What job have you left Royal Mail for?

[Funpunk61]

Just asking out of curiosity as I’m thinking of leaving the company but genuinely don’t know what else I’d want to do at this stage in my life. Been at Royal Mail for 20 years now, since leaving school, and we can all see where the job is going and I’m not sure if I’ve got another 30 years in me. I enjoy the job but like everyone else on here, it’s all starting to take its toll and I want to start looking elsewhere but not sure where to start so hoping someone on here can give some inspiration. Appreciate any replies

[world class male]

Just asking out of curiosity as I’m thinking of leaving the company but genuinely don’t know what else I’d want to do at this stage in my life. Been at Royal Mail for 20 years now, since leaving school, and we can all see where the job is going and I’m not sure if I’ve got another 30 years in me. I enjoy the job but like everyone else on here, it’s all starting to take its toll and I want to start looking elsewhere but not sure where to start so hoping someone on here can give some inspiration. Appreciate any replies

i'd have started a few years after you and but quite a few years older then and thought this is a job for life, used to love it even in the rain, now i know i won't even make retirement doing the same job unless i drop on a less physical job, i would never encourage anyone to be a postman now, not long term anyway, still a great job to do but way to heavy on the body and only getting worse,
youth is still on your side and you can probably train to do any given job if you can drop on the right move
seems sad that 20yr service and still a pup really is thinking of jacking it in, well done RM

[Numberone63]

I’ve done 13 years royal mail posting. I knackered. Taking 6 months off next year to see if I can sort my life out and feel human again. I’m 54 soon. Done 10 years trucking before Royal Mail and 14 years retail before that. Trained as a chef before that. Look where it got me. Hahaha. Good luck and try just go for something local to where you live. Retail is a good a start as any.

[Rekoons]

I done a part-time degree over 5 years with the Open University whilst working for Royal Mail, now I’m in my first year as a trainee teacher.

I'm mid thirties and always done physical work, but 5 years at Royal Mail has destroyed my body.

Plenty of shorter courses out there to retrain in something, depends what your interests are? If you enjoy being active there’s lots of trade courses around these days, tiling, painting and decorating, domestic electrics etc. If my body wasn’t shot to pieces I’d have done something like that.

Good luck to you

[CillitBang]

Like above, I studied at the open University while at Royal Mail, in my 6th and final year now doing Computing & IT. Recently started a job at the local council as a systems operator. Doing traffic management and cctv mainly but the aim is to have a "smart city" controlled centrally by our department eventually. It's 4 on 4 off days and nights. Would never go back to RM.

[iainwilson]

Just asking out of curiosity as I’m thinking of leaving the company but genuinely don’t know what else I’d want to do at this stage in my life. Been at Royal Mail for 20 years now, since leaving school, and we can all see where the job is going and I’m not sure if I’ve got another 30 years in me. I enjoy the job but like everyone else on here, it’s all starting to take its toll and I want to start looking elsewhere but not sure where to start so hoping someone on here can give some inspiration. Appreciate any replies

20 years is quite a stretch!! I started with Parcelforce in 2006 and really enjoyed my job until 2019. Since then I’ve struggled with work related stress and anxiety and don’t have any motivation / haven’t received help asked for to work for Royal Mail anymore. I’m leaving to go work at Ocado next month delivering the shopping. Pay is less but hours are much better. On my 1st Rota I’ll be done for 1430 at latest 3/4 weeks other week is Afters.

A normal life is what I’m after. Working for Parcelforce is definitely not a normal life.

Good luck in whatever you choose to do next!!

[priority102]

I left last year after 25 years and by a country mile it has been the best decision I have made. Only after I left did I realise just how much the job drags you down, the constant pressure to do more in the same or less time, PDA actuals and trimble monitoring your every move, the daily politics, back stabbing and bitching over the most pettiest of things (due to the pressure of the job), pressure to cut corners, constantly tired, aching, vans full of crap inside and dirty...etc.

I now work for a family company where it is Mon-Fri, sociable hours, and where everyone is a name not a number and for the first time in 25 years I feel valued and a part of the company's success.

No way would I go back now whatever the circumstances.

Like many others, I was institutionalised working for RM, you think there is no other life outside, but as many other EX long serving posties are saying on here - there most certainly is, and in many cases - better!

[POSTPERSON50]

I left last year after 25 years and by a country mile it has been the best decision I have made. Only after I left did I realise just how much the job drags you down, the constant pressure to do more in the same or less time, PDA actuals and trimble monitoring your every move, the daily politics, back stabbing and bitching over the most pettiest of things (due to the pressure of the job), pressure to cut corners, constantly tired, aching, vans full of crap inside and dirty...etc.

I now work for a family company where it is Mon-Fri, sociable hours, and where everyone is a name not a number and for the first time in 25 years I feel valued and a part of the company's success.

No way would I go back now whatever the circumstances.

Like many others, I was institutionalised working for RM, you think there is no other life outside, but as many other EX long serving posties are saying on here - there is!

The move to RM becoming a private company in 2013 didn't feel like much of an issue back then, not much changed for a while but almost a decade on the contrast has now become obvious.

Think of the uniforms 20 25 years ago from your time there. Community officers, Clarks shoes with flat soles, pleated trousers, ties, still the odd peaked cap was seen. Almost like a police uniform. Now we've got combat trousers and rugged performance footwear. The workload is far greater, even though letters are being gradually phased out. It's a parcel business with increasing pressures put upon everybody involved. Major changes every year.

We saw it coming in 2013, a lot of staff have now had enough.

[Funpunk61]

Thanks for all the advice. Will have a look at the open university and see if anything jumps out at me. I have two young kids so studying will be tricky but I think the way things are going it might be now or never. Privatisation has definitely ruined what was once an enjoyable job. All about profit now, the service and well being of the staff have gone well out the window and I’m genuinely concerned about all the things they want to bring in in the next few years. Thanks again for all your answers chaps!

[yellowbelly]

Thanks for all the advice. Will have a look at the open university and see if anything jumps out at me. I have two young kids so studying will be tricky but I think the way things are going it might be now or never. Privatisation has definitely ruined what was once an enjoyable job. All about profit now, the service and well being of the staff have gone well out the window and I’m genuinely concerned about all the things they want to bring in in the next few years. Thanks again for all your answers chaps!

I started OU modules a few years ago and was looking to take it up again to complete a degree but the prices
of the courses have shot up massively, although I believe you can get a student loan similar (if not the same as)
going to a normal university. They do lots of free short 'taster' courses though.

[sindba]

I left last year after 25 years and by a country mile it has been the best decision I have made. Only after I left did I realise just how much the job drags you down, the constant pressure to do more in the same or less time, PDA actuals and trimble monitoring your every move, the daily politics, back stabbing and bitching over the most pettiest of things (due to the pressure of the job), pressure to cut corners, constantly tired, aching, vans full of crap inside and dirty...etc.

I now work for a family company where it is Mon-Fri, sociable hours, and where everyone is a name not a number and for the first time in 25 years I feel valued and a part of the company's success.

No way would I go back now whatever the circumstances.

Like many others, I was institutionalised working for RM, you think there is no other life outside, but as many other EX long serving posties are saying on here - there is!

The move to RM becoming a private company in 2013 didn't feel like much of an issue back then, not much changed for a while but almost a decade on the contrast has now become obvious.

Think of the uniforms 20 25 years ago from your time there. Community officers, Clarks shoes with flat soles, pleated trousers, ties, still the odd peaked cap was seen. Almost like a police uniform. Now we've got combat trousers and rugged performance footwear. The workload is far greater, even though letters are being gradually phased out. It's a parcel business with increasing pressures put upon everybody involved. Major changes every year.

We saw it coming in 2013, a lot of staff have now had enough.

God the new uniform is awful.

Makes us look like a cross between a PE teacher and the bloke from Dynorod.

I'm not wearing it yet thank god, going to look after my blue shirts for as long as I possibly can.

[frankieboy]

Seems to me Royal mails plan is working with a lot of people espeacially age 40+, grind us down physically and mentally until we just give up. Got 2 weeks in the sun coming up, hoping to get some ideas while away and make a decision when I come back. Great colleagues but bullying management and clueless CEO are taking its toll.

[priority102]

I left last year after 25 years and by a country mile it has been the best decision I have made. Only after I left did I realise just how much the job drags you down, the constant pressure to do more in the same or less time, PDA actuals and trimble monitoring your every move, the daily politics, back stabbing and bitching over the most pettiest of things (due to the pressure of the job), pressure to cut corners, constantly tired, aching, vans full of crap inside and dirty...etc.

I now work for a family company where it is Mon-Fri, sociable hours, and where everyone is a name not a number and for the first time in 25 years I feel valued and a part of the company's success.

No way would I go back now whatever the circumstances.

Like many others, I was institutionalised working for RM, you think there is no other life outside, but as many other EX long serving posties are saying on here - there is!

The move to RM becoming a private company in 2013 didn't feel like much of an issue back then, not much changed for a while but almost a decade on the contrast has now become obvious.

Think of the uniforms 20 25 years ago from your time there. Community officers, Clarks shoes with flat soles, pleated trousers, ties, still the odd peaked cap was seen. Almost like a police uniform. Now we've got combat trousers and rugged performance footwear. The workload is far greater, even though letters are being gradually phased out. It's a parcel business with increasing pressures put upon everybody involved. Major changes every year.

We saw it coming in 2013, a lot of staff have now had enough.

I saw a postie today, he had cut his shirtsleeves off to make his shirt like a vest but left all the loose cotton stitches hanging, and wearing one purple sock and one white sock along with his white trainers.

He looked an absolute disgrace. No wonder no one has any pride in this company now if managers allow this to happen. Still.....as long as his lapsing was done......

[wrongturn]

!

[POSTPERSON50]

I've seen footy shorts and flip flops with blue shirt unbuttoned pushing a full York out of the office in mid summer, same guy never wore Royal Mail shoes in ten years. Fire Warden hi vis on.

So far gone beyond the standard he's off the radar forever.

New starters being told 'watch your shoe tread'.. it's your responsibility if you have an accident