Hours at an MC 30 miles away rather than local DO

[hotxbun]

My DOM's been told (ie. not his decision) I've to go to an MC 30 miles away from my regular DO next week (possibly longer) while I'm on rehab. It'll add the eqivalent of an extra day (daily hours = 6, extra travelling time = 7½) to my week, which I'm not prepared to do, so I've said I'll leave home at my usual time, and leave the MC in time to get back at my usual time. This'll mean my actual attendance'll be 7½hrs short over a 5 day week.
Can I insist ?
My contract says weekly attendance is 30 hours. Otherwise I'm being penalised for being on rehab (due, by the way, to an injury caused by the job), as well as my rehab being put back as I was s'posed to be on light duties this week (yeah, right. That lasted all of 1 day !), then going out on the bike for an hour a day next week, 2 hours the week after, etc, and that won't happen if I'm in an MC. OH have "advised" the injury was caused by cycling hence the weaning back on to it.

Oh, not to mention the "messing about" with my day(s) off. Last week the rota said I was off 2 consecutive days (working 4 x 7½hrs as it has been for the last few weeks, rather than the 5 x 6hrs it will be at the MC), was changed to Tuesday, now looks like it'll be Saturday.

[krussel]

Question :

Have you been employed for more than 5 years ?

Are you insured for S&D and commuting on your car ? If so you are only insured to drive to your regular place of business. If poss use that, they hate it .

So what you do is turn up at your DO and let them worry about taking you to the Mail Centre and bringing you back within your duty time.

[hotxbun]

Have you been employed for more than 5 years ?

With Royal Mail ? Far from it, and the way it's going - I won't ever be !

Are you insured for S&D and commuting on your car ?

Yes

If so you are only insured to drive to your regular place of business. If poss use that, they hate it .

Well, the train was suggested before I said I'd rather use my car (least then I'll get something, ie. mileage) but the train's out of the question as
a) that would take even longer, it's not direct
b) the MC's MILES from the station !

So what you do is turn up at your DO and let them worry about taking you to the Mail Centre and bringing you back within your duty time.

Oh dear, I smell BIG hassle

[fishtank]

So what you do is turn up at your DO and let them worry about taking you to the Mail Centre and bringing you back within your duty time.

That's what i would do..

[krussel]

Oh dear, I smell BIG hassle

Yeah sorry it prob will be

Sometimes you need to throw a few rocks under RM wheels and it becomes too much bother for them and they find something at your office.

Dont refuse outright though.

[hotxbun]

So what you do is turn up at your DO and let them worry about taking you to the Mail Centre and bringing you back within your duty time.

That's what i would do..

I wouldn't get home (no one's gonna do a 60 mile round trip to get me home by 2pm )

Oh dear, I smell BIG hassle

Yeah sorry it prob will be

Sometimes you need to throw a few rocks under RM wheels and it becomes too much bother for them and they find something at your office.

Dont refuse outright though.

This isn't the DOM's decision. In fact, I gather he'd rather I stayed put and followed the rehab program OH suggested. But I really don't see why I should be sh@t on 'cos the job's resulted in me being on rehab & farmed out (along with other "rehabs", apparently) 'cos the absorbtion's sending the DO costs sky high (allegedly).
Do I really have to increase my hours away from home by 25% - unpaid - just 'cos "they" said so ?

[hotxbun]

And if I "don't refuse outright", I cave in. Don't I ?

[smokerjim]

Question :

Have you been employed for more than 5 years ?

Are you insured for S&D and commuting on your car ? If so you are only insured to drive to your regular place of business. If poss use that, they hate it .

So what you do is turn up at your DO and let them worry about taking you to the Mail Centre and bringing you back within your duty time.

Get there for the start of your shift - your shift starts and ends at your office, not at any other office or at the MC - park your car, book in, and get the kettle on while your manager flaps around sorting you a lift, let him know that you expect a lift back, and that you will be booking overtime from the minute your contracted time ends, to the minute you leave your office and walk to your car ( obviously, if they are both the same thing, then all is well & good & everyone is happy )

[fishtank]

And if I "don't refuse outright", I cave in. Don't I ?

It's an old management trick to try to get you to refuse a reasonable request so you just throw as many obstacles in the way without flat refusing.
You are on rehab...Is it reasonable to expect you to spend nearly two hours travelling which may impact on your recovery?...i wouldn't think it was reasonable but i'm not your doctor...maybe your doctor would know.

[hotxbun]

your shift starts and ends at your office, not at any other office or at the MC

That's what I needed to know for sure, really.
I more or less assumed it wasn't with the clause in my contract saying 30hr attendance a week. Plus the DOM agreed that was actually the case, if they gave you no notice. But they have, so it's not. But you reckon it is. Yeah ?

[krussel]

I cave in. Don't I ?

No not at all but your Dom prob would love you to refuse as it gets the problem off his back and starts a whole new ball game of medical retirement.

You just need to make it hard for them without getting arsey. Why cant you drive there "sorry my clutch is slipping and making a burning smell and i only just made it in" that sort of thing.

As Jim says if they make ou travel and work past your time then hit them where it hurts in the PRESSURE docket as it effects your office performance and your Doms bonus

They normally realise that its a waste of time to ferry you about and find you some work within the office.

Could you not take on a project like updating the hazards on the walklogs ? they can get extra budget for that

[krussel]

your shift starts and ends at your office, not at any other office or at the MC

That's what I needed to know for sure, really.
I more or less assumed it wasn't with the clause in my contract saying 30hr attendance a week. Plus the DOM agreed that was actually the case, if they gave you no notice. But they have, so it's not. But you reckon it is. Yeah ?

If you were over 5 years then i would say 100% yes.

I am sure you can accept the change but they have to provide transport, someone will need to comfirm this

[hotxbun]

And if I "don't refuse outright", I cave in. Don't I ?

It's an old management trick to try to get you to refuse a reasonable request so you just throw as many obstacles in the way without flat refusing.
You are on rehab...Is it reasonable to expect you to spend nearly two hours travelling which may impact on your recovery?...i wouldn't think it was reasonable but i'm not your doctor...maybe your doctor would know.

I think the rehab's just meant to get me into the ways of handling the bike, gently. OH are convinced that's what's caused the problem though I wasn't so sure at first, but after helping to deliver, on foot, they may have a point ! Driving's not a problem.

your shift starts and ends at your office, not at any other office or at the MC

That's what I needed to know for sure, really.
I more or less assumed it wasn't with the clause in my contract saying 30hr attendance a week. Plus the DOM agreed that was actually the case, if they gave you no notice. But they have, so it's not. But you reckon it is. Yeah ?

If you were over 5 years then i would say 100% yes.

I am sure you can accept the change but they have to provide transport, someone will need to comfirm this

The only option I was given was the train, providing transport was never mentioned though p'raps I jumped in too quick when I said I'd rather drive. I'm back to 5 x 6hr shifts so by the time I got there by train plus however I would get from the station to the MC (taxi ??), it'd be time to turn round and come home again !

[krussel]

I jumped in too quick when I said I'd rather drive

Its up to you but there's no way i would drive all that way to a MC in my own car. Like i said before dont refuse outright and have a big stand off. Some on here will shout grow some but i prefer the stealth approach, just invent some car trouble. Ie: cars reving but not pulling well up hill, need to get it looked at , few days later, then: Needs a new clutch A week later, its worse: flywheel is knackerd as well = Prob about £1000 worth of repairs which you cant afford.

it'd be time to turn round and come home again !

Could well be but what can you do its their choice.

[hotxbun]

Update
All changed 3 times on Saturday alone, have ended up at another DO / MC, a 40 mile round trip. Monday was ok, was told to take a van tho' had to start 7 hours later (to have a van available ?), left my DO at start time, arrived back 6 hours later. B-U-T ... went in Tuesday to be told - can't use a van ("shouldn't have yesterday, haven't done change over" (?)), and as of 8am that morning, travelling time is NOT included within the 6 hours I'm rota'd. AND they weren't gonna pay mileage or fares (train then bus). Bit of a ding dong. Spoke to union rep, long story short, he advised I go (used my car as had to be in town that evening after work anyway), phone call from acting DOM en route saying there'd been some confusion, I would get mileage allowance after all. Meantime, rehab's on hold, I can't go back to my DO 'til it's completed, I don't know from one day to the next what hours I'm working (afternoon into evening so far) or where in the office, and a day off this week's not been mentioned once (Saturday far as I'm concerned).