Working Time Directive? Worth it?

Jamesfr3man · Post by **Jamesfr3man** » 22 Aug 2019, 00:25

Hi all, I've been in the job for about 3-4 months now and have been asked to sign a waiver to allow me to work more than 48 hours in a week. Currently I'm on a 25 hour contract and I'm not allowed to drive due to not being tested by royal mail yet, so I can't do collections or any real O/T.

With Christmas coming up soon they've short listed me for a driving test, I assume to cover more work during xmas. Is it still worth signing? The reason I ask is due to time pressure at Xmas, I don't want to be pressured into doing more O/T just because I've signed this waiver.

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 22 Aug 2019, 00:47

people tend to get pressured regardless in the xmas period, remember though all OT is optional and 100% your decision, you may as well sign it in case one week you decide youd like to work more hrs.

picture123 · Post by **picture123** » 22 Aug 2019, 05:25

The working time directive does not commit you to working an extra minute. You're basically signing that you're aware that there is a legal limit to how many hours you can work in a week and you're waiving your right to stay below it SHOULD YOU CHOOSE! Personally I think it's easier to sign it on the off chance you exceed it, even if it's only one week of the year you exceed it

Post by **RobertT** » 22 Aug 2019, 15:04

You can still work over 48 hours per week if you do opt out of the WTD, as it's averaged out over 17 weeks.

https://www.gov.uk/maximum-weekly-working-hours" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 22 Aug 2019, 16:46

You can always say NO or nothing at all when the call goes out for volunteers to do overtime. If you get finished at or shortly after you duty time there is nothing they can do to force you to do it. Currently in our DO most of the posties are ****** off with having to do lapsing virtually every day through the summer in addition to the double absorption which is already incorporated into our walks. We now have a possible long term sick postie and a vacancy for a part time duty not necessarily filled and a call for overtime. There were no takers for this overtime today as far as I know so I think the DOM and the 'PHG' delivered it all. Morale isn't any better generally in terms of higher management and the pressure and whingeing from them from above. Locally as an office we are not too bad but not particularly happy over another issue.

Post by **eastie** » 22 Aug 2019, 18:06

sign f**k all...……….. they only get you to sign something if its to their benefit

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 22 Aug 2019, 19:29

Celgar wrote:You can always say NO or nothing at all when the call goes out for volunteers to do overtime. If you get finished at or shortly after you duty time there is nothing they can do to force you to do it. Currently in our DO most of the posties are ****** off with having to do lapsing virtually every day through the summer in addition to the double absorption which is already incorporated into our walks. We now have a possible long term sick postie and a vacancy for a part time duty not necessarily filled and a call for overtime. There were no takers for this overtime today as far as I know so I think the DOM and the 'PHG' delivered it all. Morale isn't any better generally in terms of higher management and the pressure and whingeing from them from above. Locally as an office we are not too bad but not particularly happy over another issue.

I'm not sure Royal Mail understand what morale is. Morale is hugely important. They are more likely to retain employees, have employees go the extra mile, do favours, do things more to the book - if morale is good to high.