Time and Attendance Collection System (TACS) functions have recently been merged into a TACS Help Desk, located at the Eagan, MN, Accounting Service Center.
The change streamlines processes and cuts costs. The new facility is expected to save the Postal Service more than $15 million annually.
The TACS Help Desk uses a shared services environment developed by a Lean Six Sigma team. According to Accounting Services Manager Jean Parris, the help desk uses the “same call center software package used by the customer contact center, so we are leveraging existing technology.”
In October 2013, the project team began consolidating timekeeping processes at the Eagan location. These functions had previously been handled by hundreds of clerks in districts around the country. “We’re about two-thirds of the way towards bringing support into Eagan from all of the districts in the country,” said Parris.
Parris also said a new streamlined process allows help desk agents to assist field supervisors and managers by email, fax and telephone, with a variety of TACS services, including creation of time-keeping badges.
“We have centralized and standardized the creation of all the time-keeping badges,” said Parris. “We can turn around badge requests in short order. We can generate the badge and use Priority Mail to quickly get them out to the field.”
When the consolidation process is completed at the end of January, the TACS Help Desk staff of 100 clerks will be able to perform the work that was previously done in the field.
“This is really a process that allows us to be more efficient and provide consistent service,” said Parris
via USPS News Link
APWU, USPS Reach Agreement on TACS Jobs The APWU and USPS have reached an agreement [PDF] regarding management’s plan to transfer work currently being performed by more than 330 TACS Clerks in locations across the country to a single location in Eagan, MN. In August, the USPS notified the union of plans to reassign the Time and Attendance.. APWU Challenges USPS Plan To Transfer Time & Attendance Work
If a supervisor can’t get TACS correct then take them out of that job and move them back to clerk, carrier, or mailhandler. In large offices the managers should run reports of employees whose time is messed up and get it fixed on Saturday or Sunday. This is not rocket science. Rural Carriers time should be allowed to be input before 2:00 pm on Friday not wait until 4:00 or later to open the system. 4:00 and after is the busy time of day and PMs and supervisors don’t have time to input. Have Rural carriers time input for every day but Friday ahead of time and for clerk/carriers/mailhandlers if time is good for 4 days don’t hold up check. Pay them for 8 hours on Friday if they have at least one clock ring and make corrections the next week and automatically adjust the paycheck. You can always issue discipline to either the craft or supervisor to correct the situation.
My sources tell me that pay adjustments are starting to rise dramatically. A centralized call center is very 1990s. Any place with a computer and a phone can be a “call center.” The HR Shared Services has been an unmitigated disaster. The TACS center will be no different. Very unfortunate.
They were probably all supervisors doing these jobs.
As one of the eliminated clerks, let me say the transition to a shared service environment has gone more smoothly than anticipated. There are, however, inherent problems lurking. I used to telephone offices that had time missing or incorrect/invalid entries for timekeeping. That doesn’t happen any more. The result will be a phenomenal increase in payroll adjustments and more disgruntled employees whose checks don’t match with the hours they put in. Yes, “babysitting” offices shouldn’t be necessary. The fact is that all post offices are currently overwhelmed with administrative details that add hours every day of the week, this being the latest and most likely the one that will break the camel’s back. I’ve had enough and will hit the off ramp shortly. Many of the knowledgeable people in the field are doing the same. Who will be left to carry the load? The part-timers? Calculating the savings requires more inclusion of collateral damage due to the shift away from districts. No longer my problem!