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Standard of new starters

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
Walter sobchak
Posts: 475
Joined: 13 Feb 2014, 04:46
Gender: Male

Re: Standard of new starters

Post by Walter sobchak »

A2B wrote:
12 Apr 2026, 21:31
Perseus wrote:
12 Apr 2026, 20:29
To be fair, the vast majority of our new entrants work to a pretty decent standard
Not wanting to tar everyone with the same brush but unfortunately that is not the experience where I work.

No shows on a regular occurrence without contacting the office and when they do turn up they are reluctant to do a HCT duty (l thought I'd have my own van!)

Manager can't let them go until a replacement is found which isn't that easy when the applicants aren't exactly knocking the door down to work for RM
Those that turn up at our office just want to drive around and do parcels and what little mail they take out they just bring it all back and dump it all on the frame bundled up for the full timers to throw back in the next day.
twoloops
Posts: 1973
Joined: 24 May 2017, 20:52
Gender: Male
Location: Sheffield

Re: Standard of new starters

Post by twoloops »

We had a young lad in our communal/tea bar area waiting to be interviewed, he was already in shorts & obligatory headphones, he was sat on a chair almost horizontal.
ted_e_bear
Posts: 3900
Joined: 03 Sep 2012, 19:37
Gender: Male

Re: Standard of new starters

Post by ted_e_bear »

twoloops wrote:
Yesterday, 13:34
We had a young lad in our communal/tea bar area waiting to be interviewed, he was already in shorts & obligatory headphones, he was sat on a chair almost horizontal.
If he turned up at our place and probably loads others he'd be starting Monday 😂
funkflex55
Posts: 672
Joined: 04 Sep 2022, 22:58
Gender: Male

Re: Standard of new starters

Post by funkflex55 »

twoloops wrote:
Yesterday, 13:34
We had a young lad in our communal/tea bar area waiting to be interviewed, he was already in shorts & obligatory headphones, he was sat on a chair almost horizontal.
It seems that headphones are now mandatory to do the job these days, was there a briefing saying to use them? :crazy:

I'd rather hear things like dogs and cars. Also long exposure to earphones can damage your hearing.
Mr Rush
Posts: 2976
Joined: 05 Aug 2011, 14:27
Gender: Male

Re: Standard of new starters

Post by Mr Rush »

funkflex55 wrote:
Yesterday, 18:00
It seems that headphones are now mandatory to do the job these days, was there a briefing saying to use them? :crazy:
There was a WTLL brief last year, if I recall correctly, about only having one ear covered/obstructed while on delivery. It was a very brief brief - just a 'don't do this' and then 'sign this sheet'.
The machine stops.
twoloops
Posts: 1973
Joined: 24 May 2017, 20:52
Gender: Male
Location: Sheffield

Re: Standard of new starters

Post by twoloops »

A lad who been with us for 6/7 week asked to leave early today, wanted bringing back to the office for 11am because he'd got to get his haircut. ✂️

He regularly comes in late because his phone is playing up 🤪
NWpostie
Posts: 3583
Joined: 04 Aug 2007, 17:32
Gender: Male
Location: Sector 001 Borg Collective, 6 o f 9

Re: Standard of new starters

Post by NWpostie »

It seems we are seeing a generational shift in a more social media influencer youth culture, not all are lazy just that there's more of them than in the 80s.

It was impressed on me in school that you won't get anywhere unless you worked for it, I watched an 80s in school called "Do you want to get a job ?" done in a game show style, every mistake in presentation, spelling and CV was criticised by the presenter and the winner sailed through to a job, it made an impression on me as young teenager this being the Yuppie era where everybody wanted to get on and lots of money.

When I joined Royal Mail I had to go through a competence and sorting test to the final interview then signed the Official Secret Act before starting work.

I've noticed a lot of change since then and general drop in standards, now this new generation is a complete opposite of my generation, it's a different world now compared my analogue pen and paper era. :cuppa
Six of Nine loves Seven of Nine, together in Electric Dreams.
qwerty2
Posts: 1948
Joined: 30 Jun 2009, 00:42
Gender: Male

Re: Standard of new starters

Post by qwerty2 »

NWpostie wrote:
Yesterday, 20:58
It seems we are seeing a generational shift in a more social media influencer youth culture, not all are lazy just that there's more of them than in the 80s.

It was impressed on me in school that you won't get anywhere unless you worked for it, I watched an 80s in school called "Do you want to get a job ?" done in a game show style, every mistake in presentation, spelling and CV was criticised by the presenter and the winner sailed through to a job, it made an impression on me as young teenager this being the Yuppie era where everybody wanted to get on and lots of money.

When I joined Royal Mail I had to go through a competence and sorting test to the final interview then signed the Official Secret Act before starting work.

I've noticed a lot of change since then and general drop in standards, now this new generation is a complete opposite of my generation, it's a different world now compared my analogue pen and paper era. :cuppa
RM plans have backfired to replace us oldies with youngsters
There’s a few newbies thinking about leaving
3/4 of the office are 40+
Walter sobchak
Posts: 475
Joined: 13 Feb 2014, 04:46
Gender: Male

Re: Standard of new starters

Post by Walter sobchak »

Headphone boy left our office weeks ago after going missing in action.

Lasted longer than I expected.
funkflex55
Posts: 672
Joined: 04 Sep 2022, 22:58
Gender: Male

Re: Standard of new starters

Post by funkflex55 »

Doesn't RM ever think that if they paid better they would increase the quality of people applying and improve staff retention?
TopperGas
Posts: 3217
Joined: 13 Feb 2021, 22:46
Gender: Male

Re: Standard of new starters

Post by TopperGas »

We've a couple with headphones stuck to their heads, even whilst driving the vans, while can't they just use airpods or similar as at least they are less noticeable?
SpacePhoenix
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
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Joined: 12 Nov 2008, 17:03
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Re: Standard of new starters

Post by SpacePhoenix »

TopperGas wrote:
Today, 09:35
We've a couple with headphones stuck to their heads, even whilst driving the vans, while can't they just use airpods or similar as at least they are less noticeable?
With either headphones or airpods you could in theory be done for driving without due care and attention if it stops you from hearing things like emergency sirens, etc.
NWpostie
Posts: 3583
Joined: 04 Aug 2007, 17:32
Gender: Male
Location: Sector 001 Borg Collective, 6 o f 9

Re: Standard of new starters

Post by NWpostie »

SpacePhoenix wrote:
Today, 10:15
TopperGas wrote:
Today, 09:35
We've a couple with headphones stuck to their heads, even whilst driving the vans, while can't they just use airpods or similar as at least they are less noticeable?
With either headphones or airpods you could in theory be done for driving without due care and attention if it stops you from hearing things like emergency sirens, etc.
Tough one when you already have deaf drivers in RM, they use their eyes to spot blue lights.
Six of Nine loves Seven of Nine, together in Electric Dreams.