A few questions

[taurus88]

Hello, I am reasonably new to life as a postman and have a few issues - one regarding myself (and my delivery office as a whole), another an acquaintance of mine who started at a similar time to me. First of all, we have been told in our office that we shall, starting soon, be taking out a further fifteen minutes worth of a walk BEFORE our own delivery. How exactly will this occur, and given the logistical nightmare already that is the sorting and distribution of mail, especially with regards to van men and dropping off bags, how shall this infringe upon our other duties? Furthermore, we have been told, albeit unofficially, to attend prior to our usual starting time of 8.50am (I personally usually arrive at around 8.10am, but I think they are suggesting an 8am start time). I was wondering where we stand on this as I am actually a part-timer who ought to work from 9am to 2pm (in theory). I doubt I shall be arriving any earlier than normal as public transport dictates for me when I arrive. Given that we have not been instructed in writing to start at 8am, I do not feel as if this can be considered a shift change de jure even if the DOM is hoping it will happen de facto.

My second enquiry regards somebody in my office who has been pulled up for not wearing a helmet. As a newbie, the full gravity and necessity of wearing a helmet was not really made clear to the person, yet it seems they are likely to go down the conduct path. As far as I am aware this is their first offence, they are new to the job, and have not really been properly trained. In terms of bike use, they were given no training at all. I wonder what the likely repercussions of this 'offence' are, and whether a case can be made on the grounds that they were not really trained, and that they were never implicitly advised of the requirements regarding helmet use. The most I have ever heard a manager say is 'oi, get your helmet on' which in my mind does not suffice. I am obviously concerned for the person in question as I know for a fact that this was a mere aberration on their part after a long day - when you are unaccustomed to cycling in a professional environment it is very difficult to adhere to sudden changes, and when you are cycling back from your round and feeling a little weary I can only imagine that is human nature to revert to type and forget about the helmet.

In both cases, any answers would be appreciated.

[BELIAL]

If you start at 6am and finish at 3pm ,your manager will love you and management bonuses will be secure. You will be working 4hrs unpaid ,but I'm sure your extra effort will be appreciated if not rewarded

[TeeferTiger]

You work your time unless overtime is agreed beforehand (by both parties, don't feel pressured into doing it).

If they want you to deliver more then, once again, you can only deliver so much in the time you've got. If you can't deliver it all, you'll be bringing it back and you need to make them aware of that before you take the mail out.

Also, have you been with the company less than 12 weeks? If so, I'd suggest they left you the hell alone for the time being while you get used to your delivery. Nevermind lapsing and all that crap.

As for the cycle helmet issue. If they can provide something that he has signed to say that he knows about wearing PPE then I'm afraid they've got him banged to rights. I would still ask for that evidence though and get a union rep in there with you (if he joined that is, otherwise, another colleague who knows what they're talking about!).

It's his first "offence" but still on probation so not a good start. However, I've known people get off with a slap on the wrist for leaving mail in the front of the van, engine running, door open and they were across the road so it would be rather unfair for him to lose his job over it.

[Himaggen]

Info:
Cycle Helmets worn by employees on the roads are not covered under the 1992 PPE at Work Regulations.

<Edit>
Royal Mail: a Health & Safety perspective

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Info:
Cycle Helmets worn by employees on the roads are not covered under the 1992 PPE at Work Regulations.

<Edit>
Royal Mail: a Health & Safety perspective

But further on from your quote:

They are, however, free to require employees to wear cycle helmets as part of their uniform. HSE has no remit to dictate the uniform policy of a company unless it falls within the scope of PPE.

Catch 22.

[taurus88]

You work your time unless overtime is agreed beforehand (by both parties, don't feel pressured into doing it).

If they want you to deliver more then, once again, you can only deliver so much in the time you've got. If you can't deliver it all, you'll be bringing it back and you need to make them aware of that before you take the mail out.

Also, have you been with the company less than 12 weeks? If so, I'd suggest they left you the hell alone for the time being while you get used to your delivery. Nevermind lapsing and all that crap.

As for the cycle helmet issue. If they can provide something that he has signed to say that he knows about wearing PPE then I'm afraid they've got him banged to rights. I would still ask for that evidence though and get a union rep in there with you (if he joined that is, otherwise, another colleague who knows what they're talking about!).

It's his first "offence" but still on probation so not a good start. However, I've known people get off with a slap on the wrist for leaving mail in the front of the van, engine running, door open and they were across the road so it would be rather unfair for him to lose his job over it.

All of us newbies have signed absolutely nothing except for our contracts - I can state that as absolute fact having asked everyone at work today. We were all given hi-vis jackets and what-not, but given that we weren't even provided with our own bags, nor yet even ID cards, you can imagine exactly what we've been through. I spoke to him about the helmet issue today and he bemoaned the (complete) lack of any bicycle training/induction when he was given the bike. He hasn't got a padlock for it, he hasn't been told its maximum carrying weight. "It'll carry quite a lot" is all they'll say (define a lot). By my reading of the issue it seems that he knows he has made a mistake but feels that other people are every bit as culpable. He is not a confident cyclist and didn't want to use the bike originally (he prefers to walk). He does not own his own bike and hadn't cycled for nigh on a decade (well, if you believe what he says) before being given an RM bike. It strikes me that he has been backed into a bit of a corner, and he doesn't seem willing to speak out for himself which means everyone will just walk all over him.

[jaylime]

Why do Royal Mail employ people,then immediately try to get them sacked,seems pointless to me.

[Thorby Bislam]

he hasn't been told its maximum carrying weight.

16kg

[POSTMAN]

and what-not

Taurus,you in London bruv?

[taurus88]

Nope, spent more of my life darn sarf than elsewhere though before moving to the Midlands. In other news, I spotted a number of DO favourites not bothering to wear their cycle helmets today. I'm not going to grass on them or anything, but it seems there is one rule for one . . .

[bunkerland]

Five bike duties in our office and not one of them wears a helmet(ever). Not had anyone sacked in over ten years either!

[fishtank]

Nope, spent more of my life darn sarf than elsewhere though before moving to the Midlands. In other news, I spotted a number of DO favourites not bothering to wear their cycle helmets today. I'm not going to grass on them or anything, but it seems there is one rule for one . . .

No it's one rule for all...http://www.cwu.org/uploads/documents/Ou ... 20wear.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's the piss poor management of the rule that's the problem....what's new?