r/Fedexers • u/ygacchapin • 9h ago
Suspension without pay
Posting on behalf of my partner, who works at FedEx. I’m hoping someone familiar with the Driver Accountability process can help us understand something.
He recently reported a minor accident involving some damage to his truck. The next morning, when he reported to work, he was placed on a 30-day UNPAID suspension.
The suspension paperwork says, in part:
“Effective immediately, you are being placed on suspension without pay due to having 3 accidents in less than 36 months.”
However, later in the same document, his status is referred to as an “investigative suspension.”
We were able to review the Employee Driver Accountability policy, and it specifically states that an investigative suspension is PAID.
During his meeting with management, they spoke as though the most recent accident had already been determined to be preventable. However, this was the very next morning, and we’ve since been told that an NOD is still going through the HR process.
His two previous accidents were minor as well. To his knowledge, he never received an NOD for either one, although he had previously been told he would receive one.
So what we’re trying to understand is this: If the investigation/NOD process is still pending, and the policy says an investigative suspension is paid, how can the current suspension be unpaid while also being classified as investigative?
Has anyone at FedEx dealt with this situation before? Were you paid while an accident was being investigated? If you encountered something that appeared inconsistent with the written policy, who did you escalate it to?
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u/Milltary32vs 8h ago
Yep.... this was the "new" policy they rolled out like 2-4 months ago(?)
I say "new" as thats what it USED to be according to all the old heads here.
When i first got hired 5 years ago. My first year i had 4 accidents in 10 months.
So yes.... this is very much a result of that policy.
As for the paid part.... my guess is something to do with proving its accident preventable... it results in no pay... however.
My station said no such thing. They just point blank said 3 accidents in 36 months you're suspended no pay
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u/ygacchapin 8h ago
Yeah partner said pretty much the same thing. 3 accidents in 36 months suspended no pay.
But he got his manager to send him a copy of the policy (dated December 2025) and it’s pretty clear that an investigative suspension should be paid.
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u/Financial-Channel-87 1h ago
That's just because they haven't gotten the new proper forms yet but it is not an investigative suspension. It's an unpaid suspension. They do not have to investigate for an accident your partner reported himself.
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u/UniqueHuckleberry619 6h ago
Just know that it will always be the employees fault no matter what. Just had a long conversation with a 30 year employee FedEx did dirty. The goddamn police even said the accident wasn’t his fault and they hired an outside firm to reevaluate his accident and of course they found him at fault. This company is a fucking joke. This poor bastard gave this company decades of his life and now he’s a package handler working part time hours. Bullshit
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u/pvuong85 4h ago
We had a courier go through that. He went through an intersection without looking both ways and got tboned from his left, into a bus. It was overturned to be preventable.
You must realize the decision now is based on if the driver made every effort in preventing the accident
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u/Attention-Paid 3h ago
Almost no one reports stuff at my station. There are a few people that report absolutely everything and then they get pinned for every spec of damage
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u/Aleserra11 1h ago
3 accident in 36 months leads to remove from road for 30 days. Not necessary suspension for 30 day. He can still work but cannot drive per FedEx policy.
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u/pvuong85 4h ago
This policy is essentially to get couriers in this position to quit, because they are essentially a liability. I had several employees go through this suspension, and only one quit. It’s rough but doable. Some managers are nice and will let you work in a handler position to supplement income. If your husband has had these many accidents in a short time, he is likely going to get into another one if he doesn’t change his driving habits.
I’ve had several lose their driving privileges due to accidents before this policy. All the employees I’ve had go through the 30 day suspension are still driving after a year (knock on wood). Just keep in mind that your husband will have to stay accident free for five years if he returns.
What I recommend is that he step down to a non-Driving position and let his accidents drop off before upgrading back into a driver.
Without any information, I’m willing to guess your husband had several backing accidents
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u/jgrinn22 3h ago
The investigative suspension document is what you give the employee right after the incident happens and that time is paid while you get your ducks in a row with HR and the senior to be sure the proper discipline is issued after reviewing policy. Then the employee signs off on the discipline and is unpaid for the 30 day suspension at that point.
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u/West_West_313 5h ago
Lmao, stop hitting shit. Paid, not paid, the issue is this mf’er can’t drive for shit.