A few question if no one minds?

[kizzy]

Have been of a 30hr 3 month fixed term contract did apply for parcel force put have been offer a gpo post

1. What will I be doing?
2. Will I be driving or walking?
3. IF Walking for how long and how far?
4. will the post be sorted?
5. Try to order some uniform have told have to wait until start work . so will i be expected to provide my own gear ? eg waterproof jacket and if so will they reimbursed it.
6. We are paid by the hour but is it weekly or monthly?
7. When the contract is near is end date will they inform with enough notice to if it is to be renew or not? if not can I transfer between post?
8. Should I join the union on a temp contract and which union is it.

I understand I will be able to ask these question at the induction but would rather have genuine answer rather than corporate ones.
I am sure you will appreciate that not having work for so long I am lacking in a little confidence and really don't no what to expect.

Thanks

[dohnut]

I originally applied for Christmas work with Parcel Force was offer the position back in Sep 2010 but with not having work for 3 years due to ill health by the time all the checks and medicals were done it was end of Dec 2010 . so my file was put on hold for future vacancy's..

Hence being offer a position of GPO? with driving on a 30 hour week fixed term contract. my question are below if any one can help.

1. What will I be doing? delivering the mail up to around 4 hours walking
2. Will I be driving or walking? I would say walking but if you stay long enough you may be driving.
3. IF Walking for how long and how far? see above
4. will the post be sorted? depends it should be for tyhe first few weeks then you will have to prep yourself
5. Try to order some uniform have told have to wait until start work . so will i be expected to provide my own gear ? eg waterproof jacket and if so will they reimbursed it. may be able to find second hand jacket, wont get full uniform until you have been there around a month or so.
6. We are paid by the hour but is it weekly or monthly? weekly.
7. When the contract is near is end date will they inform with enough notice to if it is to be renew or not? if not can I transfer between post? not sure depends on how good your office is.
8. Should I join the union on a temp contract and which union is it. dont bother there useless.

I understand I will be able to ask these question at the induction but would rather have genuine answer rather than corporate ones.
I am sure you will appreciate that not having work for so long I am lacking in a little confidence and really don't no what to expect.

Thanks

[SANDMAN1]

Hence being offer a position of GPO?

what is that never heard of it

[fishtank]

Hence being offer a position of GPO?

what is that never heard of it

It's what you see when you look in the mirror.
Too subtle?

[post_bitch]

u will work

[mazza111]

You guys are so helpful.

Have been of a 30hr 3 month fixed term contract did apply for parcel force put have been offer a gpo post

1. What will I be doing?

Depends on what you're needed to do, most start going out on a round with a more experienced postie.


2. Will I be driving or walking?

Could be a bit of both, normally start on a walking duty tho.
3. IF Walking for how long and how far?

Roughly between 6-8 miles.
4. will the post be sorted? In theory, the mail should be sorted for you starting.

Usually find there maybe some extras you will need to sort.
5. Try to order some uniform have told have to wait until start work . so will i be expected to provide my own gear ? eg waterproof jacket and if so will they reimbursed it.

Our office usually has a few old waterproofs hanging around, could be that your office is the same.

6. We are paid by the hour but is it weekly or monthly?

Weekly
7. When the contract is near is end date will they inform with enough notice to if it is to be renew or not? if not can I transfer between post?

Haven't had experience of this tbh, but from reading on here, it seems to be rolling, so if you don't hear anything keep your fingers crossed, for a communications company, RM have very little communication.

8. Should I join the union on a temp contract and which union is it.

That's a personal choice. And personally I would. Means you got back up should you need it.

I understand I will be able to ask these question at the induction but would rather have genuine answer rather than corporate ones.
I am sure you will appreciate that not having work for so long I am lacking in a little confidence and really don't no what to expect.

Thanks

Hope that helps, good luck in your new job :)

[kizzy]

Thanks MAZZA 111 for your reply it was most helpful. And I have a open mind and will do what I can and keep my head down.

Cheers

[meercat]

Don't worry kizzy it's not that hard picking up the job and you'll be given time to get up to speed. You will be going round with another guy for the first few days maybe carrying some of his bags to get you used to the weight. Ask him/her anything you like. As a new starter usually you will get your mail put into the frame for you so all you do is tie it up into bundles, but after a while you will have to do more and more possibly all frame prepping. This means on 30hrs you wont have enough time in the day to complete the round so you may end up booking overtime most days. If you can't do the OT you should make that clear to them shortly after you start and they should get someone to prep your frame for you. On 30hrs you are due a 30min paid break so if you start at 8am and don't have time for a break your finish time will be 1:30.

[dohnut]

Don't worry kizzy it's not that hard picking up the job and you'll be given time to get up to speed. You will be going round with another guy for the first few days maybe carrying some of his bags to get you used to the weight. Ask him/her anything you like. As a new starter usually you will get your mail put into the frame for you so all you do is tie it up into bundles, but after a while you will have to do more and more possibly all frame prepping. This means on 30hrs you wont have enough time in the day to complete the round so you may end up booking overtime most days. If you can't do the OT you should make that clear to them shortly after you start and they should get someone to prep your frame for you. On 30hrs you are due a 30min paid break so if you start at 8am and don't have time for a break your finish time will be 1:30.

The last bit about finIsh time and break isn't correct, in our office you are only allOwed to bring back 20 minutes you have to take half your break before you go out

[fishtank]

On 30hrs you are due a 30min paid break so if you start at 8am and don't have time for a break your finish time will be 1:30.

Again....How does not having time for a break work?

[clashcityrocker]

Again....How does not having time for a break work?

It's about conflict avoidance.....
The f/timer who is supposed to prep your frame fully has left a tray of flats and a packet bag (his walk is fully prepped and he'll be leaving early) so by the time you have done his work and your own the driver is hassling you for your bags and if you take your 30 minutes you will miss your lift. Of course you can go and sit in the rest room on your own for 30 minutes and then insist the DOM arranges transport for you but it is far easier to eat a Twix in the van and race round in an effort to make back the thirty minutes.

[fishtank]

Again....How does not having time for a break work?

It's about conflict avoidance.....
The f/timer who is supposed to prep your frame fully has left a tray of flats and a packet bag (his walk is fully prepped and he'll be leaving early) so by the time you have done his work and your own the driver is hassling you for your bags and if you take your 30 minutes you will miss your lift. Of course you can go and sit in the rest room on your own for 30 minutes and then insist the DOM arranges transport for you but it is far easier to eat a Twix in the van and race round in an effort to make back the thirty minutes.

....but that's not "not having time to take your break".
That's not having the courage to stand up for yourself and/or not having faith in your colleagues/rep to stand behind you and/or not having faith in your managers ability to understand and deal with the situation.
Or maybe he just wants to finish early like his full-time colleague and unlike his full-time colleague he can't make time by short-changing his work colleagues so he short-changes himself.

[clashcityrocker]

Correct on all counts.
Soon s/he will start coming in early to make sure s/he gets a flier..........and they still won't take their break.

[Pat Ostman]

Hold on a second...

If, lets say your hours are 9-2 FishTank. When would you take your break?

Its not always practical to have a break whilst on delivery for example. If I could find a nearby tea-shop I can imagine customers walking in demanding this and that and asking why I am sat on my arse, or asking for their packets and post. Its a little confrontational and hardly a place to relax. Or yes I could have it as soon as I get in, or thirty minutes later but thats hardly practical either.



So, whats the ideal time on these smaller contracts?

[NewPostieUK]

Why would someone on 30hrs get their duty prepped for them?

I work 27 hrs and prep my own duty.