Unfair days/hours

[RoyalJubilee10]

Hi everyone. I started RM a few weeks ago on a 20hr contract and all has been ok so far until now.

I seen the rota for next week and I am down for 6 days. Sounds good if your looking plenty of hours yeah? Sadly no!
I am down to cover 2 runs on 2 colleagues days off and the other 4 days I am down just for a 2hr collection a day.

I know that most DO have been told to save hours this December which everyone I speak to thinks it’s stupid. Is there anything I can do about this as it’s really not worth my time or probably anyone else’s going to work for 4 days for a combined 8 hours.

[iHateD2Ds]

Royal Mail is only obligated to give hours as per contract,So not much you can do about it other than state your dissatisfaction and ask for more hours.
Usually contracts only require you to work 5 days out of 7 (take a look at your contract) and 2 hours per day is a piss take
I can see why you are unhappy

[TopperGas]

Do you work 5 days a week with 1 rest day or a Wallington week, as if the former then why are you down to work 6 days next week rather than 5? Plus are things likely to change due to sickness etc?

This is really the downside of a p/t contract, if there's no sickness and the DO is fully staffed as nobody is allowed to take holidays in December, then the DM can cut your hours to the minimum required. Although my DO seems the opposite as there's more work than staff and our p/t'ers, those who are happy do it, are working double their contracted hours!

[sorefeet17]

The DOM is a dick and using you as a scapegoat to keep others happy, but it is probably within the rules I guess try having a word stating your displeasure otherwise they will treat you like a doormat all the time.

[RoyalJubilee10]

5 days is on my contract however I said when I first started that I was happy to work 6 days thinking I’d be getting full days out of it. No sickness at the minute and no one on annual leave so yeah basically a full delivery office and as I’m the newbie I get mucked about.

I’m not in the Union yet but spoke to the rep today about my hours. Basically he told me not a whole pile I can do as if I go in and say something they may take that bad and only give me 20 hrs come the new year when holidays etc are allowed again.

But if things do not improve by mid January at the latest I’ll sadly be away.

[iHateD2Ds]

If contract says 20hrs over 5 days then you would naturally expect a minimum of 4 hours per day (+flexible overtime hours).
I would certainly raise your concern with your line manager about your contracted hours.
At the least, they should be giving you 20 hrs over 5 days not 6!