Message from Sue Whalley Effective management of overtime

[chrisj]

I don't know what you mean by delivery offices not staffed properly? Care to explain?

I think the days of overgenerous staffing to provide cover and to allow a lot of slack is probably over. The real issue in delivery is absence and working 5 days out of 6. I shall also mention that we have a good attendance procedure in favour of the staff - some might disagree but I guess it will be very different in 5 or 6 years; it is generous compared to the competition or those on zero-contract hours which you are alluding to as 'Cover'.

If the delivery becomes a straight 5-day work with staff being used flexible with hardly any permanent walk-holders then RM will not need to pay that much OT. But is that what we want?

Is it incompetence or just a legacy of the past as a nationalised company and a powerful Union?

* Also why does RM allow people to have extra holidays? I think it cost more in staffing issues than what they generate through wages deductions.

Regardless... A failure will be counter-productive in terms of the 'Fines' levied compared to the OT paid. And it will do nothing for RM image and there will be bashing from OFCOM and Competitors if our first class and second class rate dips below what is set by OFCOM. So Failure is not an option!

[spiderj]

It is incompetence because delivery offices aren't staffed properly, deliveries are not organised properly, the staff are not managed properly.

[chrisj]

Fair enough!

But what is your justification for such a point of view and what do you think should be happening?

[dvbuk55]

Fair enough!

But what is your justification for such a point of view and what do you think should be happening?

Is it me you're asking chris?

[Danelectro]

Clocking cards and PDA monitoring and better and more flexible use of staff will cut cost down easily but are RM prepared to be radical?

Apparently there was an article yesterday which cited Royal Mail wanting £400 million in savings achieved by more automation.Theres a lot of speculation concerning Royal Mail externally and internally and theres still the other 30% of shares to be sold and a Scottish referendum and General Election all to come in the next 12 months which in turn gives no clear way ahead.

We haven't reached a level playing field yet and at the moment we are obliged to allow TNT DSA access while they reinvest in expanding direct delivery and if it wasn't a rigged market the answer would be to win back the DSA contracts while looking at how to run the operation better but that's not where we are.Its quite clear that the USO is under threat and Royal Mail are playing the CWU off against the outcome of any review which looks likely to emerge in 2015 and after the general election.

Also in a months time when the inevitable increase in packets kicks in lets see if any costs need to be cut (online shopping is predicted to increase again this year) Even if using a PDA in some cost cutting plan was going to protect this job the management structure are just not up to doing so in any fair and meaningful way.We need an overhaul of the management structure first before anymore chancers are let loose with laptops.

[fishtank]

Same s**t, different day.
Heard this crap for 20 years, probably still be hearing it in another 20 years.
Pre-authorised unplanned overtime lol.

[dvbuk55]

Same s**t, different day.
Heard this crap for 20 years, probably still be hearing it in another 20 years.
Pre-authorised unplanned overtime lol.

You'd think after 300 years they'd have got it right.

[mlw]

Same s**t, different day.
Heard this crap for 20 years, probably still be hearing it in another 20 years.
Pre-authorised unplanned overtime lol.

You'd think after 300 years they'd have got it right.

dont do it until they start paying a proper ot rate , i mean where else would you earn less for working day off than working your scheduled day ?

[Spedley]

Our office would crumble if they stuck to those guidelines. No one would do any overtime of you couldn't ghost it. Except IPS, nobody would do overtime if 1 hours overtime = 1 hours work!
Not only do you not get pension contribution on overtime but you don't get paid for breaks (5 mins in the hour) and it is even payed at a variable AND lower rate than standard pay.
1 hours overtime does NOT equal 1 hours pay.
Then, to top it off you are doing O/T at the end of your tiring shift to help get the mail delivered and get harassed for not working fast enough!

No wonder they want part timers on 5 hours per day who can't afford not to do 3 hours overtime at a lower pay rate.
Perhaps I expect too much (and I probably do) but I don't know of anyone in any job who is on my basic pay who does not get at least time and a third for overtime.

[dvbuk55]

Our office would crumble if they stuck to those guidelines. No one would do any overtime of you couldn't ghost it. Except IPS, nobody would do overtime if 1 hours overtime = 1 hours work!
Not only do you not get pension contribution on overtime but you don't get paid for breaks (5 mins in the hour) and it is even payed at a variable AND lower rate than standard pay.
1 hours overtime does NOT equal 1 hours pay.
Then, to top it off you are doing O/T at the end of your tiring shift to help get the mail delivered and get harassed for not working fast enough!

No wonder they want part timers on 5 hours per day who can't afford not to do 3 hours overtime at a lower pay rate.
Perhaps I expect too much (and I probably do) but I don't know of anyone in any job who is on my basic pay who does not get at least time and a third for overtime.

It isn't a lower pay rate and if there's ghosting the duties aren't big enough.