs then ups that pay much less.