New starter uniforms

[Oh no its raining]

Hi everyone,
Im well into my first week now working as a postie with driving, everyone has been very helpful so far in my DO from other posties and sorters all the way upto the managers, but one thing baffles me, RM wont give new starters a uniform at all unless they are started on a contract of more than 13 weeks, and even then they have to work 8 weeks flawlessly to get it.
My contract is a fixed term 3 month (12 weeks) contract that will aparrently roll onto another 3 month or 12 week contract, so basically I have been told that I will not get any RM uniform other than PPE (basically a hi-vis jacket)
Considering that RM want all us posties to show the customers and potential customers a profesional smart well dressed uniform and trained attitude, why do they let us walk the streets in basically any old clothes we like, I had an old bloke chase me down the road this morning because he thought i'd stolen a posties bag of mail very funny but not exactly the kind of hassle I want every morning, and god knows what reaction i'll get if I jump into a post van and drive off. My line manager found it hilarious when I phoned to put the old bloke's mind at rest.
Anyone got any advise? Im still being 'coached' and my coach just say's its upto management to sort but they wont.

On the plus side though, I love the job, and hope to stay as long as possible, never realised how difficult posties work until now, so my hat goes off to all long servers!

[stokes11eg]

Hi everyone,
Im well into my first week now working as a postie with driving, everyone has been very helpful so far in my DO from other posties and sorters all the way upto the managers, but one thing baffles me, RM wont give new starters a uniform at all unless they are started on a contract of more than 13 weeks, and even then they have to work 8 weeks flawlessly to get it.
My contract is a fixed term 3 month (12 weeks) contract that will aparrently roll onto another 3 month or 12 week contract, so basically I have been told that I will not get any RM uniform other than PPE (basically a hi-vis jacket)
Considering that RM want all us posties to show the customers and potential customers a profesional smart well dressed uniform and trained attitude, why do they let us walk the streets in basically any old clothes we like, I had an old bloke chase me down the road this morning because he thought i'd stolen a posties bag of mail very funny but not exactly the kind of hassle I want every morning, and god knows what reaction i'll get if I jump into a post van and drive off. My line manager found it hilarious when I phoned to put the old bloke's mind at rest.
Anyone got any advise? Im still being 'coached' and my coach just say's its upto management to sort but they wont.

On the plus side though, I love the job, and hope to stay as long as possible, never realised how difficult posties work until now, so my hat goes off to all long servers!

Mind and see your rep and see if you are entitled to payment for wearing your own stuff.

[Oh no its raining]

Will see what happens tomorrow, but surely it would be more professional to have all staff in a uniform from the start just like every other company. I believe the excuse for non issue is that the cost of uniforms is too high due to newbies leaving shortly after joining, but there is a very simple answer to this as every company that i've worked for previously does, put a clause in the contract that states if you break the contract i.e by leaving early or sacking , the cost of uniform will be deducted from any final wages or holiday entitlement. This has the effect of repelling the 1 month wonders that bounce around jobs like a rubber ball in a concrete box aswell and increases the image of RM.

[uprising95]

how tight of them

they should defiantly provide uniform
rign the uniform line and give them your pay number and get some anyway

[johnnyp]

Hi everyone,
Im well into my first week now working as a postie with driving, everyone has been very helpful so far in my DO from other posties and sorters all the way upto the managers, but one thing baffles me, RM wont give new starters a uniform at all unless they are started on a contract of more than 13 weeks, and even then they have to work 8 weeks flawlessly to get it.
My contract is a fixed term 3 month (12 weeks) contract that will aparrently roll onto another 3 month or 12 week contract, so basically I have been told that I will not get any RM uniform other than PPE (basically a hi-vis jacket)
Considering that RM want all us posties to show the customers and potential customers a profesional smart well dressed uniform and trained attitude, why do they let us walk the streets in basically any old clothes we like, I had an old bloke chase me down the road this morning because he thought i'd stolen a posties bag of mail very funny but not exactly the kind of hassle I want every morning, and god knows what reaction i'll get if I jump into a post van and drive off. My line manager found it hilarious when I phoned to put the old bloke's mind at rest.
Anyone got any advise? Im still being 'coached' and my coach just say's its upto management to sort but they wont.

On the plus side though, I love the job, and hope to stay as long as possible, never realised how difficult posties work until now, so my hat goes off to all long servers!

Glad to see you are enjoying the job as i still do after 23 years this month.It was about a year before i got a uniform so in a way things have improved,but yes i make you right it does look better if front line staff have a full uniform on right away,it gives a more professional image to our customers.Stick it out and before you know it that uniform will be on your good self and by the way you may be entitled to an allowance untill your uniform arrives,ask your rep or manager to chase it up.

[janitor]

It would look even more professional if all staff wear the same uniform, there's about four to five different generations of uniform in our office, with two or three types on the same person.

[yokel]

This is quite common and is in place because there is a high number of posties who leave in the first few weeks cos they can't hack it. In my office it's 6 weeks wait. They don't want to kit you out when you might leave.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

It would look even more professional if all staff wear the same uniform, there's about four to five different generations of uniform in our office, with two or three types on the same person.

I have only been in 5 years and I have 3 different styles - they change it so much its ridiculous.

[Oh no its raining]

Is the non uniform allowance worth claiming though, I mean if I go and ask about it, i'd have to claim an hour OT just for explaining what I was asking for Phoned uniform helpline and they were about as much help as an RM bike with brakes half stuck on.
Might wear my most expensive clothes tomorrow and accidentally rip em where I snagged them on a rusty gate latch and see their faces when I claim, then they'll see a uniform would have been much cheaper

[opgpat]

Might wear my most expensive clothes tomorrow and accidentally rip em

nice one but it's Royal Mail we're talking here. If there is an allowance u can claim it will probablly be to a total of 2pounds per item or something. You're only realistic option may be a small claims court case. Keep us informed!

[stokes11eg]

Might wear my most expensive clothes tomorrow and accidentally rip em

nice one but it's Royal Mail we're talking here. If there is an allowance u can claim it will probablly be to a total of 2pounds per item or something. You're only realistic option may be a small claims court case. Keep us informed!

Also, we receive a small tax alowance for laundry--see if you are entitled to that too. I was with the job for a number of years before I realised this, and got a nice wee back payment!