[altern8]

I would say both less efficient and less profitable.

If you're saying FedEx people are also depressed, then maybe it's just delivering boxes that's the problem?

But I think it's pretty safe to say that there is nobody more pissed off than post office workers. Are they nice in Estonia? Luckily I do most stuff online nowadays but when I have to go to the post office it's always an awful experience.

[pebble]

I would say it's more likely that the hours and wages are the problem.

A few grumpy delivery workers aside, most people in Estonia are nice in general. You should come visit :)

I don't know where you are but consider that the reasons your postal workers are pissed of may go deeper than simply being government employed. Could it be your state-owned services are being managed in way that makes their workers unhappy because they are run by people who think that government services even need to be profitable in the first place?

[altern8]

I'm in Poland, but I'm from Italy and I've lived in the U.S. for a few years. Worst post offices in Italy by far, but Poland and U.S. pretty similar.

Other low-paying jobs don't seem to generate the same amount of unhappiness.

I have no idea what the reason is, to me it's just that governments can't do anything right because they're too big with no oversight.

That's why I was complaining about socialism, anywhere I've been where the government runs more than just post offices it was hell.

In Poland, all these Soviet buildings and if you look at old pictures of people standing for hours in queues for bread. Truly horrific. I was recently in Cuba and even if they can't talk about it many people told me they would flee right away if they could, but the government doesn't give them passports. Socialism destroys everything.

[TylerE]

Source on 'poorly paid'? In the US starting salary for a USPS carrier is $24/hr. FexEx starting pay is $17/hr.

[TylerE]

If you're talking about the US, you're glossing over a couple of really important points. The USPS is required to provide universal service. I'm sure providing service to NYC and SF is extremely profitable, and providing service to rural Iowa where the cows outnumber the humans 100:1 isn't. USPS doesn't get to pick and choose.

FedEx and UPS do... and in fact in those rural communities often uses the USPS for last mile service.