History of the Workplace Environment Analyst Position and its Unilateral Elimination by the USPS
Steve Musacco
For last 15 years, the USPS “Workplace Environment Analyst” position has been a key player, at the postal district level, in the prevention of workplace violence and workplace environment improvement initiatives. As of last week, employees holding these positions have been informed that their positions are to be eliminated. Based on my experience as a former “Workplace Environment Analyst”, it is certain that I and many of my colleagues in this position prevented workplace tragedies from occurring. I was appointed to this position in November 1993, and I retired from the USPS in the position effective January 2007.
The position of Workplace Improvement Analyst coincided with the massive restructuring of the USPS in 1992-1993. Initially, the position was not planned.
The impetus for creating this new position was related to the numerous postal workplace shootings in the 1980s and the early 1990s as well as congressional investigations, hearings, and inquiries. According to the information shared with me from a postal headquarters official, immediately after the two workplace shootings on May 5, 1993, several postal executives and an outside consultant convened to develop a job description addressing workplace violence and its prevention, change management, and the postal culture.
In 1993, the position was titled “EAP Coordinator” and later changed to “Workplace Improvement Analyst”. In the beginning, there were 85 “Workplace Improvement Analysts” selected, one for each postal district. Interestingly, these new positions were implemented at a time when 36,000 management positions were eliminated. This was the commitment from postal management at the time to deal seriously with the issues of workplace violence and its prevention. Beginning in November 2007, the position title was changed to “Workplace Environment Analyst”. Prior to the position title change in November, 2007, the position reported directly to the Manager, Human Resources at the District.
Currently, the Workplace Environment Improvement (WEI) group at Postal Headquarters reports to an executive staff manager under the umbrella of the labor relations department. This is unacceptable because postal labor relations officials historically have been reactive rather than proactive in terms of workplace environment improvements. Because of WEI group’s distance from top postal leadership in the current organizational reporting structure, its capacity to proactively address systemic issues of workplace violence and toxic workplace environments is seriously compromised.
Additionally, the field workplace environment analysts’ reporting structure was changed. Instead of reporting to the district’s manager of humans resources, they began reporting to an area office manager who was a direct report to the area office manager of human resources. This structural change did not radically change how WEIs conduct their job duties or responsibilities, nor was there a likelihood of improving the postal culture.
Unfortunately, plans are underway to eliminate all the “Workplace Environment Analyst” positions in the Postal Service, which includes about 55-60 employees domiciled in Postal Districts. With the Postal Service’s history of workplace tragedies, its dramatic increase in toxic workplace environments, and new downsizing initiatives, this does not bode well for the employees of the Postal Service. During this time of dramatic change and turmoil, the need for Workplace Environment Analysts is more important, not less. Clearly, the USPS has not learned the lessons of the 1980s and 1990s, when the workplace shootings were epidemic at postal facilities.
As a result of this deplorable, unilateral action by the USPS to eliminate the “Workplace Improvement Analyst” positions, important questions arise. In 1993, these positions were considered essential and critical to deal with the issues of workplace violence and its prevention. So, what has changed for higher-level decision-makers to think that this is no longer an essential and critical priority?
Who made the decision to eliminate these positions? Were the postal unions and management organizations informed or consulted on the elimination of the positions, prior to its implementation? Is the Board of Governors aware of this decision? If so, did they support the action? Who is responsible, if there is an escalation of workplace violence as a result of the elimination of these positions? Finally, if the Postal Service does not reverse its decision on the elimination of the “Workplace Environment Improvement” positions, should Congress intervene?
February 9th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
As a union official in the Fort Worth District, I did not hesitate to call Mr Musacco when I felt he was needed in my office. I can speak from personal expreience of the good that he did, and the great loss his retirement was to me personally. When he was in his position with the USPS my management officials took action to avoid having me call him in for assistance. They did not want him in the office and would do their best to resolve issues at the lowest level to keep him out. The Workplace Environment Improvement positions are needed, but they need to be filled with people like Steve Musacco.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Workplace Environment Analyst is not a job that I am even remotely familiar with but neither is Vice President of Sustainability. As a letter carrier, I only deal with the day to day realities of delivering the mail. As a union officer and creator of a website for letter carriers, I see increasing conflict in the workplace as the Postal Service shows less tolerance towards its employees. Injured employees are harassed by the National Reassessment Process and working employees are threatened with Restrictive Sick Leave letters for as little as three days of sick leave a year. Apparently, removing the Workplace Environment Analysts will allow the Postal Service to continue its utilitarian polices unchecked to the detriment of its workforce. If every district has a Workplace Environment Analyst, I wonder how or why our Analyst has never been seen or heard from. The best source of information is the employee and the worst source is his/her supervisor.
February 9th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
As a retired letter carrier and author of two books about the postal work environment, I am disappointed, but not surprised that the Postal Service eliminated the WEAP position–again, now all we can do is weep!
Unfortunately, the USPS is destined to continue its current management practices. It always ops for short term gains and is so myopic it never seems to understand or see a program that will create long term gains.
I applaud Steve for coming forward and writing his book. I hope it does open eyes, especially in the right places. It is our only chance of changing the way the Postal Service does business. The more that step forward, the better the chance for change.
February 10th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I do believe we need some intervention outside the Postal Service. The terror is within and cannot be expected to cure the disease in this manner.
The market within the USPS is becoming more competitve on all levels of “keeping their job”, middle managers are the worst, eating their own and having little conscious of reducing hours and eliminating jobs. There has to be a better way. Economic desparity is the worst evil because it causes people to act in ways they normally would not and this goes for the reaction of those effected.
February 18th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
I’ve spoken to several district level managers and postmasters, union leaders and postal inspectors regarding this recent move by USPS headquarters to eliminate these positions. To a person… they are shocked and dismayed…. the managers and postmasters, as they consult with these professionals in dealing with conflicts in various constructive ways…… the union leaders, who go to these folks at times when local and upper management refuse to address issues in facilities that have the capacity to increase tensions….and most of all, the postal inspectors, who rely on the people in these positions to monitor the conflicts that occur within the districts and initiate actions so that local managers handle and diffuse less serious situations. This leaves the postal inspectors and their own limited resources available for the most serious cases of concerns. In addition to eliminating these positions, there has been no communication as to how the districts are going to take on these added responsibilities which, if unmet, can have catastrophic consequences should, god forbid, the continuing tensions and frustrations of employees become overwhelming for some. The timing of this “reduction-in-force” is truly ‘too hard to swallow.”