Post Office

Hank sits at work next to a young female coworker who struggles with the mail routes. He guides her on which cases to place the mail in while the supervisor watches. The supervisor criticizes Hank for exceeding the time standard on his tray, even after 11 years, and warns him that he’ll face counseling and a written reprimand. Hank reflects on his long tenure and the toll the job takes on his colleagues, who either become physically worn down or overweight. He notices his own body deteriorating from repetitive motion, long hours, and stress. Not only does he continue to experience dizzy spells, but he has widespread physical pain.

Hank enters the counselor’s office, where Eddie “Skinny” Beaver sits behind the desk. Beaver tells Hank that he took 28 minutes to complete a 23-minute tray. Hank protests, explaining that trays vary in difficulty and size, and argues that judging a worker by a single tray is unfair. Beaver insists that the post office uses the timed standard to maintain production and warns Hank that another slow tray will send him to advanced counseling. When Hank sarcastically questions whether he can use saved time from an easier tray for a break, Beaver forbids it.