Scheduled Attendance - no paid break?

[Rockerfella]

Hi guys, looking for a bit of advice.

I've just started as a postie (part time 32.5 hours per week) and have been put straight on to a 6 day roster, including a SA day on Tues (!).

I've asked a few times if it would be possible to swap to a rolling day off so at least I'd have a few weekends a year to spend with the family (and so I've not "off" on one of the lightest day of the week) but haven't had any favorable responses from the DOM or staffing office.

The other issue is that as a part timer, the SA day is paid at normal rate, without the meal break, so effectively I'm going to work on my day off to be paid less! This doesn't make sense to me. Is there any easy way round this? Am I right in thinking if I was on a rolling day off and did overtime on my day off that I'd have a paid break?

Cheers

[DGP1]

Welcome to the world of Royal Mail, if you don't want to do OT then you don't have to so it, as for your day off, just get used to it, I've been in for over 6 years and still don't get a long weekends (my day off can be from Tuesday to Friday depending on what the manager thinks he can get away with).

[johnnyp]

Hi guys, looking for a bit of advice.

I've just started as a postie (part time 32.5 hours per week) and have been put straight on to a 6 day roster, including a SA day on Tues (!).

I've asked a few times if it would be possible to swap to a rolling day off so at least I'd have a few weekends a year to spend with the family (and so I've not "off" on one of the lightest day of the week) but haven't had any favorable responses from the DOM or staffing office.

The other issue is that as a part timer, the SA day is paid at normal rate, without the meal break, so effectively I'm going to work on my day off to be paid less! This doesn't make sense to me. Is there any easy way round this? Am I right in thinking if I was on a rolling day off and did overtime on my day off that I'd have a paid break?

Cheers

I dont see why your Dom can not give you a rotating rest day,it will not make a difference to anyone as you dont have a Rest Day cover on your duty,ask your rep to sort this out for you.To claim the S/A rate you need to sign a S/A contract which will then mean you are paid the higher rate which does not attract a paid meal break,even with out a contract you should still get paid the S/A rate,your Dom has pulled a fast one and the local rep needs to sort this out.It would make no difference at all if you had a rotating rest day when it comes to a paid break.S/A do not get one, but normal docket rate does.

[FLUFFY]

Hi all im part time, joined about 5 months ago (do evening collections 3 hours per night mon-fri)

I dont mean to sound dumb but could anyone explain what S/A pay is ..I did quite a few extra hours over xmas (sundays and afternoon relief) and was told by my boss that these hours would be paid at the S/A rate ( they were not I got same basic rate) Also guys from other DO have asked if im getting S/A rate for my normal evening collection (I`m not ) they seem to think I should be getting it.. anyone know is it because im still on trial ?? thanks

[lifesentence]

At our office it gets muddled. Something about getting up to 40 hrs before you get other increments. Every office seems to have a different hymn sheet. Expect nothing and you will not be disappointed.

[FLUFFY]

lol ok thanks for reply sounds about right. Dont think Ive ever come across such a complicated wage system

[Bert66]

If the S/A is peformed and you are still under 40 hours, then the S/A does not attract higher rate payment therefore you can claim the meal relief..as it is not really S/A if that makes sense.

[POSTMAN]

If the S/A is peformed and you are still under 40 hours, then the S/A does not attract higher rate payment therefore you can claim the meal relief..as it is not really S/A if that makes sense.

This HAS to be the next step for HQ,if your contract is under 40hrs especially with all the part timers coming in,then anything over your contracted hours should be payed the same as if you were on 40hrs and going over!

[Geezer]

If the S/A is peformed and you are still under 40 hours, then the S/A does not attract higher rate payment therefore you can claim the meal relief..as it is not really S/A if that makes sense.

This HAS to be the next step for HQ,if your contract is under 40hrs especially with all the part timers coming in,then anything over your contracted hours should be payed the same as if you were on 40hrs and going over!

I can see where your coming from postman but as far as i am aware the reason you don't get it until you reach 40Hrs is because you would earn more than a full time 40Hrs postman/woman for the same 40Hrs.I'm part time and have asked the same questions as above and that was the answer i was given.

[POSTMAN]

If the S/A is peformed and you are still under 40 hours, then the S/A does not attract higher rate payment therefore you can claim the meal relief..as it is not really S/A if that makes sense.

This HAS to be the next step for HQ,if your contract is under 40hrs especially with all the part timers coming in,then anything over your contracted hours should be payed the same as if you were on 40hrs and going over!

I can see where your coming from postman but as far as i am aware the reason you don't get it until you reach 40Hrs is because you would earn more than a full time 40Hrs postman/woman for the same 40Hrs.I'm part time and have asked the same questions as above and that was the answer i was given.

Union answer or RM answer?

[Geezer]

If the S/A is peformed and you are still under 40 hours, then the S/A does not attract higher rate payment therefore you can claim the meal relief..as it is not really S/A if that makes sense.

This HAS to be the next step for HQ,if your contract is under 40hrs especially with all the part timers coming in,then anything over your contracted hours should be payed the same as if you were on 40hrs and going over!

I can see where your coming from postman but as far as i am aware the reason you don't get it until you reach 40Hrs is because you would earn more than a full time 40Hrs postman/woman for the same 40Hrs.I'm part time and have asked the same questions as above and that was the answer i was given.

Union answer or RM answer?

Union

If i do 30 hours (that's what I'm contracted to ) and them the next 10 at a higher rate, i would be on more money for doing 40Hrs than a full timer
But i still get paid breaks if i do overtime up to 40Hrs,

[andy2007]

Hi all im part time, joined about 5 months ago (do evening collections 3 hours per night mon-fri)

I dont mean to sound dumb but could anyone explain what S/A pay is ..I did quite a few extra hours over xmas (sundays and afternoon relief) and was told by my boss that these hours would be paid at the S/A rate ( they were not I got same basic rate) Also guys from other DO have asked if im getting S/A rate for my normal evening collection (I`m not ) they seem to think I should be getting it.. anyone know is it because im still on trial ?? thanks

S/A is Scheduled Attendance. It is CONTRACTED overtime, which is COMPULSARY. In fact, it's the only compulsary type of overtime in RM. I've got an S/A contract, to do 2 Hours a day, 4 days a week. If for any reason I can't do it. Either I have to arrange for someone else to do it, or get the Manager's permission to miss it. Otherwise, I would get an overtime ban, as punnishment. That's why it's paid a little better than normal (pressure) overtime.

RM have to give you 28 Days notice, to cancel an S/A contract. So you know a Month in advance, that you are definately getting the S/A money. The system is, however, often abused. With Managers offering S/A rate to people, so that they will do extra overtime, that they wouldn't normally do. Which appears to be what happened in your case. Although why they didn't pay you the S/A rate, after promising it to you, I don't know.

[Big Daz]

OVERTIME AND SCHEDULED ATTENDANCE RATES


MONDAY TO SATURDAY
OVERTIME FIRST 10 HOURS £ 9.23
OVERTIME AFTER 10 HOURS £ 8.21
SCHEDULED ATTENDANCE £9.48


SUNDAY

OVERTIME £10.66
SCHEDULED ATTENDANCE £ 11.29

[Rockerfella]

Thanks for all the discussion guys.

Interestingly, in the 3 weeks since I started I've never been asked and therefore haven't signed a contract for working SA, therefore should I be paid overtime rate for working on this day, including a paid meal break? As discussed it would be at normal rate until I've worked 40 hours.

As part timers doing overtime don't get any extra supplement or holiday allowances, does this make them worse off over the year than fulltimers doing the same hours?

Do you think I should have chat with the Union or with my manager, or the (sometime sour looking!) staffing office? Who normally decides shifts, rotas and days off?

By the way I'm enjoying the job, even in this weather, and am being paid overtime due to the length of the walk, but don't like the idea of not being paid what I'm entitled to!

[Geezer]

Rockerfella don't for get that as you do more hours your meal relief goes up too............
In My office 20Hrs people get 20 mins, 30 Hrs people get 30 mins and 40Hrs people get 40 mins.
So add the extra time on to allow for this as well,which is what I do much to my managers annoyance.