Advice: Newstarter

[gunny3k]

Hi,

I started as a postie just over a week ago. All was going quite well for the first couple of days but I suspect due to my poor choice of footwear and going on my ankle in strange positions a couple of times I developed sore ankles a few days ago. I kept on going taking paracetamol twice a day to help relieve the pain.

As I was new and wanted to create a good impression, I offered to work my day off which was probably a bad idea as the ankles were getting worse.
I work in quite a rough area and there are a fair amount of flats and stairs to navigate.

Have now been given the Royal Mail CAT trainers after bringing up the foot issues. Now they are much more comfortable than what I have been wearing, but my right ankle is still giving me trouble and feels as though it is getting worse not better.

I have been limping round the walk in pain, and after doing a little research it looks as though I've probably got a Grade 1 (least serious) sprained ankle. So I thought enough is enough and requested a day off.
As I'd worked my day off I didn't think it'd be too much of a problem to be given the day off. Instead I was told by DOM "you can't have a day off everytime your feet hurt".

Well anyway, I got the day off which is today but I can tell my ankle isn't going to be back to normal tomorrow. Its still very sore and I'd like to rest it up tomorrow/saturday and try and get it right for next week. I'm sure if I go back tomorrow it'll be just as bad and I don't want to create a more serious injury. I'm also going to buy some ankle braces to try and help the problem.

Can I just tell my DOM I wont be in til Monday due to the sprained ankle? Do I need to get a doctor to confirm it? Will I be disciplined? As I'm a new starter I wont get any sick pay and I'm not bothered about getting any money whilst I'm not working, I just want to get my ankle right again.

Advice please.

[krussel]

Hi Gunny and welcome

Firstly dont panic about aches, pains and blisters in the first few weeks as it something we all go through

You say that your ankle has been a little better since wearing cats so it was prob a bad choice of non supporting footwear that has caused this. I think you need to explain this to your DOM and tell him/her that you feel you will be ok with the cats if he/she can offer you some assitance to get the weekend so you can rest. This will be rather like light duties where you may perhaps take out half or two thirds of the delivery so you will not be walking as far. If he/she refuses and makes you take the whole delivery out tell him/her that you feel it may become too painfull to complete the delivery and you might have to bring some work back (cut off), whereupon you have no choice but to go off sick. When you say this make sure you have a friend with you to back you up later, important

If you can get to the weekend then try to get as much rest as possible. Try a support bandage on the ankle and wear soft fitting shoes around the house. On Monday wear 2 pairs of thin socks and a support bandage and just see how you go. If it becomes too painfull then return to the office, dont cripple yourself.

I would advise you to take all your rest days and not to work any overtime in the first few weeks to allow your body to adjust, its a LOT of walking.

Lastly a CWU rep is a good friend to have if things get heated so i would think about joining the union for support.

Best of luck with this, my ankle gives me heaps at times (an old injury) so i know where your coming from.

[fishtank]

Boots.
Ankle support.
Trainers are for running and playing football and generally looking like a chav/ned.
Boots are for walking...ask the Army.

[DirtyHarry]

Hi,

I started as a postie just over a week ago. All was going quite well for the first couple of days but I suspect due to my poor choice of footwear and going on my ankle in strange positions a couple of times I developed sore ankles a few days ago. I kept on going taking paracetamol twice a day to help relieve the pain.

As I was new and wanted to create a good impression, I offered to work my day off which was probably a bad idea as the ankles were getting worse.
I work in quite a rough area and there are a fair amount of flats and stairs to navigate.

Have now been given the Royal Mail CAT trainers after bringing up the foot issues. Now they are much more comfortable than what I have been wearing, but my right ankle is still giving me trouble and feels as though it is getting worse not better.

I have been limping round the walk in pain, and after doing a little research it looks as though I've probably got a Grade 1 (least serious) sprained ankle. So I thought enough is enough and requested a day off.
As I'd worked my day off I didn't think it'd be too much of a problem to be given the day off. Instead I was told by DOM "you can't have a day off everytime your feet hurt".

Well anyway, I got the day off which is today but I can tell my ankle isn't going to be back to normal tomorrow. Its still very sore and I'd like to rest it up tomorrow/saturday and try and get it right for next week. I'm sure if I go back tomorrow it'll be just as bad and I don't want to create a more serious injury. I'm also going to buy some ankle braces to try and help the problem.

Can I just tell my DOM I wont be in til Monday due to the sprained ankle? Do I need to get a doctor to confirm it? Will I be disciplined? As I'm a new starter I wont get any sick pay and I'm not bothered about getting any money whilst I'm not working, I just want to get my ankle right again.

Advice please.

Leave, leave now, while you still can. The way things have gone/are going, RM will walk you until serious damage to either your knees or ankles occurs.
Sorry I can't give you more encouragement, but best to be somewhat realistic I normally find.

I remember when I first started in this job, my feet hurt like mad, but nowhere near as bad as they do now, every day. Still, didn't have to walk as much in the olden days, did we?

[Sippin40oz]

Best bet is to go to a doctor or walk in centre and get them to check it out. If it is sprained tell them what you do and ask them to advise you if you need to take time off due to the amount of walking you do. I sprained my ankle late november and took 3days off as per the doctors orders and still isnt 100% now. The few days off did help me out though for sure! You should definitely find out if its a proper injury or just extreme aches!

e/she can offer you some assitance to get the weekend so you can rest. This will be rather like light duties where you may perhaps take out half or two thirds of the delivery so you will not be walking as far. If he/she refuses and makes you take the whole delivery out tell him/her that you feel it may become too painfull to complete the delivery and you might have to bring some work back (cut off), whereupon you have no choice but to go off sick. When you say this make sure you have a friend with you to back you up later, important

If it is a proper sprain then i would advise you to just phone in sick. Tell them what the doctor has advised you to do and thats it. I do agree with krussel light duties would be the best option but knowing Royal mail managers they will get you to come in then bully you / guilt trip you into doing a full round!Ive seen it happen all the time most of these managers are not reasonably people so wouldnt expect any sympathy!

[wiganpostie]

Sore ankles is just the start of it I'm afraid. my current list of niggles includes: a dodgy right knee (some days it's ok, other days I get a bit of a twinge), minor pain in my right ankle, slight pain in my left elbow (from carrying heavy bundles of mail), occasional pain in the metatarsals of both feet, and a stiff neck. I suffered from none of those things before starting this job, so draw your own conclusion

[Thorby Bislam]

If it is a proper sprain then i would advise you to just phone in sick. Tell them what the doctor has advised you to do and thats it.

The first 7 days of absence are self-certified so you dont need a doctor's sicknote.

[jonny123]

i would defo get a doctor and union rep on side.
to join the union its only a 2-3 min phone call, they are generally fair to crap these days but in these sort of cases you will usually have a leg to stand on (mind the pun).
all the best, and dont give up that job search...... believe me.

[gunny3k]

Thanks for the help guys.

Ironically, I had previously worked in an office and was looking for something I could do to get out and about. Think I'll be looking for office work again shortly!

[krussel]

Thanks for the help guys.

Ironically, I had previously worked in an office and was looking for something I could do to get out and about. Think I'll be looking for office work again shortly!

Its not a job for everyone and its going through some tough changes at the moment. Aches and pains are a part of the job these days and for most of us there is a pain barrier to get through. Hopefully you have just over stretched, maybe pushed yourself too hard to try and keep up with longer service posties.

If it does not get any better i think the others are right and you should get checked out by a doctor. Its always better to turn in and then go sick when your just starting in RM as it shows your genuine and trying. So many new starters just tire out and stay in bed.

[DirtyHarry]

Thanks for the help guys.

Ironically, I had previously worked in an office and was looking for something I could do to get out and about. Think I'll be looking for office work again shortly!

If you do look for something else, very best of luck, I sincerely mean that. Postie's job is not what it used to be, and it's set to get worse.
Negative, I know, but true all the same.

[chrisj]

If you are going to be off for a day then you might as well make it 3 days. You need to rest your ankle. Make sure you call your Manager or office to tel them you are off because you cannot walk properly, then book an appointment with your GP. Even a strong pain killer rather than the usual Ibuprofen might help - also ankle support...

Its good to start by making a good impression but unfortunately you cannot help it if you are hurt especially through wearing the wrong footwear or just plain accident.

Stick with it, your ankle should get better and the job might be Ok for you in the end.

[wiganpostie]

Also, for a sprain you need an anti-inflammatory, such as the Ibuprofen already mentioned, or something stronger prescribed by your doctor. Also, Ibuprofen can be used in conjunction with paracetemol to, ahem, 'hit pain where it hurts'. Between Moya's legs, then?