Can anyone actually explain...(and/or help me out)

[klebbo]

What effect is there going to be on my job, I currently work a 25 hour contract at a reasonably small delivery office, I have NEVER finished before 2pm since I started last September, I know there are a lot of 'old-boys' at this depot who regularly finish early and whenever I tell my DM that I cannot do the round in the specified time, he always says 'well other people can do it' or tries to pin it on me in some way eg walking speed/prep time but there is always at least 1 hr of prep and it's not as if I'm dawdling on my round.

Also, when am I supposed to do my D2Ds? There isn't time in the working day, I don't want to have to do them in my own time and the pay I get for them never seems to add up with the time/effort spent doing them, and that's only with 3 lots, how am I supposed to cope with 5 or more?

Reading back, this post is more of a moan about my specific crappy job but I'm interested to see if there's anything I can do to improve it and if anyone/everyone else is experiencing the same things. Is anything going to change as a result of the union deal because at the moment, I seem to be paying subs for nothing at all.

I really hate working for this company right now and the sooner I can leave, the better.

[NewPostieUK]

Supposedly, it is all going to change. With new delivery methods, more door to doors etc, all the duties will be redone to incorporate all this. If you finish on time (or over) now, then you'll be given more hours, or less houses, to fit in more door to doors, car checks, waiting for slower partner with van etc etc.

In theory...

[ashadd]

What effect is there going to be on my job, I currently work a 25 hour contract at a reasonably small delivery office, I have NEVER finished before 2pm since I started last September, I know there are a lot of 'old-boys' at this depot who regularly finish early and whenever I tell my DM that I cannot do the round in the specified time, he always says 'well other people can do it' or tries to pin it on me in some way eg walking speed/prep time but there is always at least 1 hr of prep and it's not as if I'm dawdling on my round.

Also, when am I supposed to do my D2Ds? There isn't time in the working day, I don't want to have to do them in my own time and the pay I get for them never seems to add up with the time/effort spent doing them, and that's only with 3 lots, how am I supposed to cope with 5 or more?

Reading back, this post is more of a moan about my specific crappy job but I'm interested to see if there's anything I can do to improve it and if anyone/everyone else is experiencing the same things. Is anything going to change as a result of the union deal because at the moment, I seem to be paying subs for nothing at all.

I really hate working for this company right now and the sooner I can leave, the better.

If you have a 25 hour job, then all you have to do is work your 25 hours.At the moment i believe there is no agreed prep rate to measure you against.As for d2d, well you DONT have to do them in YOUR time( there are plenty of threads on her proving that.Try the download section) because its YOUR time.Its just rm bullying tactics. If there isnt time in your duty ,then something is wrong , but its not your problem.jUst do the job as it should be done. Dont rush around your walk, dont cut corners and dont start early, you havent got too. I am having the same trouble, well i was , but at the moment they are seeing my way of thinking.The floater who covers my day off virtually kills my job and the others he covers, but he is 30 years younger and runs around and breaks every rule going. Good luck and dont let the bastards grind you down

[stokes11eg]

According to the DOMs everyone else can do it faster, get him to show you how. Just keep plodding away, and if you know you are doing the best you can,do not let them make you feel useless. DOMS always ask the blue eyed flyers who can do eveybody elses' walk in half the time---MMM you will find these are the guys who are the chancers in the office, and who nobody else trusts.

[curryisforlife]

If you can't finish on time (including your d2d's) your round is too big, as are most of them. Overtime is not compulsory. Finish on time every day, don't start early, your DOM will either move you to a round you can do in the time or beg you to do the overtime. But not before bullying you into thinking you're too slow and it's your fault. Take no notice of these tactics. Do your job properly.

[calpsy]

No-one ever told me I could work to my time when i first started .

Goin on new walks etc made me over my time most days .... some a couple of hours and i never claimed overtime .

Going to other offices was a nightmare too .

Im also on a 25 hour contract . 9am - 2pm .

I NOW KNOW all i have to work till is 1.30pm regardless what time I leave the office .

I ALSO NOW KNOW when going to another office I add up the time taken to get there AND back to my office and the half hour break we get and take it all off my time . So 20 minutes there and 20 minutes back and 30 minutes break means i finish at the other office at 12.50 . Last time i was shipped out i asked the manager what time i had to work there till and he STILL said " your paid till 2pm " I left there at 12pm .

[LukeyBoy]

This is exactly how I feel Im a part-timer on a 25 hour contract I sprint around my walk and with the amount of parcels,specials and D2D's I never finish at 1 when Im supposed to and if you take away half hour break my walk should finish at half 12,sometimes I go in early and try to give myself a head start on the D2D's but it doesn't seem to make any difference.Take today went In at half 7 finished at 3 got back to the office and the usual 'did you fall aslepp under a tree!'.
I bolted around my walk I get home and to be honest am a right miserable bugger I dont know if it's just me but I feel responsible If I finish over my time because it's like im doing something wrong and it does piss me off,I imagine people in there houses looking at me oh here he is captain slow! I dont know maybe I just need thicker skin!
Im with klebbo I know how you feel pal it sucks big style!

[Steviea34]

This is exactly how I feel Im a part-timer on a 25 hour contract I sprint around my walk and with the amount of parcels,specials and D2D's I never finish at 1 when Im supposed to and if you take away half hour break my walk should finish at half 12,sometimes I go in early and try to give myself a head start on the D2D's but it doesn't seem to make any difference.Take today went In at half 7 finished at 3 got back to the office and the usual 'did you fall aslepp under a tree!'.
I bolted around my walk I get home and to be honest am a right miserable bugger I dont know if it's just me but I feel responsible If I finish over my time because it's like im doing something wrong and it does piss me off,I imagine people in there houses looking at me oh here he is captain slow! I dont know maybe I just need thicker skin!
Im with klebbo I know how you feel pal it sucks big style!

Before you get to down hearted mate, what time does the cover duty get done, what time does he start?

[BELIAL]

Join the union ,cover your back,learn the rules,and do not give an inch. Step 2 vote and work for a union that represents you and fights for your terms and conditions, we all want a progressive strong union ,Don't we?

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Including my meal relief allowance (20 minutes for a 4 hour day; 30 minutes for a 5-7 hour day; 40 minutes for a 7+ hour day... I believe), my round can take anywhere from 3hrs45mins to ~5hrs.

I now do all my D2D over Monday and Tuesday, my quietest days, to lighten the load on my pig days (Thurs-Sat, sometimes Weds).

I now see my line manager every morning, just before I go out, to say what time I expect to finish (including debrief after walk plus deads if I have not done them before starting walk). I go over my contract days much more days that not. My manager says fine, I do the round and keep my frame in order, get paid the overtime.

Having just gone from a 22.5 hour contract to what is a temporary 30 hour contract (for time being), I expect to get finished 30-60 mins earlier than I did before. Started yesterday, began walk 45 mins earlier than average (0945), finished everything by my new contract time of 1400. We shall see what happens when I may need to go past 1400 towards the end of the week!

[Caniel]

Stick to your guns and tell them your walking as fast as you can round the delivery, to go any faster you'd have to run and just keep repeating that back to the bullyboy manager like a broken record. You can also ask him to come out and time you on the walk but that will involve him having to leave the building and do some work so it's highly unlikely he'll agree to do that. If so and so can do the round then it's because so and so is a mug and runs round the delivery, you aren't paid to run.hurdle walls so don't.

To be honest this has to be by far the most common type of post, some poor new starter somewhere asking if what is basically bullying is okay... This really isn't on, it's bad enough that it happens but we should be looking out for new starters in our offices and defending them when managers try to s**t on them.

Scratch that, the best advice I can give you if you can't find a union rep is to go find the most senior postie in your office and tell him/her what's happening get some advice first hand from someone who's been round the block.

[klebbo]

This is exactly how I feel Im a part-timer on a 25 hour contract I sprint around my walk and with the amount of parcels,specials and D2D's I never finish at 1 when Im supposed to and if you take away half hour break my walk should finish at half 12,sometimes I go in early and try to give myself a head start on the D2D's but it doesn't seem to make any difference.Take today went In at half 7 finished at 3 got back to the office and the usual 'did you fall aslepp under a tree!'.
I bolted around my walk I get home and to be honest am a right miserable bugger I dont know if it's just me but I feel responsible If I finish over my time because it's like im doing something wrong and it does piss me off,I imagine people in there houses looking at me oh here he is captain slow! I dont know maybe I just need thicker skin!
Im with klebbo I know how you feel pal it sucks big style!

Before you get to down hearted mate, what time does the cover duty get done, what time does he start?

LukeyBoy, it sounds like you have exactly the same problems as me, it just makes what should be a reasonable part-time job into a miserable 7 hours every day and it always feels like we're the ones in the wrong!

What do you mean by the cover duty? The guy who chucks my round in manages to leave before I arrive at 9 and still manages to get back before me.

Scratch that, the best advice I can give you if you can't find a union rep is to go find the most senior postie in your office and tell him/her what's happening get some advice first hand from someone who's been round the block.

Done this, they just go 'Oh, don't worry, you'll get quicker' or something similar and turns out the limits of my temporary union rep's power is sending an email to the area rep and.....oh wait, that's it. Hardly inspiring confidence into the members.

[Lounge Lizard]

Klebbo, Have you got your own round, in which case either it's longer than the other rounds or you're slower than the other postires, or do you cover different rounds ?
If you're slower and you really hate the job it really must be worth looking for other employment.
If it's a long round or you're covering other rounds apply for any vacant one that comes up - even an unpopular one you'll get to know and do quickly and after a few months and you can subsequently apply for better ones.
I don't know how long you've been with Royal Mail but I found it tough at first, managed to be patient and get on fine now despite my advancing age.
Good luck.

[klebbo]

Klebbo, Have you got your own round, in which case either it's longer than the other rounds or you're slower than the other postires, or do you cover different rounds ?
If you're slower and you really hate the job it really must be worth looking for other employment.
If it's a long round or you're covering other rounds apply for any vacant one that comes up - even an unpopular one you'll get to know and do quickly and after a few months and you can subsequently apply for better ones.
I don't know how long you've been with Royal Mail but I found it tough at first, managed to be patient and get on fine now despite my advancing age.
Good luck.

Usually I have my own round but every time a new guy is hired, I'm bounced onto a float while they do my round for 2 weeks, decide they hate it then quit and I'm back to it, every other round in the depot is covered, they rarely come up apart from mine (I think one has since I started but I was warned off it by a couple of seniors whose opinions I trust-ish)

I'm constantly looking for other employment and I'm leaving in September to go to uni (which will be a nice surprise for my DOM) but I don't want to have a sh*t time working here for the next couple of months, it's a shoddy shambles of a company which even I can see at the ripe old age of 20 is a sinking ship, all I want to do is come in, work my time and get paid my money and even that doesn't happen without a huge amount of hassle!

[bandit650]

All walks that are part time duty's should be preped and done for when you come that also includes D2D so the old guys that can get round and do thiers is nout to do with it,they most likely dont take meal breaks, cut corners and alot more beside.
Your DOM or line manager if they start ,you should point out that yes your employed to do those hours but the walk should just be ready so all you should be doing is the bare minium like re-di's packing your bags and going,ask the manager if he/she is asking you to take on un-safe work practices to compleat an over sized walk if so could they put it in writing with thier monica on the bottom,usually this practice of pointing out thier shortfall in managing skills is the nut that cracks them and they leave you alone,also when they point out that so and so can do it ask the manager if he/she can be put on the walk not you unless they are going to let that person show you how it's done, always point out thier shortfalls!