Working for Royal Mail and having a second job

[Groot]

Good morning, I was recently offered a postman role with Royal Mail, I’ve been going through the process of supplying all the relevant information and have made a visit to the depot to show identification which seemed unnecessary as they’d already had me email over all the same details.

During the process (original application and phone interview) I was asked if I’d be doing any other work, I informed them at all stages that I will, when suitable to do so and if it didn’t clash with my shifts at Royal Mail, take shifts working out on track for a rail company to help supplement my wages.

I was told by the gent that interviewed me that this wouldn’t be a problem but now I’m being told that they need to speak to HR as the manager has “concerns”. I’ve tried to ease his concerns by telling him that I’d only take shifts on track when Royal Mail doesn’t need me and I’d never put myself in a position of double shifting and putting myself at risk.

Surly lots of Royal Mail employees do additional work as they only seem to offer contracts for 20-30 hours and no one can survive on that.

Sorry for the long boring post.

[fb1969]

Cynical but honest reply from an ex-postie.

RM take people on on part time contracts in the full knowledge that they will need them to work more hours than that. It is unlikely they would only need someone for 20 hours a week if they are doing more than 3 days. Being on 20 hours means they can mess people around as much as they like, knowing that they'd want the extra hours. Knowing your shifts very far in advance is also something RM are poor at, and can be changed at short or no notice!

Also the advert will say overtime is paid at 1.25 times the hourly rate, but it doesn't say that that will only apply if you do more than 40 hours which is the new full time contract. Anything up to 40 hours will be paid at the normal hourly rate.

[Groot]

Thanks for the reply.

I was asked “if I needed you six days a week would that be a problem” I said no, if you needed me for six days out of the week I wouldn’t need/have time to do a shift on track.

I’d only ever accept a shift that didn’t clash with my Royal Mail shifts, this job will come first and I’d never put myself in a position we’re I’m double shifting.

I was even asked “what if you hurt yourself and can’t work” I had to bite my lip on that one a bit. I could get hurt walking down the stairs at home. Do you want me in bubble wrap between shifts?

[fb1969]

Assuming you have applied for a 5 days out of 7 job (some are now advertised as Wed-Sun only) then you should be ok for the 2 days off. There will always be a chance that your rostered day off could change within the week you are working so the other job would have to just be dropped. You could have a roster showing your days off as Monday and Thursday but then go in on Tuesday and be told that you will have Wednesday off and work Thursday.

If you would never work at both jobs on the same day then it may not be an issue. But take whatever hours may have been shown in the advert as little more than a guide. They may say you are doing 0900-1500 but then ask you to start earlier and/or pressure you to work over, so you could end up doing 0800-1700 or something like that, especially in the 4-6 weeks before Christmas.

[Groot]

The job was advertised as 20 hour pw over mon-sun but was told it would be closer to 30.

Seems they want you to be that flexible you’ll pretty much need to be a contortionist.

[fb1969]

You are getting the idea of their attitude!

They work on the basis that you will be desperate to do the hours and also to be keen to do extra to show how keen you are. The office I worked at had three new starters a fortnight ago, as it turned out only two turned up and one of them left after a week. The majority of other posties in the office will be on far better Terms and Conditions than you will be on.