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POAL

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
hewittinspain
Posts: 229
Joined: 20 May 2013, 21:24
Gender: Male

POAL

Post by hewittinspain »

I've been paying POAL for 10 years which gives me 6 weeks holiday.
Today my annual leave has come back with only 4 weeks so I looked into my wage slip and noticed it actually not been coming off, not sure yet If it's been the whole year as I've only checked this week's wage slip.
Has there been some issues?
A2B
Posts: 1655
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 19:34
Gender: Male

Re: POAL

Post by A2B »

ted_e_bear
Posts: 3469
Joined: 03 Sep 2012, 19:37
Gender: Male

Re: POAL

Post by ted_e_bear »

It can't be that it puts you under minimum wage as you're obviously on the "old" contract rate.

I'd suggest sending a support message to HR via the people app, that might also clarify if the rumours on other threads that it's stopped for everyone are true or not.
A2B
Posts: 1655
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 19:34
Gender: Male

Re: POAL

Post by A2B »

ted_e_bear wrote:
18 Nov 2025, 20:08
It can't be that it puts you under minimum wage as you're obviously on the "old" contract rate.

I'd suggest sending a support message to HR via the people app.
As with all things RM there seems to be an issue for some but they stop the benefit for everybody

"This is a particular problem where individuals purchase annual leave and have several My Bundle purchases at the same time"
TopperGas
Posts: 2761
Joined: 13 Feb 2021, 22:46
Gender: Male

Re: POAL

Post by TopperGas »

I'm not sure if it forms part of this month's budget announcements but there's been suggestions the minimum wage is due for another significant increase next April, if it is you can see all new contract employees having the same issues again with POAL taking them below the MW.

Unless RM want to make the two tier work force differences even greater then you can them scrapping POAL rather than just allowing legacy contract employees to purchase extra hols. I wonder if it now also suits RM to have more staff working rather than on hols as we now seem to struggle any with holiday or rest day off cover??
A2B
Posts: 1655
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 19:34
Gender: Male

Re: POAL

Post by A2B »

By purchasing leave you are paying for RM to employ someone to do your job while on leave so it's not as if RM are losing out.

The issue seems to be with legacy employees have too many benefits at once something that should have been stopped at source

Also isn't Salary Sacrifice a win for RM in that they pay less tax?
hewittinspain
Posts: 229
Joined: 20 May 2013, 21:24
Gender: Male

Re: POAL

Post by hewittinspain »

Well that will increase sickness.
I've had 6 weeks AL for over 10 years now, I usually pick the same weeks each year so it spreads out as having to work for 2 months then a week off.
The clue is in my statement what people will be doing going forward when they are used to having the extra time off.
A2B
Posts: 1655
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 19:34
Gender: Male

Re: POAL

Post by A2B »

To answer my own question I Googled the benefits of salary sacrifice for an employer, had to laugh at part of it :crazy:

Employers benefit from salary sacrifice through reduced National Insurance contributions, which can be reinvested or used to enhance other benefits. :funneh They also benefit from improved recruitment and retention, as a strong benefits package can attract top talent and boost employee morale and productivity. This arrangement can also improve the company's overall image by demonstrating a commitment to employee financial well-being. :left:
daveb.64
Posts: 4
Joined: 20 Jul 2017, 23:02
Gender: Male

Re: POAL

Post by daveb.64 »

I've just checked mine-been paying it for 7 or 8 years. Its suddenly stopped at the end of March this year without any notification from HR/manager
Hitcher
Posts: 1339
Joined: 20 Sep 2009, 09:59
Gender: Male

Re: POAL

Post by Hitcher »

daveb.64 wrote:
18 Nov 2025, 22:33
I've just checked mine-been paying it for 7 or 8 years. Its suddenly stopped at the end of March this year without any notification from HR/manager
You would have gotten a letter about it.
norris9
Posts: 2505
Joined: 27 Feb 2019, 17:32
Gender: Female

Re: POAL

Post by norris9 »

Payment was stopped, the extra 'purchased' annual leave wasn't. As far as I'm aware you won't have to pay for the extra annual leave you booked and took as part of POAL.

As for booking next years POAL - the CWU has put out a letter saying that you can book it. Just speak to whoever deals with annual leave to confirm the situation.
A2B
Posts: 1655
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 19:34
Gender: Male

Re: POAL

Post by A2B »

norris9 wrote:
19 Nov 2025, 07:37

As for booking next years POAL - the CWU has put out a letter saying that you can book it. Just speak to whoever deals with annual leave to confirm the situation.
Could you point us in the direction of this letter please
N|M
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 186
Joined: 19 Nov 2021, 21:26
Gender: Male

Re: POAL

Post by N|M »

A2B wrote:
19 Nov 2025, 14:03
norris9 wrote:
19 Nov 2025, 07:37

As for booking next years POAL - the CWU has put out a letter saying that you can book it. Just speak to whoever deals with annual leave to confirm the situation.
Could you point us in the direction of this letter please
You posted a link above that has said letter (LTB) rogersh posted it,

5th paragraph down.
Whilst negotiations are continuing it is advised that for the purposes of selecting leave for next year, individuals should follow the same allocation as last year, including any purchased leave.
A2B
Posts: 1655
Joined: 25 Feb 2009, 19:34
Gender: Male

Re: POAL

Post by A2B »

I can't go to my manager and say I want additional leave booked please because the CWU says I can.

The last from our rep was that they are trying to get it reinstated but as of now its not running on the leave system
thefox
Posts: 1046
Joined: 24 Aug 2010, 20:09
Gender: Male

Re: POAL

Post by thefox »

hewittinspain wrote:
18 Nov 2025, 20:48
Well that will increase sickness.
I've had 6 weeks AL for over 10 years now, I usually pick the same weeks each year so it spreads out as having to work for 2 months then a week off.
The clue is in my statement what people will be doing going forward when they are used to having the extra time off.
Some people on here will be clutching their pearls at the thought of people going sick when their not ill🫣