willful delay?

[speedfreak191a]

after finishing the duty i was doing on thursday, i brought a few missorts that i had back to the office (i usually do get a few as i am a reserve) and left them on the frame. i really didnt think anything of it, as far as i was aware thats what everybody did and thats what i normally do if i ever have them. i was then pulled into the office on friday and was told i would be taken off deliveries until further notice and that they are accusing me of willful delay. im off for a week now anyway but got an interview next week when i go back. anybody got any advice for me because as far as i was concerned i wasnt doing anything wrong. i just think this has been blown out of proportion by the DOM and is probably just a good oppurtunity for him to get rid of me following a little run-in we had before christmas.
thanks in advance guys

[DGP1]

I've known people to get sacked over 1 returned letter If the DOM has it in for you then there is very little you can now do about it but if others are doing it on a regular basis then I would use that defence (and a lack of training otherwise).

[NewPostieUK]

What on earth are you supposed to do with them if you can't take them back? Surely taking them safely back is better than posting them in a postbox?

[Pat Ostman]

Contact your area rep ASAP. Use lack of training as your defence. If you used up all your delivery time then I would imagine there is very little they can do. They also have to PROVE Wilful Delay. Let them try. Your Rep should also try to minimise the charge to 'Unexcused Delay of the Mail' which is far less serious. Although, to be fair, I think your not guilty of even that from what you say.

Wilful Delay is very ambiguous, and should not be used to conduct people left right and centre. Use RM's own guidelines as your defence as well.

[speedfreak191a]

yer thats what i was thinking, put it down to lack of training (which is true anyway). just seems like any little thing that the staff do, RM managers come down on them like a ton of bricks and try to sack them. theres seems to be a constant battle between management and staff, is it like this in most companies or just RM?

[speedfreak191a]

also when i say a few missorts, i mean there was about 5 or 6 letters that i left on the frame. no recordeds or specials or packets, just plain old letters that nobody would have even realised had not been delivered that day. i just think it could have been solved by somebody having a word with me and then me delivering them the next day, but...

[yokel]

Everyone brings back missorts. Some posties post them in a box before returning, in my office where we seem to have reasonable and understanding managers we put it in the slots for the frame for next day delivery. They do however insist that the frame is clear before leaving and killoffs done. What I find frustrating in RM are all the different interpretations of the code. Every office is different. It does seem however that your manager is treating your case very seriously, or is there more to it.

The conduct code says various actions can cause mail to be delayed eg carelessness, negligence, breach or disregard ofa rule or guideline. Such instances are to be distinguished from wilful delay although they may also be treated as misconduct.
It says later , Royal Mail does recognise that genuine mistakes and misunderstandings do occur and it is not the intention of the Business that such cases should be dealt with under the Conduct Code beyond counselling for the isolated instance. The key is that employees should do their job to the best of their ability and, if in doubt, ask for their manager's advice and guidance. Wilful delay of mail is classed as gross misconduct, which if proven could lead to dismissal6. DELAY OF CUSTOMERS' MAIL - DECISION MAKING MODEL Alleged Delay Judgement Incident Does it need First Line Manager to approach employee or not? - Fact-finding Interview Does it end here, i.e. no action, individual advice or ticking off? - Formal Action Is it appropriate for First Line Manager to deal with? Decide on Serious Warning or Reprimand. Is it potential dismissal or action short of dismissal? Pass on to second line manager. - Precautionary Suspension Where it is potential dismissal, are mail or employees at risk? See para 11 precautionary suspension not automatic. - Formal Interview Was mail delayed? - Mail Delayed - Any mitigating circumstances? Was it wilful or unauthorised/unexcused delay? - Penalty Proportionate to the circumstances 7 PRECAUTIONARY SUSPENSION FOR WILFUL DELAY OF MAIL Precautionary suspension is not automatic. The decision to suspend should only be taken after careful consideration and investigation of the explanation for delay has been carried out. The decision must be made only on available evidence relevant to the incident/s and only if it is considered that by allowing the individual to continue on duty, the mail and its due delivery, the individual, or other employees or Royal Mail's good image could be at risk. See Conduct Code for main procedure

[tiredwalker]

I bring back up to 10 missort letters each day, now nothing has been ever said to me but others have been pulled in my office in the past. The way I see it if I have time within my hours i will re-deliver all missorts before returning to the office. (not everyone can do this due to size of duty but I have a van which helps). when I don't have the time or are in OT already they go back to the office endorsed as missorts and put in missort frame until next day. I dont prep my own duty so why should I be penalized for others mistakes is my arguement if i am ever pulled. I guarantee if i started to add 15mins to my duty in ot each day to deliver them my dom would be first to question it.

[stokes11eg]

I bring back up to 10 missort letters each day, now nothing has been ever said to me but others have been pulled in my office in the past. The way I see it if I have time within my hours i will re-deliver all missorts before returning to the office. (not everyone can do this due to size of duty but I have a van which helps). when I don't have the time or are in OT already they go back to the office endorsed as missorts and put in missort frame until next day. I dont prep my own duty so why should I be penalized for others mistakes is my arguement if i am ever pulled. I guarantee if i started to add 15mins to my duty in ot each day to deliver them my dom would be first to question it.

just ask them why everybody who brings backs missorts are not pulled in .They cannot behave in a way that is deemed to be unfair to you.

[POSTMAN]

speed,there is no such thing as "just plain old letters that nobody would have even realised had not been delivered that day"!!!
So best to get that out of your head 1st!!!

Check the link below,this happened to us a year or so back so what we were told was to endorse the letters if you have to put them through the system again if you have missorts on your round.
Personally i put a little squiggle 'm' on them,i don't blaze on the letter that it is a missort as that is bad for the customer.


http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... =1&t=15780" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bringing back letters and putting them on your frame is asking for trouble,especially in the present climate,just put them where you do the IPS endorsed.

[jockstrapp]

Why not just stick them all through the last door then you don't have to take them back.

[DGP1]

Why not just stick them all through the last door then you don't have to take them back.

that's very naughty because you'll just get them back the next day you can always use the classic Dog At Large (all that means is there's a dog not necessarily one that belongs to the house ).

[robd]

The crucial thing to remember,is officially even though it's a missort,if you have time to
deliver it,you should go back and do so.
No-one can be forced to work beyond their duty time however,so i would say you should cite
this as your reason for going out of your way to return them to your office.
Also you say your a reserve,so i assume somebody else has prepped the walk for you,
even a manager perhaps?
Whatever you do make sure you take someone in with you,good luck.

[jockstrapp]

Why not just stick them all through the last door then you don't have to take them back.

that's very naughty because you'll just get them back the next day you can always use the classic Dog At Large (all that means is there's a dog not necessarily one that belongs to the house ).

I've never actually done it but if they f*ck with me then they have to accept the consequences.

[Pat Ostman]

I know what you are saying. If Royal Mail Managers are going to pull someone in for bringing back missorts whats the easy alternative?

Thats right, when you get them it could encourage people to just post the missort through the next letterbox. That way you get rid of the problem.

I'll ask the question someone else asked though. If you are out of duty time and cant deliver it, return it back to office or post it in a letterbox or god forgive take it home.

WHAT DO YOU DO - EAT THEM?