Two weeks in

[Noseatbelt]

Just an enquiry to shed some light.

Two weeks into the job, training finished and few things to clarify.

Driving without a seatbelt on - is this just the norm for the 7-8 hours we're out driving?

Driving fleet vans that don't lock at all - ok to take them out and regardless?

Pretty much zero training on duties (rural) and just expected to find were the route is?

Breaks non existent? No time to stop. Worked 6 days of the last 2 weeks and majority of days its a 10 minute stop and then eating whilst driving to the next stop or genuinely no break at all. Also i believe this is unpaid as new contracts don't get paid breaks?

The list goes on but just a few things that I've had to become accustom too already.

[ted_e_bear]

Points 1 & 2

1. It's royal mail policy that you apply the seatbelt at all times that you're driving the van, that includes driving really short distances between stops on a delivery, if you're caught it's included in the list of dismissable offences.

2. Again it's a dismissable offence if mail is stolen from an unsecured van.

[guardianangel]

WELCOME TO ROYAL MAIL

[R5001]

1, is your own choice. Rules say belt up at all times, beyond what the highway code and laws say, no unbelted reversing etc, nothing. Van moving, you have a belt on.

2, refuse the van, demonstrate why and offer to walk the job out on foot for as much as is doable if need be. Posties have been sacked for leaving vans unlocked and at least a few have only had their jobs saved by mechanics proving the van didn't need a key to open.

Breaks... You make the time, choose when you want it. If you don't "have time" sit in the office for the last 30 minutes of your shift after cutoff. You likely won't be able to complete, it isn't your fault or your problem.

[Noseatbelt]

So, the seat belt situation. Day 1 & 2 (management forgot I was starting so I was sent on duties I won't be doing as help) I was out with fellas with 20-30 years exp @ royal mail as a passenger them driving. Instinct, obviously I belted up as I got in the van, parcels and letters everywhere on top of me.

It got to the stage were I was told to clip the belt in and just sit on top of it as we won't have time to take it on and off all day. I didn't bother, if we drove for longer than a few 100 yards I kept putting it on, think I was annoying the driver, don't care. Different chap day two, same situation won't have time to continually take it on and off etc etc and ofc I'm then feeling like a hindrance to the people "training" me.

All in all anyone I've came into contact with has said don't bother you'll not have time, and I won't from what I've experienced. I don't even have time for a break currently.

The van that didn't lock situation, I made management aware and was told to go on it'll be fine. I assume if something had have happened it would fall on me regardless if its only day 2 or 3 at RM?

As for breaks and making time for them, I fully understand. But in the case of a new worker who already isn't able to finish a run because they haven't been trained properly, never mind adding on what break I'm entitled too, it's just chaos.

Is the suggestion just to being back a lot of mail/parcels when you feel like your finished?

Again I've never been told a "finish" time, I asumme its when you deliver you're last letter or parcel?

In my case its became a minimum of 9 hours a day to sort then get delivering without a break and by that stage I throw the head up and think enoughs enough and head back regardless.

The online training prior to starting, the recruitment process in general you'd think you're getting into something brilliant, a career potentially. Wish I'd found this forum prior to leaving my last job.

[yellowbelly]

It got to the stage were I was told to clip the belt in and just sit on top of it as we won't have time to take it on and off all day. I didn't bother, if we drove for longer than a few 100 yards I kept putting it on, think I was annoying the driver, don't care. Different chap day two, same situation won't have time to continually take it on and off etc etc and ofc I'm then feeling like a hindrance to the people "training" me.

Look at this way, if you're lying in a hospital bed with broken bones etc. are you going to tell your family 'Didn't have time to put my seatbelt on'?

It's not a choice, it's RM policy. If they see you it could be a dismissal, if you have an accident and injuries cause you to be off work
and RM legal eagles/third parties insurance know you weren't wearing your seatbelt, how do you think that'll work with any sick pay or compo?

[SMS1969]

Just put your seat belt on at ALL times, regardless of what other twats might tell you. It’s your job and your life, you could get seriously injured or worse if you don’t wear a belt. Don’t worry about being a hindrance, some experienced posties like to boss new starts about.
As for going out in a van that won’t lock No, don’t do it.

[R5001]

So, the seat belt situation. Day 1 & 2 (management forgot I was starting so I was sent on duties I won't be doing as help) I was out with fellas with 20-30 years exp @ royal mail as a passenger them driving. Instinct, obviously I belted up as I got in the van, parcels and letters everywhere on top of me.

It got to the stage were I was told to clip the belt in and just sit on top of it as we won't have time to take it on and off all day. I didn't bother, if we drove for longer than a few 100 yards I kept putting it on, think I was annoying the driver, don't care. Different chap day two, same situation won't have time to continually take it on and off etc etc and ofc I'm then feeling like a hindrance to the people "training" me.

All in all anyone I've came into contact with has said don't bother you'll not have time, and I won't from what I've experienced. I don't even have time for a break currently.

The van that didn't lock situation, I made management aware and was told to go on it'll be fine. I assume if something had have happened it would fall on me regardless if its only day 2 or 3 at RM?

As for breaks and making time for them, I fully understand. But in the case of a new worker who already isn't able to finish a run because they haven't been trained properly, never mind adding on what break I'm entitled too, it's just chaos.

Is the suggestion just to being back a lot of mail/parcels when you feel like your finished?

Again I've never been told a "finish" time, I asumme its when you deliver you're last letter or parcel?

In my case its became a minimum of 9 hours a day to sort then get delivering without a break and by that stage I throw the head up and think enoughs enough and head back regardless.

The online training prior to starting, the recruitment process in general you'd think you're getting into something brilliant, a career potentially. Wish I'd found this forum prior to leaving my last job.

Your time is your contract divided by your attendance. Almost certainly, that's going to be 30 hours, or 6 hours 5 days a week, you clock in at x, 6 hours later, you clock out, within that time, take your 30 mins and what doesn't get done, doesn't get done. Just make sure that you inform them before you leave the building if you think there is too much and ask them what they want you to focus on.

Not being told a start and finish time etc is annoying, and deceptive, but it'll be somewhere, if noone will commit to telling you, see the union rep to get it down on paper.

[twoloops]

We have a new starter, good lad, been with RM about two weeks, told me be he’d done 32 hours overtime delivering parcels on his own late into the evening, tomorrow he’s on his RM van training

[Noseatbelt]

[mjd24]

Just wow.

[TopperGas]

We have a new starter, good lad, been with RM about two weeks, told me be he’d done 32 hours overtime delivering parcels on his own late into the evening, tomorrow he’s on his RM van training

RM van training isn't now compulsory before a new starter can drive a van due to the high number of new starters and lack of trainers available.

I guess the fact he's managed 32 hours of, hopefully, accident free driving is a relief to all concerned.