I would actually consider myself the very rare Postal worker. In the department I work, it's one of the most physical jobs, so you really do work. It's the guys and gals that throw one piece of mail at a time that really don't work all that hard. There are a few exceptions. I've worn a pedometer before, and on average I walk 10 to 15 miles a night. I usually average 60 miles in a 5 day week. I haven't worked 5 day weeks in a while though! Then factor in all the lifting and bending and repetive motions.....wait a minute, that didn't sound good. Bending and repetitive motions!
Anyway, tough job.
Benefits for me, 20 vacation days a year, 13 sick days and 10 holidays. If I work the 10 holidays, I can either get double time, or I can get a vacation day in lieu of the holiday pay, plus my regular work pay. I've been there 8 years. Once you are there 13 years, you get an extra 5 days of vacation. If you were in the military, you add those years to your time at the Post office and you can hit 13 a lot easier. Plus the pay is decent. Yet some still complain.
Oh yeah, in most jobs, you lose your sick leave if you don't use it, at the P.O. it rolls and rolls. There is a guy that's been there 35 years and has something like 3700 hours of sick leave. That's almost 2 years of work he can take off!
Scott