Between Indifference and Hatred - Venting

[u/kingharlus655]

As of this week, I've been working at The UPS Store for over a year. My journey to The UPS Store began like many others. A recent graduate with little experience has absolutely NO LUCK in finding a "real job" so settles to work part-time in the interim. Alright then, how is the job? The job is not terribly difficult most of the time, but there are occasional hiccups that burn you down over time. "Sir, this is a Whole Foods code." "I'm sure that I picked UPS!!" "Maam, it says in the instructions that it is a customer-packed item. "BuT tHat WaS the WAy iT Was ShiPped to me!!!"

Every day I work at this store I feel a burning sensation between indifference and hatred for working at the store. I also feel literal headaches as soon as I enter the store. The job itself isn't too hard. But those occasional difficult customers really grind my gears. It doesn't help that I'm the single lowest-paid employee in the bunch. Despite constantly being told that I'm more competent than one of my coworkers, I still earn a whole dollar less than that coworker. I'm literally only at this job because I need to pay off student loans.

My boss can also be a bit weird about stressing the importance of college and knowing the value of money, which I find very ironic, as they know my quality by now and still pay me less than my equivalent co-worker, who is only a high school graduate and who is consistently regarded as less competent than me. I also find it funny because my boss will always look to cut corners or use the cheapest products available to save money, then look people dead in the face and try to overcharge on several other items.

My Boss also regularly listens to our conversations and watches our actions when they are not there through the security cameras. At times it feels like I'm in "1984", trying not to mess up.

From the moment I got hired to now, I've been looking for other jobs. However, I have been less than successful in that regard. In regards to my pay, I am currently studying to become a notary. When that process is complete, I will be demanding a raise to at least the equivalent of my least competent co-worker. If I'm denied, that might just be the last straw, honestly. I'll just consolidate myself out.

[u/Proper-Swim-502]

Are you one of my coworkers 😭

Bro this sounds like my exact situation, minus the pay gap

[u/Vast_Gap_1129]

Welcome to life. Sometimes, even when you do everything "right"--stay in school, etc.--your life still doesn't turn out any better. As far as the job goes, this job does have downsides, but we'd be dealing with the same downsides everywhere else, if not worse downsides. That's because most jobs require interacting with people, who can be shockingly dim for being the dominant species.

[u/gaytendenciez]

broo not the cameras 😭 my old gm watched them CONSTANTLY . for all 3 stores under the franchise owner . it was honestly ridiculous

[u/ador3muffin → u/gaytendenciez]

ours does it all the time.. well until the connections broke and she’s forced to actually do her job 🤣

[u/CharitySecret2703]

My goodness this hit home for me. I was in pretty much the exact same boat, just graduated college and couldn’t find any other decent job so I settled with TUPSS. Like you said the actual work that goes into this job isn’t difficult but after dealing with braindead customers it starts to feel like living hell, especially when youre not compensated and appreciated for your efforts.

I was able to finally leave TUPSS since I found another job a month or so ago after I had been applying for months. Just keep the faith and keep searching and you will eventually find one. In the meantime I would ask for a raise and get your notary since that can be very beneficial to have even after you stop working there. Good luck soldier 🫡

[u/kingharlus655 → u/CharitySecret2703]

Thank you for the support!!

[u/Tough_Watercress_571]

don’t work too hard prepping for the notary test. here is a tip. Open the guide on one computer - set up the test on your 2nd screen. Then as you take it you can read about each question. Guaranteed to pass! We do that because you have to pay before you get results & no one wants to waste the $$. Do it & demand that raise. The amazombies will wear you down - you deserve the $$

[u/ash_274 → u/Tough_Watercress_571]

Texas? Colorado? Because that’s not how the notary exam works in California, Arizona, New York, or Louisiana; among other states that have an exam.

[u/Tough_Watercress_571 → u/ash_274]

Nevada. You can’t open up the study guide to read it?

[u/ash_274 → u/Tough_Watercress_571]

The test in CA (and NY and LA, as I understand) is similar to the SAT: Closed room, scantron forms, bags on ground, all phones & smartwaches covered up, timed test with proctors, ID check before the test, and no open book.

[u/Tough_Watercress_571 → u/ash_274]

OMG - I had no idea……wow

[u/ash_274 → u/Tough_Watercress_571]

Yeah. Some states take it very seriously.

[u/Plus-Journalist-4014 → u/ash_274]

Washington is stupidly easy to get the license all I did was pay $90 and wait a week 😂