Randy McGeachy served as the temporary postmaster of the Oxford Post Office for less than a year, but in that short time, he made a huge impression on the employees.
‘He makes this office run smoothly,? said Lisa Hoult, a letter carrier in Oxford for about 28 years. ‘No one has ever made it run this smoothly.?
The employees are waging a campaign to bring McGeachy back on a permanent basis.
‘He just made it a better place,? said Deonna Byrnes, a 16-year letter carrier for Oxford. ‘Everybody enjoyed coming to work.?
McGeachy came to Oxford last March, but was transferred to the Roseville Post Office last month to be the temporary postmaster, or officer in charge, there. He’s worked for the post office for 24 years.
The Oxford postmaster position is up for grabs and he’s applied. To the employees, McGeachy’s definitely the man for the job.
During his brief tenure, they say he dramatically improved the workplace atmosphere.
Prior to McGeachy, Byrnes said ‘everybody was grouchy? and ‘kept to themselves.?
‘Some of the postmasters that we had were kind of rough. Some of them were kind of rude to us,? she explained.
‘For so many years, it felt like a war zone in here,? Hoult said.
The employees said McGeachy changed all that by listening to them, caring about them, joking with them and above all, treating them in a respectful and fair manner.
‘He treats everybody the same,? said Postal Clerk Lisa O’Neill, who’s worked at the Oxford branch for 23 years. ‘If you’re wrong, you’re wrong. If you’re right, you’re right.?
‘When somebody respects you, you’ll give more than 100 percent because you know you’re valued,? Hoult said.
It was the little things McGeachy did, like starting each day with a joke and a weather report, that really made a difference and set the tone.
‘Everybody was always happy,? Byrnes said. ‘He definitely changed everybody’s mood. It’s really nice coming to work. It’s like a family. Everybody is friends.?
‘Everybody’s working well together,? O’Neill said.
‘I would say the morale is the best it’s ever been,? Hoult noted.
Far from being one to just hide in his office all day, McGeachy further endeared himself to the employees by often rolling up his sleeves and pitching in wherever help was needed, whether it was sorting mail or assisting customers.
‘He’s a hands-on postmaster,? said Paulette Morris, supervisor of customer service at the Oxford Post Office. ‘He was in the front window helping out, pulling parcels, trying to keep the line moving, so we didn’t have long wait times.?
He improved customer relations by consistently demonstrating a friendly, can-do attitude. When there was a line, McGeachy could always be counted on to boost customers? spirits with a joke or two.
The employees also commented on how McGeachy worked hard to improve the overall speed and efficiency of postal operations.
‘He gave me the tools I needed to make (the job) quick, easy and safe out there,? Hoult said. ‘Every other manager has not done that.?
McGeachy did a lot to enhance the post office building’s appearance, both inside and out.
Prior to his tenure, the employees said the building’s interior was by no means a tidy place.
‘We (had) worked in such a filthy building for so long,? Hoult said.
‘We didn’t have a janitor for a long time,? explained O’Neill.
McGeachy filled the janitorial position and all that changed.
‘Our building hasn’t been this clean in years,? O’Neill said.
Hoult said it’s ‘startling? how ‘dramatically cleaner? the place is. ‘There is a big difference ? the floors, the bathrooms, the trash cans. He has done so much.?
Until McGeachy arrived, the building’s exterior had been neglected for quite some time, resulting in a shabby appearance, according to the employees.
He tackled things head on by getting the building painted, windows replaced, locks fixed and the parking lot re-striped.
‘We’ve had a lot of customers come in and just compliment (us) on how good the front of the building looks,? O’Neill said.
Morris noted whenever a problem was brought to McGeachy’s attention, he immediately addressed it and got it fixed.
‘He didn’t put it on the back-burner or just blow it off. He, basically, was on top of it,? she said. ‘He gets things done.?
McGeachy used his own money to purchase flowers and planters to spruce up the building’s curb appeal. He even reached into his pocket to create an outdoor display for Halloween and Oxford’s Scarecrow Festival.
‘None of the other postmasters ever did any of that,? Byrnes said.
Employees of the Oxford branch are definitely tired of seeing bosses come and go.
‘It would be nice to have some stability here,? said Morris, a 21-year veteran of the postal service.
She said she’s ‘gone through? four bosses ? two postmasters and two officers in charge ? since transferring to Oxford in July 2014
‘We’ve been without a steady postmaster for quite a while,? Hoult noted. ‘It’s been like a (revolving) door.?
The employees are hoping this story, along with a petition they’re planning to submit, will convince the powers that be at the post office to return McGeachy to where they feel he truly belongs.
‘He cares about everybody here. He cares about the community,? Hoult said. ‘He does the best he can for everyone.?
‘We consider him part of our family,? Byrnes said.