Reduced absence at Royal Mail ‘mitigated strike disruption’

[Geezer]

http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/ar ... uption.htm


Publication date: 12 November 2009

Better engagement shows that organisation has changed, says director Claire Churchard

Reduced absenteeism and better employee engagement at Royal Mail has lessened the impact of strikes compared to previous years, according to one of the organisation’s directors.

Dr Steve Boorman, chief medical adviser and corporate responsibility director at Royal Mail, told an occupational health conference yesterday that workforce improvements made in recent years had meant that the disruption caused by the recent action was not as bad as that experienced in the past.

“One of the things that is fascinating to me about the recent industrial action is that the real impact on customers has not been nearly as great as we expected,” said Boorman. “I was fascinated by the number of people that didn’t vote [to take industrial action] and the number of people that attended work even though they were officially on strike.

“The most compelling thing was that when we compared attendance rates over the industrial relations period with past periods of industrial unrest, even though we’ve also got the effect of swine flu, our attendance rates had continued to improve.

“That says to me that something about the organisation that’s different to where we were in the past.”

Boorman added that during previous industrial action, it was normal for attendance rates on non-strike days to dip to 50 per cent less than usual because staff were so disengaged. This had not been the case this time, he suggested.

He put this success down to Royal Mail’s £46 million investment in a series of engagement and well-being programmes dating from 2004-5, including its “Feeling First Class” scheme. This resulted in savings of £227 million over three years and an improvement in the quality of service and working practises, he said. This was possible because even a 0.1 per cent improvement in attendance meant a saving of about £3 million a day, Boorman explained.

But he admitted that the business environment and an “impossible marketplace” made Royal Mail a challenging place today.

“For Royal Mail, it’s a roller coaster. The reality is that our business operates in an impossible marketplace. We face enormous commercial pressure and some of the tensions of the past have resurfaced,” he added.

Dr Boorman is also the author of a government-commissioned health service workforce review due to be published soon.

[sevenandseven]

I think this is what is known as being economical with the truth.

The good doctor was surprised at the number who did not vote for IA ignoring the fact that it was 76% in favour on a higher turnout than at a general election. Does it make it any less democratic?

He talks about attendance rates being improved. I don't suppose this has anything to do with the issuing of warnings as if it was confetti, and those on short contracts scared stiff of not having them extended. In our office 1 person crossed the picket line, a short term contract employee. And in the week before the aborted strikes the sick list went into overdrive.
I see that Doctor Boorman is chief medical adviser and corporate responsibility director at Royal Mail and would suggest he is as out of touch with reality as the rest of the hierachy.

[tatt]

Nothing to do with no mitigating circumstances in the attendance procedure, just straight on a stage. The bullying by EHS to get you back to work as soon as possible, not given any recuperation time.Feeling unwell no longer an excuse to be off work, if your breathing, you are fit to work in the wonderful world of RM directors and management.

[General Mannerheim]

After being pissed about by Atossers for the past 10 months ending up with being ill health retired I feel anything but "FIRST CLASS!"

[G O Root]

This bloke and his ridiculous flatulant job title "chief medical adviser and corporate responsibility director", sums up completely what is wrong with RM. Far too much emphasis on jumped up pompous people like this and not enough on the true workers. Total nonsense :cfo

[jockstrapp]

What a load of f#ckin b@llox

[not me]

He put this success down to Royal Mail’s £46 million investment in a series of engagement and well-being programmes dating from 2004-5, including its “Feeling First Class” scheme. This resulted in savings of £227 million over three years and an improvement in the quality of service and working practises, he said. This was possible because even a 0.1 per cent improvement in attendance meant a saving of about £3 million a day, Boorman explained.

a what??

[TrueBlueTerrier]

He put this success down to Royal Mail’s £46 million investment in a series of engagement and well-being programmes dating from 2004-5, including its “Feeling First Class” scheme. This resulted in savings of £227 million over three years and an improvement in the quality of service and working practises, he said. This was possible because even a 0.1 per cent improvement in attendance meant a saving of about £3 million a day, Boorman explained.

a what??

Management speak for calling you when your off sick, and these visits by medicos to large units, the well man clinics etc.