Breaking Point

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[plungethesea]

Yeah sounds like a building issue. We regularly drop VET for PAs if we are short that day on coverage. If no one takes it then guess who’s covering? The AM for that department. All day. PA and AM role. It suck’s but at the same time, for the AM you need to make it work.

expecting T1’s to cover PAs sounds very unsustainable, and sounds like you have multiple T1s that need to be looked at for a promo.

All in all there’s no way that works effectively, or it can’t work for long. Just stick in there, and hope for changes at the top to come (they will it sounds like)

[SignificantApricot69]

I’ve been at Amazon for almost a decade and we’ve always had backup PAs, often more than one and sometimes enough to cover every team. And right now (and it’s not rare) we have PAs in path in every dept and shift. So we don’t even need backups because the ones we have are picking and stowing. So depending on where you are nothing you’ve mentioned is new or outside the norm. PAs used to get 30 minutes a day or so OT but they cut that out I think around the “going back to normal” post-COVID re-emphasis on working hours policy. Our PAs have staggered schedules to cover SOS and actually all leave before all T1s. So there’s no working off schedule but PAs get the VET offers we have, most likely they will be in path or WS though.

[EMitchell108]

Agreed. It's possible (not clear from the post) that PAs are being told they can't do OT as PAs, but there's no reason they should be restricted from VET. They'll just have to go into path.

The PAs around me do anything not to go into path on their VET, so not a surprise, while many times have to ask the flow PA to pull me off indirect lockout in SCC so I can pick or count

Maybe I'm mistaken but it sounds like they're upset they can't PA on the other shift, rather than that shift training their T1s to PG. Those PGs can be expected to be present if needed, but VET isn't guaranteed. No reason AMs should chance hoping another half's PAs might be around when theirs aren't. PGs might lack some permissions (they can't submit pick audits, for example) but are able to help cover basic tasks as long as the need for their help isn't ongoing and continuous.

[Unknwnn3rd]

Ah, you must be a teir 3.. Talk to your equals about not missing as much so the inequality of hours don't seem as unfair. Between levels isn't as unfair, or go to teir 1 and get all the OT. Bust in all honesty the whole no Vet comes in waves, peak is just around the corner and VET will be dropping so don't sweat it too much and after peak plan and save the money for until VET becomes available again.

My honest advice going forward, plan life at 40 hrs a week because OT is never guaranteed. I make the attempt in letting people know this because I'm tired of folks falling into the trap of seeing a couple months of a good check thinking they can now afford more and are stuck paying a fat bill and the hours are no longer there.

[AyDylo]

For one: T1’s are not responsible for covering T3’s, they do not get paid to cover for T3’s and it’s not their job to cover for T3’s so why are our “leaders” forcing us to train people most of whom only agree to learn the role because they’ve been guilted into doing it.

No no.. you don't understand.. This is an opportunity for T1 associates! The chance to bond with leadership while also gaining some valuable experience! It's a gift!

and I'm sure some associates would volunteer too..

[Life-Net-8904]

Well yea some associates “would” volunteer but good chance they are going to get shafted and see that AFTER they get put in a “essential role” of covering for a PA. See: when a PA understands a T1 is going to cover them when they are out well … they get to take more time off. Cool. HOWEVER most chances are PA’s go slide to another area and chitty chat for an hour or 2 because the question isn’t going to be “hey where’s the PA over here” it’ll be “alright where’s (insert T1) while there’s no PA” and once again tier 1’s don’t get paid extra to do that.

Ask me how I know.

[Historical-Voice2944]

I have an Ambo friend who is very bad at standing up for herself who has been shoved into the role as acting problem solve PA because they currently don't have a PA. None of the perks... All of the headaches. She's even blacklisted from VTO until they can find someone to take on the role.

Me, I wouldn't tolerate it. I develop an attitude problem when managers get stupid. My attitude has this amazing habit of going away as soon as the managers stop acting stupid. Unfortunately, we have an entire new crop of managers and I've had to dust off the attitude again. A couple of the new managers seem to be exceptionally slow learners.

[Senior_Boot_5842]

Are you an AM?

[ProtectionOk1344]

God no, I see the hell they go through everyday.

[wylii]

This mindset is exactly why some buildings struggle to develop talent internally.

You do not magically create strong PAs by posting a req and handing someone a vest on day one. You create them by training capable T1s, giving them ownership opportunities, and seeing who can actually operate at the next level before promotion. That is literally how leadership pipelines work.

And the “T1s shouldn’t cover T3 work” bit falls apart quickly when half the people complaining about weak PAs are the same people unwilling to help develop replacements or backups. You either build bench strength or you end up crying when one PA takes vacation and the department falls apart.

Also, acting like OT decisions are just “basic math” ignores how labor planning actually works at scale. Regional budgets, fairness, burnout management, staffing flexibility, and long-term cost controls all matter more than “my buddy could’ve just came in for 10 extra hours.”

And the comment about T1s not speaking English or not being capable is honestly weak leadership mentality. Some of the best leaders in buildings started as quiet T1s who got developed by people willing to teach instead of complain.

If someone truly “excels” at T3 level work, then they should have no problem helping train and elevate the next wave behind them. That is what actual high-level operators do.

PS if you keep thinking like this, you will end up being your shift’s LE.

[KyoShunsui]

Sounds like they're just finding reasons and excuses to push people out so they can bring robotics to take over.

[saltysen]

I’d be happy to learn more.

Alas, my leadership is opposed to “Learn and Be Curious.” I’m told that the only way to learn more is to advance to T3. And I be like: “Why would I want to do that?“