I'd rather they used PDA data to monitor performance because at the moment they just guess your performance based on what you bring back. If you are someone that gets on with the job and works your time without dithering about then what can they say if there is PDA data they can access. This data should prove that hard working posties are exactly that - working hard.
The guessing that you have been too slow based on what you bought back is an absolute disgrace as they are always wrong. They should be forced to prove their accusations with PDA data or shut the F up.
Ok, I agree that the current approach is flawed and unfair and is basically lazy management. But my issue isn't with using the PDA data - it's how it gets used and managers cherry picking the actuals or whatever and ignoring the other factors like the traffic, the amount of mail being delivered, the chats that posties have with the public, many of whom are elderly. We are slowly losing that and becoming more like Amazon. Maybe I am a dinosaur but there is a real danger that managers will simply use PDA data to squeeze us and use it as a stick to drive people out instead of using it as a support tool. Very few posties in our office are taking the p*ss - many of them are already coming in early, rushing round and not taking breaks, so it could also be better used in that way - to take work off. But alas it won't, they will try and use it to speed up the posties who are taking their time and doing the job properly.
On the face of it, shareholder value is the dumbest idea in the world.
I'd rather they used PDA data to monitor performance because at the moment they just guess your performance based on what you bring back. If you are someone that gets on with the job and works your time without dithering about then what can they say if there is PDA data they can access. This data should prove that hard working posties are exactly that - working hard.
The guessing that you have been too slow based on what you bought back is an absolute disgrace as they are always wrong. They should be forced to prove their accusations with PDA data or shut the F up.
Ok, I agree that the current approach is flawed and unfair and is basically lazy management. But my issue isn't with using the PDA data - it's how it gets used and managers cherry picking the actuals or whatever and ignoring the other factors like the traffic, the amount of mail being delivered, the chats that posties have with the public, many of whom are elderly. We are slowly losing that and becoming more like Amazon. Maybe I am a dinosaur but there is a real danger that managers will simply use PDA data to squeeze us and use it as a stick to drive people out instead of using it as a support tool. Very few posties in our office are taking the p*ss - many of them are already coming in early, rushing round and not taking breaks, so it could also be better used in that way - to take work off. But alas it won't, they will try and use it to speed up the posties who are taking their time and doing the job properly.
For them to traffic into account it'd probably need dash cams installed in every van to record what the traffic was like. I'm surprised that dash cams aren't standard already for every RM vehicle, no matter what the size of the vehicle is.
Reliably informed that one pair will fluctuate between 4 walks on a daily basis - with the other poor sod doing 1st class and parcels (DPR size) on two walks daily (1,2 then 3,4) rumours of 1in 5 job losses, with our d/o being told that the uso reform is going live in September. Despite trials ongoing and not exactly going too well, R.M are again out of control with no leadership. Could be the change that finally breaks the camels back (already done mine)
Who’s doing the parcels not DPR size on the 2 walks not going out?
The third postie in the “pairing”. Not all offices have DPR duties, and even those that do don’t have all walks having large taken off and given to DPR - just certain walks. For the two walks not going out, they will deliver all tracked, first class mail and specials, as well as emptying the postboxes and doing the customer-collects.
That's correct, the other point is it's not one pair doing a full delivery on alternating duties every day, they're supposed to take turns and rotate around who does the parcels etc days, it's been covered on another thread as one of the ways to try and combat fatigue, obviously this wouldn't quite work if there was a non driver in the trio as they'd have to walk every day with the exception of whatever gets dreamt up for them to do on Saturdays.
Our manager initially said the same thing regarding one of the trio being a "parcel driver", he's been corrected on that point, it's down to them not interpreting the information correctly.
Yup, we were told something similar, ie, it will be rotated.
We’ve already been informally doing a variation of this “parcel driver” role for over a year at our place, albeit covering three walks(!), not just two, and it usually works well. Doing it for just two walks will actually mean a massive reduction in workload for us (albeit tracked-item volumes rapidly increasing on individual walks will counteract this reduction in workload cor us). So we new entrants are actually not too bothered by the forthcoming ODM implementation, yet a lot (not all) of the legacy staff go on like it’s Armageddon. — even though the workload/productivity benchmark for legacy staff seems way lower than that by which new entrants are expected to meet.
For them to traffic into account it'd probably need dash cams installed in every van to record what the traffic was like. I'm surprised that dash cams aren't standard already for every RM vehicle, no matter what the size of the vehicle is.
I know I mentioned traffic as a factor and RM does have trackers in nearly all their vans now, so that data is there, it's just that they can choose to ignore it when it doesn't suit their narrative. Managers have access to far more data from our PDAs than what we do so we are being monitored with tools that we are not even allowed full visibility of. That's not transparency, but control.
On the face of it, shareholder value is the dumbest idea in the world.
For them to traffic into account it'd probably need dash cams installed in every van to record what the traffic was like. I'm surprised that dash cams aren't standard already for every RM vehicle, no matter what the size of the vehicle is.
I know I mentioned traffic as a factor and RM does have trackers in nearly all their vans now, so that data is there, it's just that they can choose to ignore it when it doesn't suit their narrative. Managers have access to far more data from our PDAs than what we do so we are being monitored with tools that we are not even allowed full visibility of. That's not transparency, but control.
Trackers don't prove that traffic on the roads was busy, RM could just say that someone is driving slow on purpose. Dash cams would prove that a road was busy with traffic and the driver wasn't driving slow on purpose.
Reliably informed that one pair will fluctuate between 4 walks on a daily basis - with the other poor sod doing 1st class and parcels (DPR size) on two walks daily (1,2 then 3,4) rumours of 1in 5 job losses, with our d/o being told that the uso reform is going live in September. Despite trials ongoing and not exactly going too well, R.M are again out of control with no leadership. Could be the change that finally breaks the camels back (already done mine)
Who’s doing the parcels not DPR size on the 2 walks not going out?
The third postie in the “pairing”. Not all offices have DPR duties, and even those that do don’t have all walks having large taken off and given to DPR - just certain walks. For the two walks not going out, they will deliver all tracked, first class mail and specials, as well as emptying the postboxes and doing the customer-collects.
That's correct, the other point is it's not one pair doing a full delivery on alternating duties every day, they're supposed to take turns and rotate around who does the parcels etc days, it's been covered on another thread as one of the ways to try and combat fatigue, obviously this wouldn't quite work if there was a non driver in the trio as they'd have to walk every day with the exception of whatever gets dreamt up for them to do on Saturdays.
Our manager initially said the same thing regarding one of the trio being a "parcel driver", he's been corrected on that point, it's down to them not interpreting the information correctly.
Yup, we were told something similar, ie, it will be rotated.
We’ve already been informally doing a variation of this “parcel driver” role for over a year at our place, albeit covering three walks(!), not just two, and it usually works well. Doing it for just two walks will actually mean a massive reduction in workload for us (albeit tracked-item volumes rapidly increasing on individual walks will counteract this reduction in workload cor us). So we new entrants are actually not too bothered by the forthcoming ODM implementation, yet a lot (not all) of the legacy staff go on like it’s Armageddon. — even though the workload/productivity benchmark for legacy staff seems way lower than that by which new entrants are expected to meet.
Are you a DPR driver, a driver covering 3 walks every 3rd day, an LAT employee or a postie coverering walks? make your mind up
Reliably informed that one pair will fluctuate between 4 walks on a daily basis - with the other poor sod doing 1st class and parcels (DPR size) on two walks daily (1,2 then 3,4) rumours of 1in 5 job losses, with our d/o being told that the uso reform is going live in September. Despite trials ongoing and not exactly going too well, R.M are again out of control with no leadership. Could be the change that finally breaks the camels back (already done mine)
Who’s doing the parcels not DPR size on the 2 walks not going out?
The third postie in the “pairing”. Not all offices have DPR duties, and even those that do don’t have all walks having large taken off and given to DPR - just certain walks. For the two walks not going out, they will deliver all tracked, first class mail and specials, as well as emptying the postboxes and doing the customer-collects.
That's correct, the other point is it's not one pair doing a full delivery on alternating duties every day, they're supposed to take turns and rotate around who does the parcels etc days, it's been covered on another thread as one of the ways to try and combat fatigue, obviously this wouldn't quite work if there was a non driver in the trio as they'd have to walk every day with the exception of whatever gets dreamt up for them to do on Saturdays.
Our manager initially said the same thing regarding one of the trio being a "parcel driver", he's been corrected on that point, it's down to them not interpreting the information correctly.
Yup, we were told something similar, ie, it will be rotated.
We’ve already been informally doing a variation of this “parcel driver” role for over a year at our place, albeit covering three walks(!), not just two, and it usually works well. Doing it for just two walks will actually mean a massive reduction in workload for us (albeit tracked-item volumes rapidly increasing on individual walks will counteract this reduction in workload cor us). So we new entrants are actually not too bothered by the forthcoming ODM implementation, yet a lot (not all) of the legacy staff go on like it’s Armageddon. — even though the workload/productivity benchmark for legacy staff seems way lower than that by which new entrants are expected to meet.
I don’t think the issue “legacy staff” have is with the parcel driver side of things. It’s with the walking side of things the concerns centre around. You say you’ve had Parcel drivers covering 3 rounds instead of the ODM of 2, but have you every week been walking deliveries with
3 days mail Mon
3 days mail Tues
2 days mail Wednesday
2 days mail Thursday
2 days mail Friday
And repeat, and repeat, and repeat etc etc - this is where the grumbles are not in someone nipping around in a van a la Amazon et al!!!
Are you a DPR driver, a driver covering 3 walks every 3rd day, an LAT employee or a postie coverering walks? make your mind up
I do P&L duties, rurals, firms duties, parcels, packets, specials, boxes and CCs for lapsed duties (x3), DPRs, collections duties, K&T room. In short, if it needs doing, I do it. Other than meaningless posts to this forum, who/what exactly are you, Mr Obsessed Ex Employee?
I don’t think the issue “legacy staff” have is with the parcel driver side of things. It’s with the walking side of things the concerns centre around. You say you’ve had Parcel drivers covering 3 rounds instead of the ODM of 2, but have you every week been walking deliveries with
3 days mail Mon
3 days mail Tues
2 days mail Wednesday
2 days mail Thursday
2 days mail Friday
And repeat, and repeat, and repeat etc etc - this is where the grumbles are not in someone nipping around in a van a la Amazon et al!!!
I personally don’t do this every day, every week, because I have a bit of a pattern to what I do — though I do double mail (minimum) at least twice a week. My less lucky new-entrant colleagues who just do walks (no dpr, no firms, etc) however do triple mail, sometimes quadruple mail, daily. If it is a real rotter they might be lucky and get the packets taken off, but that is as good as it gets for them. They are like the hit squad, moving from backlogged walk to backlogged walk to clear backlogs — all pretty thankless for them really.
I don’t think the issue “legacy staff” have is with the parcel driver side of things. It’s with the walking side of things the concerns centre around. You say you’ve had Parcel drivers covering 3 rounds instead of the ODM of 2, but have you every week been walking deliveries with
3 days mail Mon
3 days mail Tues
2 days mail Wednesday
2 days mail Thursday
2 days mail Friday
And repeat, and repeat, and repeat etc etc - this is where the grumbles are not in someone nipping around in a van a la Amazon et al!!!
I personally don’t do this every day, every week, because I have a bit of a pattern to what I do — though I do double mail (minimum) at least twice a week. My less lucky new-entrant colleagues who just do walks (no dpr, no firms, etc) however do triple mail, sometimes quadruple mail, daily. If it is a real rotter they might be lucky and get the packets taken off, but that is as good as it gets for them. They are like the hit squad, moving from backlogged walk to backlogged walk to clear backlogs — all pretty thankless for them really.
I think you’ve pointed out there the exact reasons “legacy staff” ain’t happy. How you describe a new starters’ day is exactly how everyone’s day is gonna be day in day out.
The chances are that new starters are younger people without the toll on their bodies from years of doing the job, well if they’re finding it tough then how do you think people in their 50s & 60s are gonna cope? No wonder they’re up in arms, as you reach the end of your working life things should be winding down not ramping up. Humans can’t fight the ravages of age or time and RM know this hence why they’re desperately pushing all of this to rid themselves of older staff - disgraceful!!!
I’m not in my 50’s or 60’s but have done the job for a long time and the job takes a toll on the body and I’d say’s it’s around the 10 year mark that you really notice it.
I’ve also been in offices where really bad revisions have been pushed through and 3-4 days mail and parcels takes and even bigger toll and especially so when it’s over a longer period.
We’re about to bake that workload in permanently.
That’s the gripe most of us that have been through it have.
I think you’ve pointed out there the exact reasons “legacy staff” ain’t happy. How you describe a new starters’ day is exactly how everyone’s day is gonna be day in day out.
The chances are that new starters are younger people without the toll on their bodies from years of doing the job, well if they’re finding it tough then how do you think people in their 50s & 60s are gonna cope? No wonder they’re up in arms, as you reach the end of your working life things should be winding down not ramping up. Humans can’t fight the ravages of age or time and RM know this hence why they’re desperately pushing all of this to rid themselves of older staff - disgraceful!!!
No, I don’t think I have pointed out any such thing. Until now, legacy staff have stuck just to “my duty”, nothing else, and so they haven’t had anything like a taste of what the workload is like for those coming off the street. Old-guard staff might come back to double mail after a day off, perhaps triple mail if they’ve had their “long weekend”, but they are able to clear it and see light at the end of the dark tunnel. I was instead trying to make the point, perhaps clumsily, that us new-starter posties (some of whom — not me — are coming up to almost three years’ permanent service) have been contending with this level of workload since starting.
I think you’ve pointed out there the exact reasons “legacy staff” ain’t happy. How you describe a new starters’ day is exactly how everyone’s day is gonna be day in day out.
The chances are that new starters are younger people without the toll on their bodies from years of doing the job, well if they’re finding it tough then how do you think people in their 50s & 60s are gonna cope? No wonder they’re up in arms, as you reach the end of your working life things should be winding down not ramping up. Humans can’t fight the ravages of age or time and RM know this hence why they’re desperately pushing all of this to rid themselves of older staff - disgraceful!!!
No, I don’t think I have pointed out any such thing. Until now, legacy staff have stuck just to “my duty”, nothing else, and so they haven’t had anything like a taste of what the workload is like for those coming off the street. Old-guard staff might come back to double mail after a day off, perhaps triple mail if they’ve had their “long weekend”, but they are able to clear it and see light at the end of the dark tunnel. I was instead trying to make the point, perhaps clumsily, that us new-starter posties (some of whom — not me — are coming up to almost three years’ permanent service) have been contending with this level of workload since starting.
It's an elephant in the room for the CWU that they want to equalise terms and conditions, but they know this type of thing goes on up and down the country. When I first started, no new entrants would EVER have 3-4-5 days worth of mail on a 1500 delivery point duty to contend with. It's become the norm.
make your mind up