The Postal Service implemented the “511 Initiative” in 2021 to increase the retention rate of the pre-career workforce. Image: Artistic Operations/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffTurnover of Postal Service “pre-career” employees remains high—with about half resigning within their first year of employment—despite a program aiming to improve retention, but facilities that made the most use of best practices in that program did see positive effects, an inspector general report has said.
The report was the latest in a series on addressing high rates of turnover among those employees, who are temporary workers who do not receive the same employee benefits as career employees and are not always guaranteed a regular schedule—but are eligible to be converted to career status.
The Postal Service implemented the “511 Initiative” in 2021 to increase the retention rate of the pre-career workforce, which numbers above 100,000 in rural carrier associate, city carrier assistant, postal support employee and mail handler assistant positions. That included a focus on factors that employee surveys showed as the greatest cause of turnover, including not being welcomed, wanting a better work‑life balance, and not having enough flexibility in work schedules.
The “retention pilot” aspect of that initiative includes for example conducting a mandatory meeting between the employee and their manager to discuss expectations and provide a facility tour; providing the employee at least one day off a week with workhour limitations during their first month; and scheduling the employee to work at a single facility with a consistent route assignment during their first month.
A separate “mentoring pilot” for city carrier assistants provides the opportunity to develop mentoring relationships with experienced city carriers.
However, the IG said, the USPS “has not expanded its pre‑career pilot site locations since 2022, and did not create any new pre‑career retention pilot programs in fiscal years 2023 or 2024. In addition, we found the 511 Initiative was not fully understood nationwide and challenges exist with pre‑career employees receiving coaching and feedback from facility management.”
During that time, the nationwide retention rate in those positions decreased from 49.8 percent in 2022 to 47.3 percent in 2023 to 43.2 percent in 2024, it said, and in 2024, “35 of 50 districts and all 13 divisions experienced a decrease in pre‑career employee retention.”
“Though nationwide pre‑career retention rates generally declined, we found when the 511 Initiative best practices were followed, districts generally saw improved retention,” the IG said. “We also found when the 511 Initiative best practices were not followed, districts generally saw lower retention.”
The USPS generally agreed with recommendations that facility managers be better informed and trained on the initiative, that top management reiterate its importance, and that best practices be standardized and monitored to measure their impact.
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