Delivering while it's dark

[fishtank]

If you have a 25hr contract and work say 42hrs over a 12 week period on average, its the same thing as a 1hr doing 19 hours say on average.

No...it's not.
There is no practical job you can do in Royal Mail in 1hr....so his contract was a farce.
You can't use that argument for 25hrs.

[Indy]

get a torch/source of light, as you will find it difficult to read the letters if its pitch black
look at bbc.co.uk/weather; find out what time it'll be dark at. it'll say something like 15:58 - thats when it starts getting dark, but it wont be pitch black until 16:30

Pitch black at 16:30.....were do you live skye?

A cave by the sounds of it!

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Looks as if my post has stirred up a hornet's nest!

I'm on a 22.5 hour contract, completing my own round to a finish takes ~27 hours per week. The other 10+ hours a week come from working my day off (on my own walk normally) plus cut-offs or abs.

Sounds as if there would be a much stronger case for getting my holiday and sickness pay reflect the needs on my own walk, rather than trying to include the extra bits of other walks.

Did another double cut-off this afternoon, finishing at 1800, taking account of meal relief entitlement for a 9+ hour day. After my week's holiday that starts tomorrow afternoon, right now I think I will stick to just completing my own walk until after Xmas, delivering in the freezin dark is no fun and is not theraputical for my S.A.D.

[Godric]

sorry i don't do Dark O'Clock

[OnAFlyer]

If you have any sense you wont do it. Health and safety problems increase dramatically in the dark. Will Royal Mail look after you if you do yourself harm. Hardly. It,s an even bigger danger for female employees. Royal Mail should be spelling out the dangers to it,s employees. We all know what they are, but a responsible employer will lay down what you can and cannot do in the dark (No jokes please). Just issueing you with a torch is not being responsible. Aocket is hardly worth putting yourself at risk.

Agreed 100%. We've got CDV revision starting in Jan with some 3pm finishes. I've already told our managers there's no chance whatsoever of me delivering when it's getting dark, so don't bother asking me to be 'flexible' when the duties are bedding in.

It's a h&SAFETY issue - your safety.

[taurus88]

I managed to dodge the dark anyway. Next time the docket bandwagon starts up, I'm going to say no if it's on a weekday. There's no sense putting myself in harm's way for a couple of hours more on the pay slip, even though I don't mind a bit of extra moolah every now and again. To be honest, I like the change of scenery more than anything - some of the rounds in our office are actually nice! And they're almost all easier than mine!

[hantsman]

Nearly everbody is missing the point,


the employment law states, if you work in excess of your contracted hours on a regular basis,

you are entitled to annual leave based on your average hours over 12 weeks.

[whitemoor66]

Don't know if this helps or muddys the water. Section 5 is relevant.

[Caniel]

Did some o/t today finishing just after 1700 - street lamps are really useful - together with the phrases "It's tomorrow's post - dead early" and "I'm in training for the Christmas Rush" - haven't asked about RM head torches yet ...

Some old codger moaned at me for delivering that late when I was doing some OT earlier in the week. I told him that's what happens when voters allow the government to privatise a public service. Quality of service goes down down down because it becomes all about the profit and to hell with the customer.

[Biker Mouse]

Nearly everbody is missing the point,


the employment law states, if you work in excess of your contracted hours on a regular basis,

you are entitled to annual leave based on your average hours over 12 weeks.

Show me the paragraph that states this!

[haveagojoe]

I remember starting my delivery at 0645 and it was pitch black...and finishing at 0810 and it was still a bit dark.
Now i'm still on IPS at 0810.....progress.

Saturday morning was always like that,bring back the good old days.

[lekker]

I never went out in the dark nor did i deliver at Xmas when it got dark > I am not a fkn vampire.