Royal Mail do not track staff-yeah right

[mjd24]

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".

Fair comments. Its an interesting debate i think, what constitutes a fair days work and especially in what we do, i think its quite hard to judge.

[mjd24]

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.

But then you’ll find the walker suddenly slowing down even more to have more taken off . . .

So many grey areas to this debate and no easy answers.

[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.

But then you’ll find the walker suddenly slowing down even more to have more taken off . . .

So many grey areas to this debate and no easy answers.

Yeah but again that is the postman’s attitude and that makes it hard for the manager to sort out.
The mentality of the workforce is part of the problem. A lot of that is caused by how the company is treating its staff but it’s still an underlying issue.

[k979aaa]

The fact remains the CEO has lied to a parliamentary select committee and should be recalled to account for his actions and his TEAM!

[walthmstowman]

Obviously you know, but, you know...

tracking staff.jpg

Is this being sent to the select committee to prove another lie?

I sincerely hope it is . Royal Mail's management is now so full of lies its ridiculous.

[k979aaa]

Here are the regulations of parliament and the contempt of witness regulations:
https://www.instituteforgovernment.org. ... committees

[eastie]

Does this Medway Office have their 40 mins meal relief before they go out or is the 1 hour showing they have stopped 20 mins more.
Also it is only 3 people that did an hour so why tar everyone with the same brush.
We have COM's that come in an hour late and leave an hour early

40 minutes meal relief?! Who gets 40 minutes?

full time staff

[k979aaa]

Does this Medway Office have their 40 mins meal relief before they go out or is the 1 hour showing they have stopped 20 mins more.
Also it is only 3 people that did an hour so why tar everyone with the same brush.
We have COM's that come in an hour late and leave an hour early

40 minutes meal relief?! Who gets 40 minutes?

full time staff

Way forward agreement 2001

[Seymour Buts]

People shouldn't be stopping for over an hour on delivery, defending this stuff plays into Royal Mail and Thmpson's hands.

[mjd24]

People shouldn't be stopping for over an hour on delivery, defending this stuff plays into Royal Mail and Thmpson's hands.

Define stopping.

[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.

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….

All of the circumstances you've cited highlight why micro-management with pdas is ultimately a fruitless task both for managers and posties.

[sindba]

People shouldn't be stopping for over an hour on delivery, defending this stuff plays into Royal Mail and Thmpson's hands.

40 minutes meal relief.

20 minutes "stopping" on to of that, on a 5 hour delivery? Easy.

Customer discussions, sorting out stuff in your van, quick breather, putting clothing on or off, waiting for a lorry to reverse. Etc etc. Just a normal day. Job would be impossible without it.

[walthmstowman]

Its up there with Grant McPherson desperately trying to row back on Royal Mail policy about prioritising parcels over letters when we all know the truth . A complete bunch of liars . No wonder Simon Thompson has been recalled to Parliament .

[Acca Dacca]

Saying posties are doing nothing for 45 minutes every day sounds bad but when its broken down it isnt as it seems

If you do 9 loops a day and stopped for a total of 5 minutes every loop - this can be made up of numerous short stops at the doorsteps and sorting stuff in van/loading and unloading trolley before and after every loop - then thats 45 minutes standing still according to their system

[Dorset Plodder]

What you have to remember is that nothing is meant to make sense in Royal Mail.

It's just meant to make MONEY!

If you think Management is trying to find solutions to problems in the Real World of Delivery you're going to be sadly disappointed. Their World exists on a Laptop Screen and consists of spreadsheets and pie charts.

They have no understanding of any of the hundreds of problems that can occur daily to make your job harder/longer, from PDAs that don't work in the rain to van doors falling off when you open them!

To Royal Mail Human Beings are a problem because they can't all be entered into a computer like a box of mail. We're all different, and have different strengths & weaknesses, they would like us all to have the same characteristics and perform exactly the same.