Christmas Annual leave

[ted_e_bear]

Have any other offices had their annual leave picks for next year? Received ours last week and noticed they've blacked out week 35 as 'Christmas Pressure'. It's the week commencing Monday 16th November which is usually available, I think? Just curious if this is the case in other DO's

TIA

Did the CWU agree to that?

What difference would it make if they either did or didn't ?

I suspect none

Absolutely it does. The leave arrangements are agreed by the CWU. That's where the problem lies.

Oh ok then.

[Mr Rush]

I swear November was quiet last year. I think it must have been the last week of November and I was thinking....it's dead quiet.

Yep, that was exactly my observation last year. With agency present the office was actually in a better state compared to October, until packets started taking off in Week 48 and kept climbing without pause until mid December.

Worst I've ever seen the office without a weather warning. Let's make this a record breaking December!

[yellowbelly]

Just looked at Dec 26. Boxing day is a working day?

Hasn't this been mentioned on another thread?

Saturdays can't be a Public Holiday so the PH for 'Boxing Day' 26 Dec 2026 will be Monday 28 Dec for the huddled masses.

In previous years have RM applied for this (Saturday 26/12) to be a non-service day before? Can't remember if this has happened in my RM lifetime - I'm a relative newbie! Or will we be trudging the streets looking through windows at people tucking into their leftovers by the fireside?

'Oi postie, didn't think you'd be working today! Oh, thanks for delivering that tat, I've been waiting for it, it was supposed to be here before Christmas. Absolutely useless you lot!'

[ted_e_bear]

Just looked at Dec 26. Boxing day is a working day?

Hasn't this been mentioned on another thread?

Saturdays can't be a Public Holiday so the PH for 'Boxing Day' 26 Dec 2026 will be Monday 28 Dec for the huddled masses.

In previous years have RM applied for this (Saturday 26/12) to be a non-service day before? Can't remember if this has happened in my RM lifetime - I'm a relative newbie! Or will we be trudging the streets looking through windows at people tucking into their leftovers by the fireside?

'Oi postie, didn't think you'd be working today! Oh, thanks for delivering that tat, I've been waiting for it, it was supposed to be here before Christmas. Absolutely useless you lot!'

Yes it's been a non service day in the past, unfortunately if it was your day off you lost out on a lieu day but nethertheless it made for a nice few days off

[mr hil.]

Ofcom agreed in 2015 that whenever Boxing day falls on a Saturday it will automatically be a non service day and Royal Mail would not have to request this again

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/res ... f?v=334533

.....Pursuant to and for the purposes of DUSP conditions 1.1.2(aa) and 1.3.2(a) OFCOM
18
An exception to Royal Mail’s universal service obligation
hereby direct as follows:
1. The day specified in paragraph 2 shall be treated as a public holiday for the
purposes of the definition of “public holiday” in DUSP condition 1, and pursuant to
DUSP condition 1.3.2(a) that day shall therefore constitute an exception to the
requirements imposed on Royal Mail under DUSP condition 1 in respect of the
delivery or collection of postal packets and the target routing times of services.
2. The day referred to in paragraph 1 above is the 26 December when this date
falls on a Saturday, beginning with 26 December 2015.
Commencement and interpretation
3. This Direction shall take effect on 1 October 2015.

[yellowbelly]

Ofcom agreed in 2015 that whenever Boxing day falls on a Saturday it will automatically be a non service day and Royal Mail would not have to request this again

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/res ... f?v=334533

.....Pursuant to and for the purposes of DUSP conditions 1.1.2(aa) and 1.3.2(a) OFCOM
18
An exception to Royal Mail’s universal service obligation
hereby direct as follows:
1. The day specified in paragraph 2 shall be treated as a public holiday for the
purposes of the definition of “public holiday” in DUSP condition 1, and pursuant to
DUSP condition 1.3.2(a) that day shall therefore constitute an exception to the
requirements imposed on Royal Mail under DUSP condition 1 in respect of the
delivery or collection of postal packets and the target routing times of services.
2. The day referred to in paragraph 1 above is the 26 December when this date
falls on a Saturday, beginning with 26 December 2015.
Commencement and interpretation
3. This Direction shall take effect on 1 October 2015.

Good find mr hil, no doubt we'll need reminding next year!!

[mr hil.]

I have just realised that Ofcom has given us a permanant Boxing Day on a Saturday exemption from USO obligations, this does not autonatically mean the RM board will also give us the day off, after all, Sundays are not covered by the USO obligations but some posties have to work them.....

[lillywhite]

Yep another kick in the nuts the union didn’t bat an eye at

[POSTMAN]

LTB 401/22 - Annual Leave Planning Within Deliveries (And Linked Documents) April 2023 to March 2024

(LTB 387/21)
The “Annual Leave Calenderisation Work Aide” information/guide tab will assist managers and Reps in undertaking the correct process to establish leave demand and populate the work aide accordingly, whilst stressing the point that the Work Aid is a guide and should therefore be used as such.

They haven't done a 2024/2025 one by the looks of it.