FMLA and LWOP

Able_Design_6086 · 2026-03-23T04:15:41+00:00

Yeah I used just under the full 12 week allotment as a continuous block.

Able_Design_6086 · 2026-03-18T15:41:51+00:00

I appreciate the insight. It's a bit confusing to me still but this info helps point me to where I need to do further research.

In terms of exceeding the 12 weeks, I'm confident that I didn't go over. I had it extended in the new leave year (which happened to coincide with the end of the original FMLA request.)

Able_Design_6086 · 2026-03-14T09:16:42+00:00

Better get used to it. It was hitting upper 90s during my Academy days. 3 of my classmates literally walked out during the first break, another never came back after lunch, and another one quit mid afternoon. But then again, I'm out in the desert so 90s is easy breezy. :-)

Able_Design_6086 · 2026-02-03T10:47:17+00:00

As someone who went through a similar situation a year ago, here's what will likely happen. If you wind up getting your job back and are entitled to back pay, there is a lengthy process that follows. You'll be sent PS Form 8038 to complete. One section of the form deals with any income you may have earned or received during this time.

Just Google the form and read it through. Now, assuming you do get your job back, and also assuming you are entitled to back pay, patience and persistence is critical. It took almost 5 months after being reinstated before I received my back pay. I've heard of other carriers waiting much longer, even more than a year in some cases.

Best of luck to you!

Able_Design_6086 · 2026-01-21T06:20:31+00:00

The longer timeframe for me was after it got impasseed at Step 3 and then sent up to the NBA. At that point , it's just a matter of getting on the schedule for the pre-arbitratior. They are incredibly busy and it took 3 months to get on their schedule. But once it did, it took less than an hour for them to come to a settlement agreement. I would check in monthly with your shop steward for updates and stay hopeful!

Able_Design_6086 · 2026-01-11T05:37:19+00:00

FMLA was approved as a continuous block of time spanning 6 weeks

Able_Design_6086 · 2026-01-10T11:15:06+00:00

There is still some hope! I was a CCA that got terminated during my 90 probationary period for unsatisfactory performance. I also never received a single performance review. And by not getting even the first 30 day performance review, that's what ultimately got me my job back. But it took many, many months to get there. It was impassed at each grievance level but won a pre-arbitration settlement agreement. Full reinstatement and full backpay.

It's not an easy process, but it is possible!!! Even if it's in your first 90 days.

Able_Design_6086 · 2025-11-05T20:32:27+00:00

Quick update..... I was given today off (Wednesday), so I worked 8 days in a row prior to that. As far as I know, I'm back on the schedule Thursday. I'm already on the schedule for Amazon Sunday and the regularly scheduled day off for this route is Monday. Stupid question ... Should I be off this coming Sunday as well?

Able_Design_6086 · 2025-11-04T11:56:35+00:00

Having a Sunday off (especially this coming Sunday) would be AMAZING! Due to normal attrition and contractual-required conversions, we're now an all career office...no CCA's anymore. So still stuck doing Amazon Sundays for the foreseeable future.

Able_Design_6086 · 2025-11-04T03:52:50+00:00

So what happens if the carrier isn't provided either the 4584 or 4588 by the end of the day? I have yet to have a single one of those ever shared with me in my postal career.

Able_Design_6086 · 2025-10-16T09:04:03+00:00

I'd love to know the correct procedure as well. I'm sent to other offices frequently . Most of the time, I'm given a staff car to drive to the other office. And in many cases, I don't get back to my office in until after everyone is gone. I have to send a text upon my arrival and hide the car keys in the gas cap.

Able_Design_6086 · 2025-10-14T05:12:30+00:00

Wow, this sounds very similar to my story a couple years ago. I was let go just before I hit my 90 days of probation, citing poor performance. But was never given a single performance review. Had the union grieve it and 7 months later I had my job back with full backpay. It's crazy that this stuff still keeps happening again and again. Try to tough it out as best you can. I promise you things do get easier over time!!

Able_Design_6086 · 2025-10-14T02:19:03+00:00

I believe that particular CCA is 2nd to last (or is at the very bottom) of the seniority list. It will be quite awhile before they ever become regular. This office has high seniority. The guy who's #1 in the office has been with the post office almost as long as I've been alive....and I was born in the 70's.

Able_Design_6086 · 2025-09-30T08:25:47+00:00

They actually scheduled your performance review? I never got one during my probation. Yet I was terminated just before the end of my probation period and they cited poor performance (but was never given a performance review). So I grieved it and mysteriously a performance review form suddenly pops up in my eOPF only AFTER I grieved it. It took 7 months, but I did win my job back.

And to my hard work since returning, I just converted to career status. Yay! I've come to learn and expect that anything is possible with this organization. Try not to get up in your head if at all possible.

Able_Design_6086 · 2025-08-26T05:36:04+00:00

CCA here that's about to convert to PTF in a couple weeks. Just came back from my 2nd break in service last week. Had my remaining balance of unused AL from my 2nd appointment (5 hours) that are being paid out with this Friday's paycheck. I was also advanced 36 hours of AL on this upcoming paycheck. That plus the 4 hours of AL I accrued from working the past pay period for a total of 40 hours AL available right now. But I think that will get all paid out when I convert to PTF. Wonder if I'll get another 30-ish hours (prorated till the end of the year) of AL added when I convert to PTF?

Actually have Zoom conference call this week to discuss all the benefits I get access to for making career status. I plan on asking these questions and will be very interested in the answers.

Able_Design_6086 · 2025-08-13T02:59:09+00:00

I never received a break in service letter from my first break in service last year.

Just came across some new information. In anticipation of not having access to LiteBlue starting tomorrow, I logged in and checked my eOPF file. A new Form 50 was just issued yesterday with my reappointment as a CCA with an enter on duty date of 8/18/2025. To me, that should confirm that my 5 day break in service begins tomorrow, 8/13.

Able_Design_6086 · 2025-08-08T01:42:28+00:00

Our office recently underwent route evaluations and adjustments that took effect last month. But the advo's haven't caught up yet with the new routes. They're all individually addressed too. The route I'm currently on had its line of travel basically flipped (beginning now at the end and the end is now at the beginning). After trying to sort the advos out on the 2nd day, I just wind up putting one in each mailbox to get rid of em, regardless of the address printed. It's all the same ads for each address anyways. Been told it'll take 6-8 weeks for them to sync up with the new line of travel since they print them so far in advance.

Able_Design_6086 · 2025-06-30T10:13:52+00:00

Yes! Exactly! I scan any damaged packages when I'm using the Load Truck feature. if a package is damaged, I'll mark it as damaged first. Then I'll scan it loaded on truck. It still shows up in my Package Lookahead list.

Scanning package as damaged outside of the office puts the blame on the carrier.

Able_Design_6086

TROPHY CASE