***Safe return process agreed for vulnerable Royal Mail Group workers***

[POSTMAN]

https://www.cwu.org/news/safe-return-pr ... p-workers/

A four-step process to assist the rest of our ‘shielding’ Royal Mail Group members to return to duty will come into operation next month, on a similar basis to the protocols introduced for others last month.

Those who have been either categorised as or are the carers for ‘extremely clinically vulnerable’ people will be able to commence the process from July 31 in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland – and from August 16 in Wales – and the agreed arrangements for this were announced by CWU acting assistant secretary Carl Maden.

“As with the non-extremely vulnerable category members, we have a four-step plan set out, the overall aim of which is to ensure that any stress or apprehensions are addressed and these members are enabled to resume their duties as smoothly and safely as possible,” Carl told CWU News.

The plan opens with an informal conversation between the manager and the shielding worker to understand how the member is feeling, how they have coped with shielding and to discuss any anxieties or concerns.

A further conversation (Step Two) with the manager can discuss any concerns, or issues that may need resolving – which may also include altered start and finish times and/or shift patterns

Step Three will assess whether there is a requirement for occupational health advice and Step Four will formulate the return-to-work arrangements and finalise or ‘sign-off’ the plan.

“What’s really important here is the mental wellbeing of members, as well as their physical health and the specific practicalities too,” Carl continues, adding that the role of our CWU unit reps is extremely important in making this adjustment a success.

“It’s really good the business is working positively with us in this and our frontline reps, who’ve done a superb job in all aspects of dealing with Covid-19 issues and are also going to be playing a key role in this return-to-work process.

“Now the four-step plan is fully agreed for all members returning from shielding, it must happen in every case. If this hasn’t happened, or if the agreed adjustments are not in place, then the return to work can’t happen either,” he explains, adding: “At national level, the business has fully endorsed this.

“Our reps have been fantastic all though this crisis – and particularly at this time, when they’re assisting members in vulnerable situations in getting back into work.

So, a big thank you – once again – to all of them,” Carl concludes.
· This protocol covers all Royal Mail Group employees, including Parcelforce and RMPFS. Quadrant will be covered by Compass Group Policy.
· For full details, please see LTB 357 ( viewtopic.php?f=71&t=96715 & LTB 298 (viewtopic.php?f=71&t=96370

[POSTMAN]

https://www.cwu.org/ltb/ltb-574-20-covi ... g-to-work/

LTB 574/20 – COVID-19: Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) Members – Returning to Work
No. 574/2020

1st December 2020

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH ROYAL MAIL GROUP MEMBERS


Dear Colleagues,

COVID-19: Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) Members –

Returning to Work

The Government have announced the second lockdown in England will come to an end

at midnight Tuesday 1st December 2020 and is putting England into tier positions, from

Wednesday 2nd December.

Royal Mail communicated its latest policy position in relation to the clinically extremely

vulnerable (CEV) on Friday evening, attached at Appendix A.

Where members receive an updated letter giving instructions to refrain from work and

remain shielding, they should obviously follow the advice within the letter from the

Government.

We understand not all members who were previously in the Clinically Extremely

Vulnerable category will receive an updated letter. Members who are not in receipt of

an updated letter from the NHS/Government advising members in the CEV category to

refrain from attending work, should return to work on the 2nd December 2020.

Branches will recall a 4 step approach was taken back in July, to support members back

to work when shielding ended after the first lockdown. On this occasion a slightly shorter

version will apply.

Attached to this LTB is Royal Mail’s revised toolkit Appendix B and Return to Work

Review Form Appendix C to be used by line managers and have supportive

conversations with CEV employees regarding returning to work.

The union believes if the same process is applied it will ensure the safe return to work

of CEV members with the full involvement of CWU members and representatives

ensuring concerns have been taken into account and any required adjustments made

prior to returning to work.

We encourages branches to ensure that this LTB has been given the widest possible

circulation to all members.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS

Department, quoting reference 404. Email address: khay@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Carl Maden

Assistant Secretary (Acting) PTCS Department

http://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2 ... pp.A-1.pdf
http://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/App.B.pdf
http://www.cwu.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/App.C.pdf

[tractorboy2]

As a night worker , I was told I had to attend for work at 00:01 the time lock down ended.
Was this the same for other night workers.

[POSTMAN]

https://www.cwu.org/ltb/ltb-128-21-clin ... n-to-work/

LTB 128/21 – Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Members – Return to Work
No. 128/2021

26th March 2021

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH ROYAL MAIL GROUP MEMBERS

Dear Colleagues,

CLINICALLY EXTREMELY VULNERABLE MEMBERS – RETURN TO WORK

The devolved governments have announced Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV) members will be allowed to return to work unless they are able to work from home starting from 1st April 2020.

Members who have been shielding, who are able to and intend to start working from home, should ensure this is agreed with your manager before your due return date.

The Current Return dates are:

• England 1st April 2021
  Wales 1st April 2021
  Northern Ireland 12th April 2021
  Scotland 26th April 2021

Clinically Extremely Vulnerable members must adhere to the restrictions until the relevant date above and should receive a letter informing them shielding is coming to an end and any further guidance from the Government or NHS.

We have engaged with Royal Mail and the approach to supporting members back to work will be a very similar approach to last year as laid out in LTB 574/2020.

Attached to this LTB is the latest communication from Royal Mail at Appendix A.

At Appendix B is the document managers are expected to use when having the discussion with members who are returning to work.

We have also attached the agreed toolkit managers are expected to use in ensuring members return to the workplace safely at Appendix C.

Representatives will be aware the most important aspect of this approach is the meaningful dialogue between our member and their Line Manager to ensure our members are entirely comfortable in returning to the workplace, with any necessary adjustments put in place.

We ask all reps to ensure they familiarise themselves with the toolkit and return to work document and give this LTB maximum circulation.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS Department, quoting reference 420. Email address: khawkins@cwu.org

Yours Sincerely,

Carl Maden

Assistant Secretary (Acting)

Attachment 2: Appendix A
Attachment 3: Appendix B
Attachment 4: Appendix C