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Can they change it....?

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
tallujia
Posts: 2
Joined: 24 Mar 2014, 08:42
Gender: Female

Can they change it....?

Post by tallujia »

I have been working for RM for 7 years. Since I started we never knew what duties we'd be delivering or what days off we'd be getting until the Friday of the week before!! This has now thankfully changed, and now we have 3 weeks of rotas up at a time. I checked the rota on Monday, and found out that I was due to get the Saturday off of the next week, so made plans to do something for the weekend. I glanced at the rota again on Wednesday to find out that my "manager" had changed the rota so I was now working on the Saturday, and had a day off on the Tuesday. I had not been informed of this so went into the office in a bit of a strop. He basically said "tough poop, melady", and I marched off in a strop. I had taken a photo of that week's rota when it came out, so can they do this? I annoyed him so much by going on about it all the time that he ended up altering it again so I could get it off, but subsequently, someone else had to sacrifice their day off, which made me feel bad... a bit!

Can they do this!? Surely the flexibility agreement works both ways?? For a business that promotes communication, there always seems to be a lack of it when it comes to rota changes... And most things actually come to think of it.

So, yes, what can I do for future purposes. Surely the rota is up so you can plan your work AROUND Royal Mail, which I have clearly stipulated before. Apparently we're supposed to check the rota every day in case there's a change!? I have NEVER had this in any other company that I have worked for. Even the Royal Navy doesn't have this problem, and trust me, they screw you over :dance
Last edited by tallujia on 24 Mar 2014, 09:29, edited 1 time in total.
tallujia
Posts: 2
Joined: 24 Mar 2014, 08:42
Gender: Female

Re: Can they change it....?

Post by tallujia »

Sorry, that was meant to say so they can plan your LIFE around Royal Mail. Blimey, work has well and truly taken over my life!!
Straight4ward
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 1621
Joined: 25 Oct 2009, 14:32
Gender: Male

Re: Can they change it....?

Post by Straight4ward »

"Operational needs" they'd probably say. This covers just about anything they want it to.

Kick up a stink and see if you can get them to advise you of your day off 6 weeks in advance.
We managed this some years ago when we had a decent line manager and it lasted until he left. :sad:

Also being a reserve, you get treated like a galley slave. Any chance of getting your own walk or is that something you don't want?
"Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway."
TrueBlueTerrier
FORUM ADMINISTRATOR
Posts: 72727
Joined: 30 Dec 2006, 10:29
Gender: Male
Location: On my couch

Re: Can they change it....?

Post by TrueBlueTerrier »

There is nothing specifically preventing them doing it, but there are unofficial steps you can take to deter them.

1. Have a Strop - you did :thumbup
2. Take a note of it - :thumbup
3. Confirm with the manager that you have a Saturday off as soon as it goes up - and mention you have made plans

When it comes to moving you from a Saturday off they will think about it twice as they'll remember the grief from before, or if they cancel a Saturday they are more likely to ask you if its okay.

Is this fair - probably not but if their approach was more like I experienced in the RAF then a lot more people would be a lot more willing to be flexible.
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ebbzie
Posts: 660
Joined: 14 Jun 2011, 17:22
Gender: Male

Re: Can they change it....?

Post by ebbzie »

You should ask if you can have the 1 in 6 weeks off , far better system
bigbazza
Posts: 113
Joined: 15 Feb 2010, 19:28
Gender: Male

Re: Can they change it....?

Post by bigbazza »

Yes please i'd like that. But i don't think i'll ever see it in our office TOO many mardy bums that do the carn't work won't work thing.