Dear Aunt Teebs,

[rhino49]

I need help and your agony column is my last resort.

Frankly I am worried that I have become a "Fat Cat"

After all the adverse publicity and public criticism that the Bankers and Captains of industry have received for taking bonus's and handshakes at the expense of their business's financial security and their employees employment security I find myself in a quandary over whether to accept a similar (although not so grand) financial sweetener from Royal Mail.

I am informed that the unit that I work in has performed in such a manner that it has underspent on it's budget and I, along with my colleagues will get a proportion of this as a reward for our efforts, and this is where my conscience is being pricked.

I haven't made any spectacular effort to save money other than to do my best to follow the rules by which we work each day whilst many of my colleagues have leapt with gusto into saving Royal Mail by coming in early, giving up breaks and using their own vehicles at great expense to themselves. I calculate from the numbers I have seen doing the above that the ones coming in early and missing breaks have completely funded the office bonus payment and the ones using their own vehicles have paid for the extended delivery that I get on top of my wages because I don't come in early or miss my break!

I feel therefore that I can be called a fat cat because I am making easy money out of the efforts of others to the extent that a full timer nearby who is making all the above sacrifices is probably £2000 a year worse off than me.

Should I turn down the bonus payment that my colleagues have worked so hard (although probably unknowingly) to earn for me or should I rejoice in my status as a Fat Cat and tell the f***ing idiots that THEY should be writing to an agony aunt?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Dear Rhino.

As a true socialist you should feel some remorse for gaining from the adversity of fellow workers, as this is perhaps the root of your dilemma. However, in point of fact you and others have tried to educate these poor misguided "model" workers and therefore the guilt rests entirely on their shoulders. Whilst it is understandable that you feel guilt from having profited from these "flat cats", who seem determined to turn round Royal Mails profits single handedly, it is a self defeating exercise. Enjoy the fruits of others unasked and unpaid for extra work and commitment, in the sure and certain knowledge that at some point all Royal Mail employees will come to understand and agree with the Dark Side. On that glorious day Royal Mail will have to provide the correct tools and equipment for the job so that "our people" can do the job that both the public, and most right minded posties feel is such an important part of the social fabric of our country, instead of just increasing the profits of the real "fat cats" at the head of most businesses.

In conclusion do what the Fat Cats do - Grab the money and don't look back.

[rhino49]

Dear Rhino.

As a true socialist you should feel some remorse for gaining from the adversity of fellow workers, as this is perhaps the root of your dilemma. However, in point of fact you and others have tried to educate these poor misguided "model" workers and therefore the guilt rests entirely on their shoulders. Whilst it is understandable that you feel guilt from having profited from these "flat cats", who seem determined to turn round Royal Mails profits single handedly, it is a self defeating exercise. Enjoy the fruits of others unasked and unpaid for extra work and commitment, in the sure and certain knowledge that at some point all Royal Mail employees will come to understand and agree with the Dark Side. On that glorious day Royal Mail will have to provide the correct tools and equipment for the job so that "our people" can do the job that both the public, and most right minded posties feel is such an important part of the social fabric of our country, instead of just increasing the profits of the real "fat cats" at the head of most businesses.

In conclusion do what the Fat Cats do - Grab the money and don't look back.

Thank you so much Aunt Teebs, I do feel better after reading your reply - now, about the rash I'm getting from the latex .................

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Latex - I thought she had retired.