Career Breaks: A few questions

[LordSummerisle]

After a couple of years of background work and planning, I'm finally getting out of Royal Mail in September in order to take a PGCE in Primary Education. However, rather than resigning, I'm considering applying for a career break, as even if I can pick up some temporary placements next June, I won't realistically have permanent, full-time employment until the autumn term, and (obviously) no prospects of anything during the 6-week school holidays.

With this in mind, I'm wondering if anyone can answer the following questions:

How do I apply for a career break?

What are my chances of being granted one, assuming I state that I'm open minded as to whether I come back and work at Royal Mail in the long-term (though there is NO chance of that)?

Will I still still qualify for the share payments next year?

Will I still be considered (fairly), should another round of redundancies be offered in my D.O. during my absence?

Cheers!

[fishtank]

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 36&t=12623" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Don't tell them you are training for a new career.
Make something up.

[Lounge Lizard]

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 36&t=12623

Don't tell them you are training for a new career.
Make something up.

Like you're giving your legs a well earned rest.

[GHOSTman]

Don't think you would qualify for the lump sums next year...sorry mate. As they usually state you must have been continuously employed by the company for the previous 12 months in order to qualify. As you loose your seniority for the period of your career break I'm assuming Royal mail treats you as not employed for the purposes of lump sums. As for applying, either phone HR (number on back of pay slip) or get manager to look on intranet.

Just realised you said share payments not lump sums....not sure on that one.

[LordSummerisle]

Cheers for the info.

Was thinking of coming up with something that didn't reveal my plans, though living in the same postcode area as my D.O. makes it a little difficult to mask my activities.

[cardtable]

I took a career break for 12months in 2007 to go travelling through Asia.

Speak to your line manager about it. He will make the decsion if its granted or not. If he doesnt you can appeal above him. Keep at it as some gaffers really dont want the hassle and extra paperwork you will give them. Phone sheffield to and there was a 17page document about can and can not's for a career break, though I cant remeber who gave me it or where it is now.

You will have to inform Royal Mail if you are going to be working anywhere during this time. Otherwise if you don't and they discover it, your career break agreement will be terminated and you can possibly loss your job.

You will however lose your duty/walk and maybe delivery office, but if you come back to work you will have the same hourly contract as before. I left the mail centre on day shift and returned to the back shift as thats all that was available. Had to transfer to a DO to get more suitable hours.


Having a career break is the best thing I have ever did. Hope you get it.

[delboy]

Thought it was 2 years continuous employment before you can take up to 12 months career break?

[goochy]

Does anyone know if seniority is affected on returning from a career break?

[Lounge Lizard]

I took a career break for 12months in 2007 to go travelling through Asia.

Speak to your line manager about it. He will make the decsion if its granted or not. If he doesnt you can appeal above him. Keep at it as some gaffers really dont want the hassle and extra paperwork you will give them. Phone sheffield to and there was a 17page document about can and can not's for a career break, though I cant remeber who gave me it or where it is now.

You will have to inform Royal Mail if you are going to be working anywhere during this time. Otherwise if you don't and they discover it, your career break agreement will be terminated and you can possibly loss your job.

You will however lose your duty/walk and maybe delivery office, but if you come back to work you will have the same hourly contract as before. I left the mail centre on day shift and returned to the back shift as thats all that was available. Had to transfer to a DO to get more suitable hours.


Having a career break is the best thing I have ever did. Hope you get it.

And what can you tell us about Asia ?

[cardtable]

Your seniority is static for the length of the career break. ie my 10 years service is regonised as 9 years.

It will also affect any bonus. You would only get a percentage of it depending on the weeks you have worked during the time period.

and Asia was superb. Spent most of my time in China. Food is amazing. Women eager to please. Amazing sights to see. I've been back a few times since and to Cambodia and Thailand. Going to Indonesia in Sept.

[solderine]

I want to go to uni and cant do so without taking a career break, my question is can i still do overtime if im on a career break?
I mean its just a stoppage of my hours for a period of time (career Break) so can i still do overtime if im on that leave?

[baldrick]

If you mean can you do OT in RM before or after your day in Uni, I would doubt it. Overtime is what it says,
working over your contracted hours, and you don't have any contracted hours if you are on a career break.
You might see if you could go on PT hours, say from 1700-2200 in an MC, while you are at Uni. We have some
PT evening staff who are students.
We have had some FT staff who have taken a career break to study at college, and they have to return to work
in the MC at least two weeks every year, though I think they did more than that, working over their summer and
xmas breaks from college. I would think they could do OT then (if there is any).

[Lounge Lizard]

I want to go to uni and cant do so without taking a career break, my question is can i still do overtime if im on a career break?
I mean its just a stoppage of my hours for a period of time (career Break) so can i still do overtime if im on that leave?

Probably the only way you can do something like this is to take on someone elses identity and get a part time job with Royal Mail, preferably in a nearby office or failing that arriving at work in disguise.

[POSTMAN]

Work for an agency?

[Harry_Perkins]

Speak to your line manager about it. He will make the decsion if its granted or not. If he doesnt you can appeal above him.

DOM? Or can I go above him too? I gave mine to my Lino, went straight to the DOM and turned down by him!