Pulled up for Overtime

[Mister-E]

My manager has taken me aside and told me that I am claiming too much overtime.
He says I am at least a couple of hours more than anyone else.

What puzzles me is that 90% of the other part timers use their cars and come in early before their start time.

When I explained this to him, he told me that "it doesn't matter and shouldn't make any difference" and that he will be testing my inddor work to see if I am "up to standard"

I insisted that my walk be tested as well as I have one of the biggest deliveries in the office even though it's part time.
He told me that my indoor work will be assesed first and if I fail to meet standards, he expects me not to claim overtime as "that is where the problem could lie" He then tells me if that if I am slow indoor, then there will be no need to test my delivery because it's obviously the indoor work thats slowing me down.

I was prepped tested a few months back and was failed on the one minute test because out of about 30 letters, 15 were mis-sorts. I queried this at the time, but was told "That is to be expected, but not to be an excuse"

I'm really starting to get down about this and my union rep is best mates with the guy (go figure) He shafted me before at a stage 2 warning so do not trust him.

Help needed please. Thanks

[Viewfindergeneral]

Welcome to the world of management intimidation. I know how you feel as I am going down that particular road myself. Basically, providing that you are not fraudulently claiming overtime, you must be having a performance issue that your manager must try to help you with. There are procedures in place to deal with anybody who is struggling to complete their work. It is the managers responsibility to help and counsel you as a first course of action. If he does not then he is not following procedure and any subsequent disciplinary action will fail. I know because it happened to me last year and was thrown out before I reached dismissal stage because the procedure had not been followed. They don't seem to have learnt their lesson though as they are trying it on with me again this year.

If you are not getting any joy with your union rep. then bypass him and speak straight to the area rep. Most of all, stick to your guns and don't be intimidated by management tactics. If you work overtime you must get paid for it. If you cannot complete your duty in your contracted hours and management refuse to pay you then remind them that you are entitled to work your contracted hours only. That will give them something to think about (and your unfinished work to cover ) and they should realise that you will not be intimidated.

All the best to you. Remember, you are right and they are wrong.

[steviemac]

asked to be prep tested again but this time count out the required minimum letters per min before starting , after one minute you should have have completed the required standard and handling the misssort is counted as you have 'prepped' that piece of post into a msssort pile.

[Mister-E]

Thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it.

[G O Root]

What the hell is wrong with these managers. If they go outside (except for a shopping trip or a fag) do they melt or something. If they have a problem , test the whole duty especially the walk. Just testing the indoor work because they are nice and cosy and have coffee at hand isn't good enough. Do you get out a lot later than everyone else?.

[REDLETTER]

Pick up a walk sorted bundle and prep that!

[dumn & dumber]

hello
1st'ly your line manager will always use other examples such as person 1 does your delivery without claiming ie.. extended del. to cut o/t and by doing this they wash their hand of it so that it causes friction between you & your fellow workers.

are you on a 30hr contract? if you are like me on a 22.5hr contract, start at your contracted time and don't come in 10-30 mins before. as a p/t myself i come at the stated time and i am expected to tie up and go (miss-sorts, news bag done and re-directions all done) more often than not it's not all prepped, i then go to my mgr and explain this and the thing i do is suggest i cut-off, guess what then he or she will say stream?????????? so ive then got to finnish prepping and then go through the frame to stream... by this time, youve guessed it ive missed my van and then have to depend on the so called mgr's to get me to my 1st delivery point (at least 30mins late)

as you have said, you have one of the largest deliveries in your office, if your manager is worth any salt, he/she should take this into consideration and compare your workload with other deliveries of similar size or a comparrison with what you have on your frame to someone who has one of the smallest deliveries. i expect in your office is similar to mine, there are big discrepences between walk 1 and walk 2 and why is this still happening, it beggers belief??????

don't get down, just keep your head high and don't loose confidence in the good work you do. you are not to blame, unfortunatly some local mgrs have to prove themselfs from the pressures above.

if anyone is reading this post and arrives at work 30 mins. before your start time DON'T, if you are using your car DON'T. i know that many people who want to use their car, its because of the convenience it brings, i do understand that. but at sometime in the future we will all have to do the job properly and get get conveyed to our deliveries by royal mail (this is the correct procedure). it's suits royal mail for everyone who has a car to use it. as it means less man hours, less vans, cutting down the budget and more workloads for duty drivers.

lastly, you pay your union dues and your rep is there for you and fellow workers, not to be bed buddies with your manager that could influence his judgement in the course of his work as your local union rep. we all have to have good working relationships with managers, staff etc.... but it should no way be a barrier for you recieving impartial advice and help from your rep.

all the best and just remember you are not alone, there are thousands (probably) in the same position as yourself.

[Mister-E]

Do you get out a lot later than everyone else?.

No, usually the same time.

I have been walking round my route and have seen colleagues on the bus reading the paper on the way home an hour to an hour & a 1/2 before I finish. I know they are going home because they are going the opposite direction from the DO

[dumn & dumber]

Do you get out a lot later than everyone else?.

No, usually the same time.

I have been walking round my route and have seen colleagues on the bus reading the paper on the way home an hour to an hour & a 1/2 before I finish. I know they are going home because they are going the opposite direction from the DO

in my office the mgr's are turning a blind eye to people who are leaving the office early (it suits them at this time of year) but at any other time they adhere to leaving at 10:15.

maybe the other colleagues are leaving at bit earlier than you?

[shadow]

You should'nt be getting prep tested if you are 25 hours or less as you are not paid to sort. They tried that with me. In the end they decided not to test me.You don't say how many hours you are so I can't say for sure. Your manager is being an arse as he knows all too well using your car and coming in early makes a big difference to your finnishing time.

[morleyposty]

claim every single minute you go over.

walks like said before differ from others ie, steps, loads, packets, gates, recorded post , obstructions, weather conditions and so on. to finish right on the dot(3.5 hrs) will vary day-to-day.
many managers dont see these factors they see it done and dusted in the alloted 3.5hrs without considering the above. I had 2 sacks full of post to deliver yesterday. as you guess these will take time delivering depending on the receipent being home or not.

dont be bullied stand your ground and claim all that your entitled too.

[Broxi51]

All the replies above have been very good and helpful. The only one thing I would add to them is the following;

The correct procedure agreed by RM and the CWU is to throw all of the round in before approaching your manager. If you cannot complete within your time then you should see your manager and explain this and that it will take x amount of ot to complete. If he refuses then your next words should be "In that case then what would you like me to do?". Make sure that all questions about your round are answered by your manager and not you. This puts more pressure on them. "I wont manage within my time and dont want to work over, what do you suggest?". He will normally reply "Stream mailsort". You say "OK" and go back to your frame and pull every last piece of mailsort out which will take ten-fifteen minutes. You will still not be able to manage because most of the time you will be going to the same door without mailsort. You then approach him again and repeat your first sentence and put the onus on him to suggest a solution. By the time he has went through all the options, you will have to cut off to get back on your time. That will be the last time he questions your OT.
It is not up to you to suggest any remedies as he is the manager and gets paid to try and do that.
Hope that doesnt confuse you and good luck.

[montriff]

"out of about 30 letters, 15 were mis-sorts" sounds like the bloke who used to throw my walk in

[paulsmd]

Mangers just looking after there bonus again.
Same thing gos on in our office. Some postman lets them get away with it.