Bullying and harrassment

[bondos]

I am only working for Royal Mail as an RM casual on a 13 week renewable contract. My offer letter stated hours of work of 7am to 2 pm. I normally go in at 6.30am as that's when I can start to throw up my walk. This normally takes 2-3 hours. The actual delivery (by bike) would be 2 bags sent out and one big bag and one pannier (stacked) with post and another pannier full of packets. I go out by 10.15 ish and get back by 13.15. This is doing it properly at maximum speed with no strolling about.

There have been several occasions when I have been 'asked' to do another walk (3 hours - 4 bags) after I have returned to the the delivery office. When I have said I would rather not do it, I have been told that my contract will be terminated forthwith. I have so far done it under protest.

I am not going to do it again as 10 hours of work without a break for £5 an hour net is just not worth it.

I consider the way that the additional work is 'requested' (with the threat of termination of contract) constitutes bullying or harassment.

What would you do?

[Midnight+13]

I am only working for Royal Mail as an RM casual on a 13 week renewable contract. My offer letter stated hours of work of 7am to 2 pm. I normally go in at 6.30am as that's when I can start to throw up my walk. This normally takes 2-3 hours. The actual delivery (by bike) would be 2 bags sent out and one big bag and one pannier (stacked) with post and another pannier full of packets. I go out by 10.15 ish and get back by 13.15. This is doing it properly at maximum speed with no strolling about.

There have been several occasions when I have been 'asked' to do another walk (3 hours - 4 bags) after I have returned to the the delivery office. When I have said I would rather not do it, I have been told that my contract will be terminated forthwith. I have so far done it under protest.

I am not going to do it again as 10 hours of work without a break for £5 an hour net is just not worth it.

I consider the way that the additional work is 'requested' (with the threat of termination of contract) constitutes bullying or harassment.

What would you do?

Sounds like Both Bullying and Harassment to me. :-(

[Izzy]

This is my view. The only reason you have a temp contract is so that RM can get rid of you as and when your office is 'modernised' ie looses some duties. So as long as that doesn't happen and you keep your nose clean I don't think a typical manager wouldn't renew your contract. Even if you only work your hours you are more use to them employed than sacked.

[bondos]

But any ideas as what to do?

I will admit that my first reaction was to drop the c**t where he stood, as he appeared genuinely angry that I didn't want to do it.

I have been in management positions in a variety of organisations but I have never encountered 'managers' with less people management skills than i have seem in RM.

Where do they get them from?

Can't be from the lads as they seem an intelligent bunch.

[bondos]

As a newbie, from what i have seen it could be a wonderful job. Although the weather has been a bit challenging ( and as a casual I don't get any protective clothing), I have really enjoyed bits of it - when I am out. I try to do my best but I work in a 'modernised' section of a DO. My manager says that I do 'half a walk'.

It is not humanly possible for anyone (whether he be Royal Mail or Royal Marine trained) to complete a walk that must be regularly 10 bags plus 80 packets in three hours, which is what they seem to expect. So there are two people doing it but they haven't got it wrong, it's just they have inefficient staff?

I really feel sorry for you regular guys as I now see first hand how you have been shafted,

[k979aaa]

The fact is he needs you more than you need him if you cannot cover it!. It is his problem and he will have to cover it but having said that don't go out of your way to wind him up or he will pull the trigger not saying you have but everyone should be treated with respect as royalmail says!.

[bondos]

The fact is he needs you more than you need him if you cannot cover it!. It is his problem and he will have to cover it but having said that don't go out of your way to wind him up or he will pull the trigger not saying you have but everyone should be treated with respect as royalmail says!.

Thanks for that. It is pretty much how I see it. I have tried to be flexible but they are not being flexible with me.

Ps I am not a lazy git and I do do it properly.

[k979aaa]

The fact is he needs you more than you need him if you cannot cover it!. It is his problem and he will have to cover it but having said that don't go out of your way to wind him up or he will pull the trigger not saying you have but everyone should be treated with respect as royalmail says!.

Thanks for that. It is pretty much how I see it. I have tried to be flexible but they are not being flexible with me.

Ps I am not a lazy git and I do do it properly.

Royalmail asks too much of all its staff now in pursuit of massive bonuses for the feckless :cfo TWO MILLION POUNDS FOR HIM AND YOUR BOSS WILL BEGRUDGE YOU A LIVING WAGE!.

[brothermagrew]

The fact is he needs you more than you need him if you cannot cover it!. It is his problem and he will have to cover it but having said that don't go out of your way to wind him up or he will pull the trigger not saying you have but everyone should be treated with respect as royalmail says!.

Thanks for that. It is pretty much how I see it. I have tried to be flexible but they are not being flexible with me.

Ps I am not a lazy git and I do do it properly.

Only problem as I see it bro is you aren't doing it properly, recap your stated hours of work commence 0700-1400hrs but you are going in at 0630hrs and commence throwing in.

As to I consider the way that the additional work is 'requested' (with the threat of termination of contract) constitutes bullying or harassment. Can't argue with you there but proving it is another different kettle of fish.

[POSTMAN]

Is there a rep about in all this?

[smokerjim]

Remember - you CANNOT be forced to do any overtime.....if any manager uses B&H tactics, speak to your rep and ask to put in a grievence against that manager - and join the union if you have not already.

[Member 34]

Unfortunately this type of 'management' is currently rife in Royal Mail.

You really need to speak your union rep.
Come in at your official time and take your full meal relief so that you are working your contracted hours.

Then you have to do what so many of us have to do everyday - stand your ground, and say you aren't doing the extra.

It quite possibly means that your contract may not get renewed, (you may be able to fight that - I don't know) but you have to ask yourself if you really want to be working for a company that treats people like this.

Definitely get the union rep involved - it should make your manager back off a bit.

If not, remember your first reaction...

[brothermagrew]

Some links to Bullying Employment Appeal Tribunals of Interest:

http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKEAT/20 ... _2001.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.bailii.org/scot/cases/ScotSC/2009/24.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2006/1898.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKEAT/20 ... _0111.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bondos]

Thanks for your responses. I didn't want to confront him when I was unsure of my ground. I feel that he may have misinterpreted my affable personality as weakness. He will soon find that this is not the case.

I will (if the situation arises again) politely say no, and say that his threats of dismissal are interpreted by me as B&H. I will then report him to Sheffield (HR) and see what they say. I feel that he has taken some steps to consolidate his position (one of them being taking a completed signature card from my bench when I returned from my walk).

I did however report its loss and supplied the details of the recorded deliveries thereon.

This is all unnecessary and I despair for the future of the organisation.

If all else fails and I am dismissed, I will take him with me, as I have compiled sufficient evidence which I have also already raised with HR (but without naming the manager) to challenge such a decision.

We will see.

[fishtank]

Battle-Lines Drawn on Agency Exploitation
22nd January 2010


The CWU has warmly welcomed the tabling of Government legislation to give Britain's 1.3 million agency workers important new rights to equal treatment.

Tabled before Parliament yesterday under a "statutory instrument" that results in binding legislation if it is not challenged and annulled during a 40-day period, the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 (formally announced today) will belatedly implement an EU Directive, giving agency workers the right to the same pay, holiday and other basic working conditions as directly recruited staff after 12 weeks in a given job.

Stemming from a tripartite agreement reached in 2008 between the TUC, the CBI and the Government, the move is the culmination of a long-standing campaign by the CWU and various other unions for "Justice for Agency Workers." That campaign received strong backing throughout from the Labour Party backbenches - pressure which ultimately persuaded the Government that continued inaction on agency exploitation was untenable.

Welcoming the "long overdue" announcement of legislation, CWU general secretary Billy Hayes turned his fire on the Tories who, even now, appear likelyto try to derail the legislation which aims to prevent low-paid workers being exploited.

"Make no mistake, this is landmark legislation," said Billy. "While it is long overdue,the fact that it is being promoted by a Labour Government and looks likely to be opposed by the Tories places the starkest possible spotlight on the parties' respective positions on vulnerable workers.

"This legislation stands to benefit thousands of comparatively low paid and disadvantaged workers in every constituency and demonstrates that only a Labour Government can be trusted to protect the low paid."