4 Day Weeks

rebel · Post by **rebel** » 15 Mar 2008, 20:31

Apparently a lot of offices in London are considering the 4 day week principle. A few already do it (Sw16 for one). Could anybody currently on this system highlight the pro's and con's.

Seems like work long hours for 4 days, have or work rest day, bank the 6th day and have every other 6th week off. Hard graft while you're doing the job but plusses at the other end. Any input greatly appreciated.

Post by **POSTMAN** » 15 Mar 2008, 20:51

Clapham have 4 day week,but it's different if you want it now.
We looked into it at our place for a mili second.
The deal was,groups of 3 bods,3 walks,2 in at one time who cover the other walk cause he's off.
So you do a walk and a half!!!

One thing being looked at is this.
Groups of 5 bods,5 walks,4 in at any one time as 1 guy is off.Hrs are 4x10hrs and 1x8hrs
4 that is left picks up 1/4 of the left walk,so you do 1 and a 1/4 for 4 days,sat is straight 8 hrs which you bank,then you get,instead of a long week end you get a whole week off.
You still get a day of in the week which most of us are on.
So should work that,sat is easy as it's just your normal walk,tues is easy anyway,so you get poss 3 baddish days left.
If your rest day is tues,you get 4 baddish days for 1 week in 6.

Thoughts.

L Tommo · Post by **L Tommo** » 15 Mar 2008, 21:20

BAD MOVEIF YOU DO... In my opinion... 1 1/2 walks is just not worth 1 day off...

Post by **rhino49** » 15 Mar 2008, 21:29

L Tommo wrote:BAD MOVEIF YOU DO... In my opinion... 1 1/2 walks is just not worth 1 day off...

Definitely agree with you - no one has seen the long term problem of wear and tear on your body yet - we can replace the worn out cycles, shoes and satchels without any grief but if you get worn out you will be discarded and replaced by more "cannon fodder". Royal Mail only pays lip service to caring for it's employees whilst constantly putting more physical demands on frontline delivery staff - tell them to f**k off - we need a 5 day 35 hour week and free health care access - particularly Physios and Chiropodists.

opgpat · Post by **opgpat** » 15 Mar 2008, 23:03

rhino49 wrote: we need ... free health care access - particularly Physios and Chiropodists.

you mean we don't get this then? f@#k me that's obscene in a job like this. no wonder so many of the older guys are hobbling round the do.

DGP1 · Post by **DGP1** » 15 Mar 2008, 23:22

I had to go to the physio this week and I'm still trying to recover from the damage she did to my hip (I now have a condition called crunchy hip) but at least she's referring me to a podiatrist who is a gait specialist to try to correct my walk (all caused by or made worse by the useless Magnums that we have to wear now).

We need the union to sort this all out

johnnyp · Post by **johnnyp** » 16 Mar 2008, 14:25

POSTMAN wrote:Clapham have 4 day week,but it's different if you want it now.
We looked into it at our place for a mili second.
The deal was,groups of 3 bods,3 walks,2 in at one time who cover the other walk cause he's off.
So you do a walk and a half!!!

One thing being looked at is this.
Groups of 5 bods,5 walks,4 in at any one time as 1 guy is off.Hrs are 4x10hrs and 1x8hrs
4 that is left picks up 1/4 of the left walk,so you do 1 and a 1/4 for 4 days,sat is straight 8 hrs which you bank,then you get,instead of a long week end you get a whole week off.
You still get a day of in the week which most of us are on.
So should work that,sat is easy as it's just your normal walk,tues is easy anyway,so you get poss 3 baddish days left.
If your rest day is tues,you get 4 baddish days for 1 week in 6.

Thoughts.

4 Day week at my place
32 walks 05.30-15.30 Mon - Sat
4 drives
2 ex phgs
14 rest day covers,who cover 2 duties each(28)rest are done by posties on S/A
1 MISSORT/Canteen/bag drop duty
9 reserves.

Leyton Crozier · Post by **Leyton Crozier** » 16 Mar 2008, 21:54

Looking at this for our office. I'm sure it won't be universally popular but what is the alternative? They take a few duties this year, a few more next year and a few more the year after. So you end up doing the same work over 5 days. Remember the longer you wait to consider this option, the harder it will be to implement it.

alangate · Post by **alangate** » 16 Mar 2008, 23:50

johnnypick wrote:
POSTMAN wrote:Clapham have 4 day week,but it's different if you want it now.
We looked into it at our place for a mili second.
The deal was,groups of 3 bods,3 walks,2 in at one time who cover the other walk cause he's off.
So you do a walk and a half!!!

One thing being looked at is this.
Groups of 5 bods,5 walks,4 in at any one time as 1 guy is off.Hrs are 4x10hrs and 1x8hrs
4 that is left picks up 1/4 of the left walk,so you do 1 and a 1/4 for 4 days,sat is straight 8 hrs which you bank,then you get,instead of a long week end you get a whole week off.
You still get a day of in the week which most of us are on.
So should work that,sat is easy as it's just your normal walk,tues is easy anyway,so you get poss 3 baddish days left.
If your rest day is tues,you get 4 baddish days for 1 week in 6.

Thoughts.
pegasus is about to come into our office we believe its going to rape our office

4 Day week at my place
32 walks 05.30-15.30 Mon - Sat
4 drives
2 ex phgs
14 rest day covers,who cover 2 duties each(28)rest are done by posties on S/A
1 MISSORT/Canteen/bag drop duty
9 reserves.

Post by **trythat** » 17 Mar 2008, 16:26

johnnypick wrote:

4 Day week at my place
32 walks 05.30-15.30 Mon - Sat
4 drives
2 ex phgs
14 rest day covers,who cover 2 duties each(28)rest are done by posties on S/A
1 MISSORT/Canteen/bag drop duty
9 reserves.

What are your delivery times, especially the town deliveries?

combocrasher · Post by **combocrasher** » 17 Mar 2008, 16:58

was told by my rep that 4 day weeks would mean we lose some holiday entitlements

Post by **POSTMAN** » 17 Mar 2008, 17:11

combocrasher wrote:was told by my rep that 4 day weeks would mean we lose some holiday entitlements

It's summin to do with the amount of days you work in the week i think.
IE: 5 day week guys week is 5 days holiday,4 day week guys only get 4 days as a week holiday.
So technically you get less days holiday.

johnnyp · Post by **johnnyp** » 17 Mar 2008, 17:49

trythat wrote:
johnnypick wrote:

4 Day week at my place
32 walks 05.30-15.30 Mon - Sat
4 drives
2 ex phgs
14 rest day covers,who cover 2 duties each(28)rest are done by posties on S/A
1 MISSORT/Canteen/bag drop duty
9 reserves.
What are your delivery times, especially the town deliveries?

10.30-1400 Delivery with M/R at the end if you wish.All our walks are town walks,max 3.5 hours.

smokerjim · Post by **smokerjim** » 17 Mar 2008, 17:53

POSTMAN wrote:
combocrasher wrote:was told by my rep that 4 day weeks would mean we lose some holiday entitlements
It's summin to do with the amount of days you work in the week i think.
IE: 5 day week guys week is 5 days holiday,4 day week guys only get 4 days as a week holiday.
So technically you get less days holiday.

Lets hope the whole system get fairer treatment than PT's and their docket ( basically, I never reached any OT rate till after I had worked 40hrs that week.....WTF? :lfo :cfo

johnnyp · Post by **johnnyp** » 17 Mar 2008, 17:59

POSTMAN wrote:
combocrasher wrote:was told by my rep that 4 day weeks would mean we lose some holiday entitlements
It's summin to do with the amount of days you work in the week i think.
IE: 5 day week guys week is 5 days holiday,4 day week guys only get 4 days as a week holiday.
So technically you get less days holiday.

Oh no you dont Postman.I get 6 weeks A/L=24 DAYS but i work a 4 day week the other 2 days im off.
If i worked a 5 day week i would still get 6 weeks=30 Days
If i done a 3 day week i would still get 6 weeks =18 Days
No one gets to loose any A/Leave through this system.