Royal Mail do not track staff-yeah right

[priority102]

Watch this bit again, Thompson actually answered this by saying that there was not technology in place to make posties go faster - which there isn't! Crafty crafty!

The technology is pin pointing how often you stop for longer than a minute, and how much time you make each day - but that wasn't communicated!

[lobsterhands]

It's plain bullying.

"Don't get caught"

Doing what? Going to the toilet? Stopping a few times to rest a few minutes? Waiting for your van share partner as their loop took 5 minutes longer that day?

Totally agree, well said. Problem now paranoia is setting in ( which is understandable) with a lot of posties. Just don’t take the p**s and you’ve got nothing to worry about.

[chrisj]

But people take the piss... The Union in a nutshell with people trying to defend the indefensible...

Blokes stoping randomly or in some cases for extended period happens; it was starting to happen with myself in the last 2 weeks before the work picked up...

It is often to do with the people I am paired with - some just do not want to do anything beyond their own walk or duty but the work has not been their and we had been lapsing as well as absorbing...

I will rather take just about as much work to last me my time; whether it be normal fast pace or a gentle stroll with few minutes between loops. But stopping entirely for 5 or more minutes is not for me but people do it.

Why are most people blaming the managers for doing their jobs... They have been monitored because it is perhaps obvious or even so with loose lips are taking about such occurrences...

They have a fair warning - it is not about the PDA actuals or managers but a fair days pay for a fair day's work.

Working to your time should mean 'work' not just being at work

[mjd24]

But people take the piss... The Union in a nutshell with people trying to defend the indefensible...

Blokes stoping randomly or in some cases for extended period happens; it was starting to happen with myself in the last 2 weeks before the work picked up...

It is often to do with the people I am paired with - some just do not want to do anything beyond their own walk or duty but the work has not been their and we had been lapsing as well as absorbing...

I will rather take just about as much work to last me my time; whether it be normal fast pace or a gentle stroll with few minutes between loops. But stopping entirely for 5 or more minutes is not for me but people do it.

Why are most people blaming the managers for doing their jobs... They have been monitored because it is perhaps obvious or even so with loose lips are taking about such occurrences...

They have a fair warning - it is not about the PDA actuals or managers but a fair days pay for a fair day's work.

Working to your time should mean 'work' not just being at work

Have you done many other jobs apart from Royal Mail?

Im not sure a fair days work should involve having every minute of your day monitored so that you are being “productive” for each of those minutes.

[Shadedpostie]

Actually, had a few retail jobs that are on you like a shark if they feel like you are standing around doing nothing, even if the place is quite. And that was a few years back. Depends how far back you are talking, but modern times it's not unheard of for bosses to hall your ass for not "being productive" in the hours you are paid. What most posties aren't really aware of if they haven't just joined RM or this is the only job they've known. Does it make it right? Up to you guys! In this job say it's fair if people stop for a few minutes to catch their breath if walking loop after loop. But, if it's shown in the past you have done the job a lot faster, then all the sudden you slow down (which people have openly admitted) because they don't want to be sent out with more walk, then that's were the problems lie. They have been warned by multiple people both other colleagues, reps and managers to not to, but haven't listened. Any changes to walks , I'd say is not only management's fault for not stepping up and collaring these guys, but them themselves. As people say on here, "we are our own worst enemies".

[Duesouth]

But stopping entirely for 5 or more minutes is not for me but people do it.

So what would you suggest the postie do for those 5 minutes while waiting for there partner to come?

There are many anomalies to factor in why the person is taking longer than yourself. It could be writing out a few P739's or the person is just not as quick as you (but it's not there fault) and everyone walks at different speeds.

The business can't tell you to walk at a certain speed but because that would be deemed as discrimination. Yes there has to be standards, and if standards are broken then theres nothing wrong with a conversation and not an interrogation which some managers like to have.

[FilthyBloke]

But people take the piss... The Union in a nutshell with people trying to defend the indefensible...

Blokes stoping randomly or in some cases for extended period happens; it was starting to happen with myself in the last 2 weeks before the work picked up...

It is often to do with the people I am paired with - some just do not want to do anything beyond their own walk or duty but the work has not been their and we had been lapsing as well as absorbing...

I will rather take just about as much work to last me my time; whether it be normal fast pace or a gentle stroll with few minutes between loops. But stopping entirely for 5 or more minutes is not for me but people do it.

Why are most people blaming the managers for doing their jobs... They have been monitored because it is perhaps obvious or even so with loose lips are taking about such occurrences...

They have a fair warning - it is not about the PDA actuals or managers but a fair days pay for a fair day's work.

Working to your time should mean 'work' not just being at work

Walks/duties are only part of your shift. The manager should be able to ask you to do more if time allows.

[FilthyBloke]

But stopping entirely for 5 or more minutes is not for me but people do it.

So what would you suggest the postie do for those 5 minutes while waiting for there partner to come?

There are many anomalies to factor in why the person is taking longer than yourself. It could be writing out a few P739's or the person is just not as quick as you (but it's not there fault) and everyone walks at different speeds.

The business can't tell you to walk at a certain speed but because that would be deemed as discrimination. Yes there has to be standards, and if standards are broken then theres nothing wrong with a conversation and not an interrogation which some managers like to have.

If it’s a daily thing then the driver could take a few extra houses off the walker? Or go and meet him and take some off him.

[ted_e_bear]

As above post, if you work as a team help each other, either help finish a loop,nip off with a big parcel or just tidy the van ready for the next loop, then it's lots better than waiting about which is what happens when you're either paired with someone who's a knob or if you're a knob yourself.

[Splappy_McSplap]

As people say on here, "we are our own worst enemies".

Yup.

I have always said, with regards to the job, and not personally against anyone, "The worst part of being a postie isn't the weather, it isn't dogs, it isn't lapsing...it's other posties".

[chrisj]

I was not talking about waiting for a partner - been there and done it; sometimes, I wait but most of the time I worked around this particular partner - he was pants. I regularly do overtime and waiting for him will stop me doing OT and I cannot keep moaning about him because everyone thought he was a sweet boy; including the customers...

I have also worked with chatterboxes that think they have to have a chat with most customers - annoying but you have to wait for such because you can never tell when they will return. I have even had Posties chatting when I drive them to a house to simply lay off a parcel; normally you can wait with engine running because it should take seconds but with some, it is switch off all the time...

This issue with the poster and manager highlighted is not about normal everyday delays due to writing cards, customers, traffic lights, van issues, idling (even with just key in ignition)or waiting for partners, most of us know it is about someone actually parking up to waste time instead of returning early and being sent back or do d2ds or whatever...

I prefer to take more work before going put than returning to be sent back but if I have to return because the workload was just not enough then it is more of a drive around and doing just a bit more work. It is better than laying myself up for suspicion or questioning by managers.

I cannot wait for our revision - more work about same location rather lapsing in one direction, absorption in another and then own walk.

[stevejm]

But stopping entirely for 5 or more minutes is not for me but people do it.

So what would you suggest the postie do for those 5 minutes while waiting for there partner to come?

There are many anomalies to factor in why the person is taking longer than yourself. It could be writing out a few P739's or the person is just not as quick as you (but it's not there fault) and everyone walks at different speeds.

The business can't tell you to walk at a certain speed but because that would be deemed as discrimination. Yes there has to be standards, and if standards are broken then theres nothing wrong with a conversation and not an interrogation which some managers like to have.

If it’s a daily thing then the driver could take a few extra houses off the walker? Or go and meet him and take some off him.

that makes sense if they are both the same speed and fitness and same attitude. But what if one is fitter than the other, or one is naturally slow (I know a few) or someone is new and doesn't shape up quickly? - I'll help a colleague out once in a while but I'm not covering for them habitually.

This is the problem with Royal Mail top bosses and their obsession with cutting costs and maximising productivity. They have never got their heads around the fact that what comes into a D.O varies from day to day and week to week and also that they are dealing with all the anomalies and vagaries which come with managing a hundred thousand employees doing a physical job. Square pegs into round holes. It's always cut costs in a race to the bottom.

[FilthyBloke]

But stopping entirely for 5 or more minutes is not for me but people do it.

So what would you suggest the postie do for those 5 minutes while waiting for there partner to come?

There are many anomalies to factor in why the person is taking longer than yourself. It could be writing out a few P739's or the person is just not as quick as you (but it's not there fault) and everyone walks at different speeds.

The business can't tell you to walk at a certain speed but because that would be deemed as discrimination. Yes there has to be standards, and if standards are broken then theres nothing wrong with a conversation and not an interrogation which some managers like to have.

If it’s a daily thing then the driver could take a few extra houses off the walker? Or go and meet him and take some off him.

that makes sense if they are both the same speed and fitness and same attitude. But what if one is fitter than the other, or one is naturally slow (I know a few) or someone is new and doesn't shape up quickly? - I'll help a colleague out once in a while but I'm not covering for them habitually.

This is the problem with Royal Mail top bosses and their obsession with cutting costs and maximising productivity. They have never got their heads around the fact that what comes into a D.O varies from day to day and week to week and also that they are dealing with all the anomalies and vagaries which come with managing a hundred thousand employees doing a physical job. Square pegs into round holes. It's always cut costs in a race to the bottom.

But being slower doesn’t mean they are putting in less effort.
They may have underlying health issues or even be older.
Posties are different. Some like to talk to customers and others like to whizz past with their head phones on. Some are in their 60s and some are a lot younger. Some seem to need a cigarette after every loop etc etc

It may be that the walks need tweaking once the two posties have been together a month or so.

Otherwise you’ll end up with duties where the two slow fatties have been put together and the walk has become ridiculously small and when rota man is on it and finishes at 10 and then gets sent out again it’s a big moan from him as well….

[redrobbo]

The main problem we have at RM is the amount of useless managers many have never been on delivery and those that have were friggin lazy dodgers they do the talk. Talk but could never do the walk walk this job used to be task and finish the quicker you did your round earlier you could go home but now they expect more and more so it's better to walk at a pace comfortable to you there's no medal awarded for getting back first we're not friggin robots never mind getting rid of Thompson I wish we could get rid of most of these toss pots they're like a virus you just can't get rid of I've heard and experienced a lot of shite from most of them at my office, we need a complete clear out of the management throughout RM we have people running on delivery just to fit in the starburst all because a clown mgr says it takes you so long to get from A to B they couldn't do it but expect you to do it some of us stay strong and tell them no chance of taking Starburst if we can't finish on time I don't expect to get paid for doing nothing but when I put in a decent days shift every day I .don't expect the guff from these no marks

[sindba]

RM also don't seem to realise that this is a highly physical job.

You just can't go hell for leather for every second of a 4.5 - 5 hour delivery, day after day, in all weathers.

There's nothing wrong with a 2 minute breather between sections / loops, on top of your main meal relief. In fact it probably makes you more productive, not less.