New seasonal worker looking for tips/help

[Space-tout]

Good morning folks, i started as an agency xmas cover, yesterday was my first day.

I was sent a rota by my agency with six days starting at 2pm, RM told me the day before to turn up at 9am which i did, i was given a pda and allocated a battered old van, i got signed in on the pda and had to pick a few peoples heads on what i was doing, supervisor just told me to scan two large trolleys of parcels, 87 in total but i had no idea what i was doing, a kind worker started me off and i eventually got ready to load up.

After loading i left the centre and went about delivering the parcels but i have a couple of questions regarding postage.

Does every parcel need a photo taking correct address or neighbour?

If i have a parcel that fits through the letter box but no one home or neighbours, can i photo myself posting it?

I had seven parcels left at the end of the day and was out from 11.30am, i had done 38 parcels and went back to the sorting office as my agency has me down as doing 6hrs shifts, the supervisor said i need to stay out until all parcels are delivered, i dropped my last parcel at 7.30pm.

Is this normal with agency staff, feels like left hand doesn't know what the left is doing.
It's no odds as i can work long shifts but only if i'm getting paid, i couldnt scan my QR code to clock out as the place was closed by the time i got back.

And out of curiosity how many parcels is realistic on a saturday with weekend traffic and a photo of everything + neighbours details etc.

Can i just resort to a safe space if i spot one?

Thank you for the help, i feel like i am missing so much information from the business.

[Rve83ndxd]

First thing is that every office is different.

Does every parcel need a photo taking correct address or neighbour?

No

If i have a parcel that fits through the letter box but no one home or neighbours, can i photo myself posting it?

Yes

Can i just resort to a safe space if i spot one?

Agency just leave them on the doorstep.

the supervisor said i need to stay out until all parcels are delivered

No.

And out of curiosity how many parcels is realistic

How long is a piece of string. I do about 15 an hour in a small area.

[Barnacle]

Good morning folks, i started as an agency xmas cover, yesterday was my first day.

I was sent a rota by my agency with six days starting at 2pm, RM told me the day before to turn up at 9am which i did, i was given a pda and allocated a battered old van, i got signed in on the pda and had to pick a few peoples heads on what i was doing, supervisor just told me to scan two large trolleys of parcels, 87 in total but i had no idea what i was doing, a kind worker started me off and i eventually got ready to load up.

After loading i left the centre and went about delivering the parcels but i have a couple of questions regarding postage.

Does every parcel need a photo taking correct address or neighbour?

If i have a parcel that fits through the letter box but no one home or neighbours, can i photo myself posting it?

I had seven parcels left at the end of the day and was out from 11.30am, i had done 38 parcels and went back to the sorting office as my agency has me down as doing 6hrs shifts, the supervisor said i need to stay out until all parcels are delivered, i dropped my last parcel at 7.30pm.

Is this normal with agency staff, feels like left hand doesn't know what the left is doing.
It's no odds as i can work long shifts but only if i'm getting paid, i couldnt scan my QR code to clock out as the place was closed by the time i got back.

And out of curiosity how many parcels is realistic on a saturday with weekend traffic and a photo of everything + neighbours details etc.

Can i just resort to a safe space if i spot one?

Thank you for the help, i feel like i am missing so much information from the business.

If anything goes wrong you can’t be held accountable because you have had next to zero training.

Find the Union Rep and tell them about your lack of training so that you have a voice in support if anything goes wrong and a manager wants to pull you up about it.

If you can’t deliver something just bring it back rather than leaving it somewhere.

If you run out of time, text your manager to let them know you will be returning with stuff. Only work the time you KNOW you are being paid for.

Find a friendly face among the posties and ask them about correct procedures. They’ll keep you right.

[ted_e_bear]

Wow that's next to zero training I think you've actually done quite well considering, I'm thinking though as it was Saturday for your first day maybe they tried to rush things through a bit and hopefully you'll get put with someone all day tomorrow who'll guide you through everything, good luck, report back and let us know what happened

[Idk]

Or if you can find another job, run and run fast to it.

[Londonsburning]

This is what Royal Mail has become utterly shoddy the race to the bottom is well and truly underway. Good luck but I would honestly say start looking for another job yesterday RM is finished

[Space-tout]

Thank you for the replies folks, i really appreciate it.

So, 100% need a photo of every parcel i deliver regardless of customer/neighbour/safeplace?

Even if a parcel can fit through the letterbox i still can't just post it?

Agency have allocated me 6 hour shifts but the manager said she would send a time sheet, is this suspicious?

Sweet F/A training, just one good bloke came over and explained things and even helped to load up the van,

It's just the photo that i'm unsure of.
I wanted to get on full time as the centre is two minutes from my house, do you think i will only get paid for 6 hours by the agency despite doing 11 hours?

I'm back in tomorrow and agency rota has me starting at 2pm, i was going to call the manager at 7.30am to see if i'm needed at 9am like they said saturday (agency rota for sat was 2pm also) am i being shafted?

When i spoke to management on saturday i feel i was having a guilt trip put on me 'oh you are meant to stay out till you are all delivered' i explained my agency rota but they said we'll get a timesheet sorted!!! ffs i thought i'd found a good job.

Anyway thank you once more, i'll be back tomorrow to let you know how it goes, i'll need to speak to the agency also eh.

[Barnacle]

Thank you for the replies folks, i really appreciate it.

So, 100% need a photo of every parcel i deliver regardless of customer/neighbour/safeplace?

Even if a parcel can fit through the letterbox i still can't just post it?

Agency have allocated me 6 hour shifts but the manager said she would send a time sheet, is this suspicious?

Sweet F/A training, just one good bloke came over and explained things and even helped to load up the van,

It's just the photo that i'm unsure of.
I wanted to get on full time as the centre is two minutes from my house, do you think i will only get paid for 6 hours by the agency despite doing 11 hours?

I'm back in tomorrow and agency rota has me starting at 2pm, i was going to call the manager at 7.30am to see if i'm needed at 9am like they said saturday (agency rota for sat was 2pm also) am i being shafted?

When i spoke to management on saturday i feel i was having a guilt trip put on me 'oh you are meant to stay out till you are all delivered' i explained my agency rota but they said we'll get a timesheet sorted!!! ffs i thought i'd found a good job.

Anyway thank you once more, i'll be back tomorrow to let you know how it goes, i'll need to speak to the agency also eh.

If it fits through the letterbox, take a pic of it in the letterbox, and then post it. That’s the correct procedure.

[Space-tout]

Apologies i missed the post about photos, it's much clearer now in that respect.
Thank you.

[Space-tout]

Apologies i missed the post about photos, it's much clearer now in that respect.
Thank you.

[Space-tout]

Ok thank you folks, could you tell me what happens to parcels when i return?
I am due to work 2pm-8pm and i will be sticking to those hours.
Do i have to scan parcels back in when i return if i have any? I have had an exchange of messages with the agency this morning and no timesheet has been provided, so i was naive to go that extra mile and believing RM manager to be truthful (mugged off).

I will see how today goes but possibly won't go back if they are always that shady.

Thanks folks.

[Barnacle]

Ok thank you folks, could you tell me what happens to parcels when i return?
I am due to work 2pm-8pm and i will be sticking to those hours.
Do i have to scan parcels back in when i return if i have any? I have had an exchange of messages with the agency this morning and no timesheet has been provided, so i was naive to go that extra mile and believing RM manager to be truthful (mugged off).

I will see how today goes but possibly won't go back if they are always that shady.

Thanks folks.

When you return with parcels that you haven’t had time to deliver, put them on a York and inform the parcel manager so they know what they are. It’s up to them to scan them or get someone else to take them out.

Regards the manager: don’t assume they know what they are doing. So explain that the agency is only paying you for x hours, if the manager wants more you need to be paid. The manager will then sort it out if they need more work doing.

[SpacePhoenix]

Sweet F/A training, just one good bloke came over and explained things and even helped to load up the van,

That doesn't surprise me. Here in MCs after the "ass covering" H&S stuff, it's normally here's the setup/work area, here's the work, get on with it

[Hyrrokkin]

No training nothing - shows how RM has gone down the toilet.

OP good luck

[Space-tout]

Well i started at 2pm today, left the sorting office with 48 parcels and returned to locked gates at 7.25pm with five parcels i couldnt deliver, i was around town centre and a really shady area that stinks of weed everywhere you go, so i wasn't leaving any in safe places.

I had to leave the van in the customer car park, but to my surprise i spoke to another agency lad who had been out shadowing with an experienced driver, they went out with 46 parcels and got back at 6.45pm with five parcels undelivered.

An accident waiting to happen in reality as i feel i need to get the deliveries done, maybe i'll settle down in time and find my feet but some training wouldn't have gone amiss.
I could do with training on the pda as one woman went ballistic, she refused delivery and told me to use the pda to sort it but i was too busy to be looking at what tech can do, especially in an unfamiliar area when it's gone dark.

I'll keep plugging away though as xmas is to close to be unemployed.

Thanks for your time folks.