New people

[Foxel]

Only the perpetual whiners, who continue to grumble non-stop but never do anything about it because they realise they are unemployable elsewhere. This is still an easy job for decent pay and despite the moaning, they know it, and realise they are better off. It is also no different to people on here constantly demeaning agency workers and new starters.

That would depend on the topic of the thread. 'Blooming agency' and 'pathetic new-starters' would be valid forums for those opinions. Attacking people's opinions is altogether different.

[Basildon Bond]

... they realise they are unemployable elsewhere.

I have to disagree. Everyone who has worked for RM for a few years has lots of qualities and skills that are required for other jobs - there are lots of transferable skills but you may not see them right now because you have just been happy and focused on working for a major national employer up until now (whether that is three years or thirty).

It is not about having degrees and doing complex IT etc. Just google "successful people that didn't go to college" for an idea of what's possible - it's not the qualifications you hold but how you regard yourself and realising your strengths that matters.

For those looking to move you have to decide if it's the right thing to do (see video linked below as one example). And then know your worth. Getting up early and going out on delivery in all weathers (or working in an MC including working late into the night) for X number of a years takes a lot of dedication and determination. Right there you have some strong qualities and you can easily prove that you are immediately far more reliable than some school kid or graduate with no track record. Not job hopping every few years can also show you are likely to remain with a new company so that is a great strength - if they spend the time and money to train you... you will still be there working hard for them for many years. Again, more qualities you have to recognise. Do know that it is expensive to hire staff - sourcing CVs, reviewing candidates, interviewing, on-boarding, training, etc. all before they start working for the company. If a company you're interested in has a high staff turnover they will love that you commit to a company for an extended period and are unlikely to disappear after 12 months (where they have to start the whole process over again).

I could list all the qualities but you probably know them already because you do them every single day; you just do them without realising it.

[LouBarlow]

... they realise they are unemployable elsewhere.

I have to disagree. Everyone who has worked for RM for a few years has lots of qualities and skills that are required for other jobs - there are lots of transferable skills but you may not see them right now because you have just been happy and focused on working for a major national employer up until now (whether that is three years or thirty).

It is not about having degrees and doing complex IT etc. Just google "successful people that didn't go to college" for an idea of what's possible - it's not the qualifications you hold but how you regard yourself and realising your strengths that matters.

For those looking to move you have to decide if it's the right thing to do (see video linked below as one example). And then know your worth. Getting up early and going out on delivery in all weathers (or working in an MC including working late into the night) for X number of a years takes a lot of dedication and determination. Right there you have some strong qualities and you can easily prove that you are immediately far more reliable than some school kid or graduate with no track record. Not job hopping every few years can also show you are likely to remain with a new company so that is a great strength - if they spend the time and money to train you... you will still be there working hard for them for many years. Again, more qualities you have to recognise. Do know that it is expensive to hire staff - sourcing CVs, reviewing candidates, interviewing, on-boarding, training, etc. all before they start working for the company. If a company you're interested in has a high staff turnover they will love that you commit to a company for an extended period and are unlikely to disappear after 12 months (where they have to start the whole process over again).

I could list all the qualities but you probably know them already because you do them every single day; you just do them without realising it.

Yeah but then you have posties who complain when they are made to work their hours. Can you imagine going up to your boss in any other profession and saying ‘alright guv, I’ve done enough work today, I’m off and you can pay me till the end of the day’? We don’t know how good we have it, and while it is undeniable that the job is more demanding since privatisation, it is still a decent, stress free time.

I cannot think of any other job, that our ‘skills’ would allow us to walk into, having it as good as we (still) do now and being paid as well. Factory work? No chance. A courier? Nope.

[Bob Cooney]

... they realise they are unemployable elsewhere.

I have to disagree. Everyone who has worked for RM for a few years has lots of qualities and skills that are required for other jobs - there are lots of transferable skills but you may not see them right now because you have just been happy and focused on working for a major national employer up until now (whether that is three years or thirty).

It is not about having degrees and doing complex IT etc. Just google "successful people that didn't go to college" for an idea of what's possible - it's not the qualifications you hold but how you regard yourself and realising your strengths that matters.

For those looking to move you have to decide if it's the right thing to do (see video linked below as one example). And then know your worth. Getting up early and going out on delivery in all weathers (or working in an MC including working late into the night) for X number of a years takes a lot of dedication and determination. Right there you have some strong qualities and you can easily prove that you are immediately far more reliable than some school kid or graduate with no track record. Not job hopping every few years can also show you are likely to remain with a new company so that is a great strength - if they spend the time and money to train you... you will still be there working hard for them for many years. Again, more qualities you have to recognise. Do know that it is expensive to hire staff - sourcing CVs, reviewing candidates, interviewing, on-boarding, training, etc. all before they start working for the company. If a company you're interested in has a high staff turnover they will love that you commit to a company for an extended period and are unlikely to disappear after 12 months (where they have to start the whole process over again).

I could list all the qualities but you probably know them already because you do them every single day; you just do them without realising it.

Yeah but then you have posties who complain when they are made to work their hours. Can you imagine going up to your boss in any other profession and saying ‘alright guv, I’ve done enough work today, I’m off and you can pay me till the end of the day’? We don’t know how good we have it, and while it is undeniable that the job is more demanding since privatisation, it is still a decent, stress free time.

I cannot think of any other job, that our ‘skills’ would allow us to walk into, having it as good as we (still) do now and being paid as well. Factory work? No chance. A courier? Nope.

Every dispute for over 10 years has had bullying & harrassement at the centre of it and during the last dispute Ward & Co protested RM were psychologically attacking staff though as soon as the proposed deal was agreed they forgot all that and started psychologically attacking their own members and put a lid on any criticism

Now apparently according to you its a stress free well paid job only spoilt by lazy posties who don't know how good they have got it as they have zero transferable skills for further employment

Solidarity apparently

[nuklearpuppy]

Can’t be more honest and have to say leaving RM was the best decision of my life.
I left the company before it got really bad. The stage it is at now. Last year I left after 22 years service just before industrial action started. A job I used to enjoy .
Since privatisation the company got worse and worse. I could see it coming for years but stuck with it as it was the only thing I knew. I was proud to do my job but years went by and park & loop started . No longer could I do my job efficiently. I had to share with a partner who each year was slower than I was . Having to help each loop. It got worse and worse. No fault of there own . Every worker is different. The worst thing is, RM punish hard working staff members and lump more and more on. Timed like robots.
The public are paying for a dismal service.
How can it be justified to leave mail in frames most busy days as the walks are simply too long.
To still punt lapsing knowing this too.
I left to go onto a job which is totally different but one I have the skills for and one I’ve flourished in since starting. I’m glad I took the leap and now I’m a maintenance technician for student accommodation. I learn more and more each day and go on many courses. The perks are far better too.
I know many former colleagues who took the leap of faith and left and every one said they wish they had done it sooner. Examples are :Work from home jobs, bus drivers, gardening, auto parts delivery driver, one who delivers prescriptions, NHS rehabilitation worker who does lots of courses to further there career, one in janitorial work too.
. A good list of varied jobs.
All say they feel more valued and have a far more balanced way of life not constantly having to moan at management who treat them with contempt.
Good luck to anyone who wants to get out and not to be scared of the unknown.
Hell, employers are screaming out to have hard working trusted postal workers working for them . It’s a great thing to have on your CV.
Go on any of the big job sites. Sign up and upload your CV. You’ll be amazed at the jobs which come up relating to your experience .

I wish anyone who takes the time to read this hoping to get out all the very best in the future!!

[LouBarlow]

... they realise they are unemployable elsewhere.

I have to disagree. Everyone who has worked for RM for a few years has lots of qualities and skills that are required for other jobs - there are lots of transferable skills but you may not see them right now because you have just been happy and focused on working for a major national employer up until now (whether that is three years or thirty).

It is not about having degrees and doing complex IT etc. Just google "successful people that didn't go to college" for an idea of what's possible - it's not the qualifications you hold but how you regard yourself and realising your strengths that matters.

For those looking to move you have to decide if it's the right thing to do (see video linked below as one example). And then know your worth. Getting up early and going out on delivery in all weathers (or working in an MC including working late into the night) for X number of a years takes a lot of dedication and determination. Right there you have some strong qualities and you can easily prove that you are immediately far more reliable than some school kid or graduate with no track record. Not job hopping every few years can also show you are likely to remain with a new company so that is a great strength - if they spend the time and money to train you... you will still be there working hard for them for many years. Again, more qualities you have to recognise. Do know that it is expensive to hire staff - sourcing CVs, reviewing candidates, interviewing, on-boarding, training, etc. all before they start working for the company. If a company you're interested in has a high staff turnover they will love that you commit to a company for an extended period and are unlikely to disappear after 12 months (where they have to start the whole process over again).

I could list all the qualities but you probably know them already because you do them every single day; you just do them without realising it.

Yeah but then you have posties who complain when they are made to work their hours. Can you imagine going up to your boss in any other profession and saying ‘alright guv, I’ve done enough work today, I’m off and you can pay me till the end of the day’? We don’t know how good we have it, and while it is undeniable that the job is more demanding since privatisation, it is still a decent, stress free time.

I cannot think of any other job, that our ‘skills’ would allow us to walk into, having it as good as we (still) do now and being paid as well. Factory work? No chance. A courier? Nope.

Every dispute for over 10 years has had bullying & harrassement at the centre of it and during the last dispute Ward & Co protested RM were psychologically attacking staff though as soon as the proposed deal was agreed they forgot all that and started psychologically attacking their own members and put a lid on any criticism

Now apparently according to you its a stress free well paid job only spoilt by lazy posties who don't know how good they have got it as they have zero transferable skills for further employment

Solidarity apparently

Utter nonsense. Bullying and harassment wasn’t even at the centre of the very last disagreement.

[screwthis]

No, just every thread on this forum, apparently.

[N1postie]

There are better jobs available with a work life balance that we all want.

I think a lot of people feel trapped whether they say it or not. Many have been working there for a very long time and cannot imagine doing, or being capable of doing something else. Many may not realise they are in fact institutionalised (it's not their fault, they thought they had a good job for life).

If any ex-employees can explain what life looks like outside RM it may help some that will be having a genuine fear of quitting. Maybe start a new thread to group all the replies.

Really good point. My friends have been laughing at me for years saying that exact word 'institutionalised'. Find it hard to just go after 21 years

[Chitchat]

In my office, I have never known so many people to leave in such a short space of time. Two going this week alone. One last week. We had new starters start three weeks ago. Two have already left another one is looking for another job.

I have been in royalmail for 20 years, and up until a few months ago I could never visualise doing anything else. I'm now looking at retraining and actually leaving a job I thought I would only leave when I retired.

[Ferrari5825]

Hopefully i can give a bit of an insight to what its like leaving and finding another job, especially for those people who want to leave but are scared of going a head with it.

I left r.m earlier this year after taking VR. I haven't got any qualifications outside of gcse's and I don't have job specific skills as such. When i accepted the VR offer, i didn't have any jobs lined up, or any particular plan, but i knew it was the right thing to do at the time, especially knowing the trajectory that the business was heading towards.

I had to work a 12 week notice and I didn't really start looking for work until there was only 5-6 weeks left to work. I applied for a few jobs and recieved phone calls from a few (mainly agency work, which i wasn't to keen on taking up) but there was interest in work none the less. Anyway i applied for the job i'm working at now, (which is full time, day shifts and i get weekends off) I turned up for the interview and the next day, i got a phone call asking if i was still interested in the job and that they'd be happy to offer me the job.

For anyone who has been at royal mail for a fair few years, it will go in your favour massively, as they loved the fact that I had been at r.m for that many years and you'd be suprised by how much you can sell yourself, regarding what you can bring to a job, with the experience you have gained at r.m.

I've been at my new job for a few months now and i'm so glad i made the jump. The atmosphere is so much nicer, everyone cracks on with the job and the managers are actual managers who treat you like individual's. I've had more conversation with my new manager in the first week, than i did with my old manager at r.m for the whole time i was there.

Don't get me wrong, i enjoyed my job at royal mail and I have many fond memories from there. But sometimes you have got to see the wood from the trees and take the plunge by trying something new. If i can find a new job, anyone can. One last thing i will say about r.m staff, is that there are alot of talented people there, who are wasting what they can offer because they have gotten institutionalised over the years and have put their talents on the back burner, believe me, if you want to work, there is work out there, so take the leap and go for it.

[TopperGas]

You've failed to mention if your new job is better paid than your old RM role? If it's not there's little point in jumping ship unless your fortunate enough to get a decent redundancy payout.

[denhamhoop]

You've failed to mention if your new job is better paid than your old RM role? If it's not there's little point in jumping ship unless your fortunate enough to get a decent redundancy payout.

Their new job may pay less the same or more but sometimes it's not just about the money going into work where you feel appreciated and valued doesn't half make a difference on your outlook on daily life. Reading this thread has given me hope and if Royal Mail force through all the changes they want impact fully on me and my life away from the job then I shall leave and take a pay cut to actually have a weekend and evenings to myself like most of my friends. We all have the choice to stay or leave

[LouBarlow]

No, just every thread on this forum, apparently.

It is OK screwthis, I can take it. I have thick skin and brush off the abuse thrown my way. Thank you for your concern though, it is appreciated.

[postslippete]

I've nothing against agency nor new people but in the last few years I've seen literally dozens of new faces start and leave. Our office is like Waterloo Station. And if staff who have worked for Royal Mail for decades are thinking of leaving or have left, that can't be good for Royal Mail. It's not good for trust, staff morale, our working environment and the overall reputation of Royal Mail as trusted delivery company.

Unfortunately, the culture within Royal Mail has changed and if the only way we can make a profit is through reducing costs and improving efficiency by way of a management that receives bonuses through petty bullying and coercion, then we are going to be seriously screwed in the long run.