There are certain rural carrier provisions that happen around the new Guarantee year and the end of the year. Pay close attention to anything highlighted, or you may end up being surprised.
Guarantee Year
The new Guarantee year starts on October 5th, 2024
Carriers are paid overtime for all hours actually worked in excess of 2,080, up to 2,240, within the 52-consecutive-week guarantee period.
If a carrier works more than 2,240 hours within the guarantee period, the agreement under FLSA section 7(b)(2) is considered void, and the carrier must be compensated for all hours worked during the guarantee period in accordance with FLSA section 7(a). More on the Guarantee period
High/Low Option Election
A Rural Carrier’s pay grows with the size of their route. In certain situations a Rural Carrier may have the additional opportunity of choosing what is called a “high option”.
This basically means they are requesting to work more hours per week, in order to receive more pay.
High/Low option is chosen at the close of each mini mail survey, so twice per year. Carriers can change from High back to Low option at any time, but not the reverse.
X days – Guarantee Year and Christmas Period
During the period that starts with the beginning of the guarantee period through the end of the designated Christmas period, a regular rural carrier who works the relief day and is entitled to an X day, must be given the X day as scheduled by the Employer within the same pay period in which the relief day was worked.
Regular rural carriers shall be prohibited from scheduling a previously earned X day from the beginning of the guarantee period through the end of the designated Christmas period.
If the X day is not received with- in the same pay period, the Employer will compensate the regular rural carrier 100% of the carrier’s daily rate of pay in lieu of the X day.