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"Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
maninred
Posts: 213
Joined: 26 Nov 2010, 20:11
Gender: Male
Location: In trouble....again

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by maninred »

OnAFlyer wrote:
SpacePhoenix wrote:Don't know about in DOs but in MCs xmas pressure actually kicks in around the beginning of November and by the middle of the official xmas pressure it's normally dropped right off apart from Tracked and Specials
That's the stupid thing, while MC's are on pressure with hundreds of temporary staff, we aren't and get no more office hours until December!
:Applause :Applause :Applause :Applause
Rory
Posts: 90
Joined: 09 Aug 2012, 12:42
Gender: Male

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by Rory »

NewPostieUK wrote: I found it to be an easy two weeks to be honest. We had packet duties doing out packets, so just took out letters and very small packets. There was however, friction. The person on packet duty took exception to the amount of packets I left. He said something like 'you are only meant to leave what you can't get in your bag'. I couldn't be bothered to argue, just told him to do whatever he had been told to do and if he had a problem see the manager.

I went over most days, but found doing hardly any packets to be quite stress free. I also found it easier to work to my time on the days I wanted to, I didn't need to explain myself, argue etc.
NewPostieUK wrote:
Rory wrote: Why chuck them ALL out? He was right to question you, you should take your fair share if you can fit them in your bag.
Because if I didn't then I'd have to leave letters instead, and the manager wasn't having that. I did more than my fair share, going over 30 -60 mins most days.
Rory wrote:You had an 'easy two weeks' at the expense of a fellow postie.
No I didn't. He was doing his job, and finished on time every day.
"I found it to be an easy two weeks to be honest, going over 30-60 mins most days" :Very Happy LOL
NewPostieUK
Posts: 2104
Joined: 06 Jan 2008, 21:38
Gender: Male
Location: SickAsAChipLand

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by NewPostieUK »

Rory wrote: "I found it to be an easy two weeks to be honest, going over 30-60 mins most days" :Very Happy LOL
And?

Previous Christmases I've had a nightmare, doing 2 hours or more overtime to get finished, loads of packets loads of stress.

Last year no packets, no stress.
rick184
Posts: 62
Joined: 22 Apr 2007, 21:10

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by rick184 »

OnAFlyer wrote:
rick184 wrote:I've noticed the flats tail off but the packets obviously increase. Not too bad if you have packet relief duties. Last year one from each van share went out early and got rid of some of the packets between 0700-0830.
So who sorted the mail and threw the walks off? We are on IPS until after 8 every day at Christmas and regularly don't get out until 10.30. If half the office went out delivering packets we wouldn't get out of the office until after 11am. Nice short delivery though :nana

Some of our leave reserves went on to nights so when we came in they were well on top of the IPS. AGs were made up to full time during adjective too.
SpacePhoenix
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 12203
Joined: 12 Nov 2008, 17:03
Gender: Male

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by SpacePhoenix »

OnAFlyer wrote:
SpacePhoenix wrote:Don't know about in DOs but in MCs xmas pressure actually kicks in around the beginning of November and by the middle of the official xmas pressure it's normally dropped right off apart from Tracked and Specials
That's the stupid thing, while MC's are on pressure with hundreds of temporary staff, we aren't and get no more office hours until December!
Don't forget that any given DO basically only deals with mail coming into the area that DO covers. During xmas pressure, MCs are dealing with inward and outward mail on all shifts, and not every MC has the space to process both inward and outward at the same time, and storage space will also be very limited in some MCs.
OnAFlyer
Posts: 1938
Joined: 16 Aug 2009, 14:24
Gender: Male

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by OnAFlyer »

SpacePhoenix wrote:
OnAFlyer wrote:
SpacePhoenix wrote:Don't know about in DOs but in MCs xmas pressure actually kicks in around the beginning of November and by the middle of the official xmas pressure it's normally dropped right off apart from Tracked and Specials
That's the stupid thing, while MC's are on pressure with hundreds of temporary staff, we aren't and get no more office hours until December!
Don't forget that any given DO basically only deals with mail coming into the area that DO covers. During xmas pressure, MCs are dealing with inward and outward mail on all shifts, and not every MC has the space to process both inward and outward at the same time, and storage space will also be very limited in some MCs.
The bottom line is there is sh*tloads more mail and packets, the MC's get thousands more staff and DO's get nothing until well into December!
Darren Bent
Posts: 2150
Joined: 05 Oct 2007, 15:38
Gender: Male
Location: Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8XL

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by Darren Bent »

Another thing to think about it there is less sorting to do as there is night staff duties plus people on light duties doing more sorting so we can get out little earlier.
maninred
Posts: 213
Joined: 26 Nov 2010, 20:11
Gender: Male
Location: In trouble....again

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by maninred »

Darren Bent wrote:Another thing to think about it there is less sorting to do as there is night staff duties :left: plus people on light duties :hmmmm doing more sorting so we can get out little earlier.
Postie45
Posts: 2160
Joined: 21 Aug 2012, 23:05
Gender: Male

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by Postie45 »

work my scheduled hours, managers need to put a plan in place to address the cut offs due to the increased workload, maybe employ some temps ? (which they probably wont do, but then its not MY problem)
As stress free a period as the rest of the year if you just do your job properly and work your normal hours.
BarnsleyLackey
Posts: 349
Joined: 24 Aug 2011, 16:07
Gender: Male

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by BarnsleyLackey »

What if Manager says "You can't cut off"?
Postie45
Posts: 2160
Joined: 21 Aug 2012, 23:05
Gender: Male

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by Postie45 »

BarnsleyLackey wrote:What if Manager says "You can't cut off"?
hed be wrong
Chelseablue
Posts: 2227
Joined: 19 Aug 2013, 14:33
Gender: Female

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by Chelseablue »

Is the Xmas bonus still 200 quid or we bk to plant seeds again ?
BarnsleyLackey
Posts: 349
Joined: 24 Aug 2011, 16:07
Gender: Male

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by BarnsleyLackey »

Postie45 wrote:
BarnsleyLackey wrote:What if Manager says "You can't cut off"?
hed be wrong

We know that. But is there a nice way to tell him he's talking crap?
Postie45
Posts: 2160
Joined: 21 Aug 2012, 23:05
Gender: Male

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by Postie45 »

if hes being insistent then you dont necessarily have to be "nice"
just remind him youre contracted to 39 hours a week (or whatever it is for you) and you dont want to do any overtime.
aiden01
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 7001
Joined: 27 Feb 2013, 21:43
Gender: Male

Re: "Christmas is the easiest 2 weeks of the year"

Post by aiden01 »

Chelseablue wrote:Is the Xmas bonus still 200 quid or we bk to plant seeds again ?
yes still 200 quid :thumbup