getting duty tested

Rage24 · Post by **Rage24** » 09 Sep 2016, 15:26

Hi people

so i've been on a new duty since last december, it is the longest walk in the office and most people in the office agree (nobody ever wants to do it) ie on wednesday we went over our time by 1hr 15 and on thursday 1.10. our union rep has today finally got them to test the walk but our manager only wanted to do a prep test and not any outdoor test but our union rep said he has to do both. our manager has a bit of a repuation and not many people seem to like the bloke (including the other managers in the office) i have no real qualms about being tested outside but i hate the thought of this prep test as i hate the thought of someone just standing there watching me. (nobody else is having it done) what will the prep test actually include? do i put the mail in straight from the tray? or is it non sequenced? can they check the mail you have put in is correct? i have no problems prepping my duty normally (we are normally one of the first tied up) just worried that the pressure might get to me and get mind blank for something which is normally just second nature.

also does anyone have any other tips for when we are being tested outside? ie make sure you do your toilet stops, make sure you knock on neighbour with tracks (something we normally never have time to do)

any help appreciated

thanks

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 09 Sep 2016, 15:56

Make sure he uses royal mail footwear and a trolley and never let him leave the key in the ignition oh and make sure he don't jump over fences like a billy goat!

postslippete · Post by **postslippete** » 09 Sep 2016, 16:20

Wouldn't worry about the prep test. I don't know what the exact rate is but I do know that it is almost impossible to fail. Managers generally tend to use to try and bully posties into working faster. However, managers don't really like going out assessing deliveries and they always use the excuse that they don't have the available manpower resources.

More likely because they know that the duties are massive and that when you use the trolleys provided, they find that you will be proved right and that the duty is far too big.

glenfiddich · Post by **glenfiddich** » 09 Sep 2016, 16:34

Remember don't walk and sort the next houses letters stop at the door then flick through

Rage24 · Post by **Rage24** » 09 Sep 2016, 16:44

if im being tested on the prep? will my partner who does the packets also be tested?

thehobbit · Post by **thehobbit** » 09 Sep 2016, 16:52

I would not worry, we were fully tested (3 times ,twice by managers, once by the work time coach not including all the times we have spotted them watching us ) did it by the book D2N etc. ,found to be an hour over on their figures which they would not show us.

the result was absolutely nothing, still had the same arguments every day

Post by **osgoody1970** » 09 Sep 2016, 18:05

I would insist, on a cwu area rep, being there as well as the manager!!!

Spedley · Post by **Spedley** » 09 Sep 2016, 20:10

Make sure they count the non-walk sorted mail, including packets - they often try to go by estimates which are often very wrong. Also, make sure they differentiate fairly between packets which it in the mail and those which are seperate.
It is usually expected that when prep testing you should not move from the frame and all mail should be brought to you.

If you are of at least adequate standard then prep along a decent rate - should you 'fail' their test then it is not your fault but the layout of the frame. Check for badly numbered streets, streets split all over the frame and streets which cross row boundaries. Do you have more than average redirections?

Are they counting bundling time - often they estimate on 10 mins for this. Don't forget 1/6th D2D which should be put in unnested.

Destiny · Post by **Destiny** » 09 Sep 2016, 20:35

Make sure you complete daily vehicle check!

worktotime · Post by **worktotime** » 09 Sep 2016, 21:01

don't worry about it weve been down that road , start on time , d2ds first , sequenced mail , loose and pkts , and you count all your mail as you put it in inc sequenced we did , he cant stand there watching you from start to finish because that's intimadation , he can do a 1 min test but that's a piece of piss and get a rep there as well and you count it as well. when your all in pkts , do your redirections , kill off your dead mail , load the van , 10 min van check , then go for a 20 min break before you go out , 1 manager and 1 cwu on walk test and they change with partners on every loop , use lwt , knock on neighbours and scan everything with a barcode and no short cuts , another 20 ins m/r half way round , and when you've finished your time finishes when your leaving the office after returning keys pkts etc , not on your last letter which they tried with us , no no no another 20 mins on top. and your time starts when your in the van leaving the office and not first letter . , lol, just do it right , no problem.

Rage24 · Post by **Rage24** » 09 Sep 2016, 21:24

worktotime wrote:don't worry about it weve been down that road , start on time , d2ds first , sequenced mail , loose and pkts , and you count all your mail as you put it in inc sequenced we did , he cant stand there watching you from start to finish because that's intimadation , he can do a 1 min test but that's a piece of piss and get a rep there as well and you count it as well. when your all in pkts , do your redirections , kill off your dead mail , load the van , 10 min van check , then go for a 20 min break before you go out , 1 manager and 1 cwu on walk test and they change with partners on every loop , use lwt , knock on neighbours and scan everything with a barcode and no short cuts , another 20 ins m/r half way round , and when you've finished your time finishes when your leaving the office after returning keys pkts etc , not on your last letter which they tried with us , no no no another 20 mins on top. and your time starts when your in the van leaving the office and not first letter . , lol, just do it right , no problem.

cheers people

so i take it this one min test is loose mail? how much am i expected to have put in the frame in this 1 minute?

worktotime · Post by **worktotime** » 09 Sep 2016, 21:51

sequenced ,i cant seem to find how many per min , because i have a lot of double slots i did 29 p/m and put the rest of my mail down because i was told it was 25 p/m in single slots so it wasn't my point to prove how many i can do it was just to prove I'm up to r/m standards . he said well you passed it anyway , lol.

Jpro747 · Post by **Jpro747** » 09 Sep 2016, 23:03

Do not worry about speed, worry more about health and safety, security of mail etc. Do everything correctly and work at a safe pace and you'll be fine!

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 10 Sep 2016, 15:00

Sorry but this needs to be shouted

THERE IS NO FULL PREP TEST

So you can't fail it............ .

What they are doing is using the IWT (Inward Working Tool) which is a planning tool, not a performance measure. So even if you are below the planning levels the managers go on there is nothing they can do, except perhaps a little more training, rejigging the frame. replanning the flow etc.

If you don't meet the planning tools expectation whose it to say that its not you but the environment, the office, other staff, the frame or even the plan itself.

elteleltel · Post by **elteleltel** » 10 Sep 2016, 18:54

Definitely do van check and as mentioned do not sort mail whilst walking ,make sure you do it at each door .Work out how much longer that takes , 5 secs at every house is a min at 12 houses .Say you do 480 houses that's 40 mins but at 75% call rate it's 30 mins . Plus do everything as instructed you would be fine .

ROYALMAILCHAT

getting duty tested

getting duty tested

getting duty tested (little bit nervous)

getting duty tested (little bit nervous)

getting duty tested (little bit nervous)

getting duty tested (little bit nervous)

getting duty tested (little bit nervous)

getting duty tested (little bit nervous)

getting duty tested (little bit nervous)

getting duty tested (little bit nervous)

getting duty tested (little bit nervous)

getting duty tested (little bit nervous)

getting duty tested (little bit nervous)

getting duty tested (little bit nervous)

getting duty tested (little bit nervous)

getting duty tested (little bit nervous)