Advice on D2Ds

[G Bolster]

I am on a 5 day 20hr fixed term contract for 3 months. When I applied for the job I was told that I would be expected to come in and pick up pre-sorted mail for delivery. My query relates to the fact that whoever is sorting my frame for me is not putting any D2Ds out. When I asked about this I was told that this is my responsibility and that I should do it when I have finished my walk. Is this correct?

[calpsy]

bollocks . They should be in with your mail either within the mail or loose .

And THEY sort it NOT you .

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I am on a 5 day 20hr fixed term contract for 3 months. When I applied for the job I was told that I would be expected to come in and pick up pre-sorted mail for delivery. My query relates to the fact that whoever is sorting my frame for me is not putting any D2Ds out. When I asked about this I was told that this is my responsibility and that I should do it when I have finished my walk. Is this correct?

There is no simple yes or no answer I am afraid but they are hoping you'll do what they say without questioning it because you are on a fixed time contract and probably hoping for a permanent contract.

If you have time to do the D2Ds in your contract time then their request is not unreasonable as they see it, if you don't and you don't want to do overtime then it is an unreasobale request.

My advice would be to advise your manager when you come into the office that you are willing to prep the D2Ds but you are unable to complete the delivery within the contract time and ask "What do you want me to do". if you do want to work overtime then still tell the manager as he could say he won't pay because you did not tell him.

However, the sad thing is you will be put under pressure to complete the D2ds and the delivery and they may drag their heels in paying the Overtime. Stay strong through the pressure, advise the Rep and it will all smooth out in the end. RM Managers seem to be like water going downhill - they will always take the easiest route and avoid trouble.

[G Bolster]

Thanks Calpsy, thats what I suspected! What pisses me off about this is the fact that since I started 10 wks ago I have been going in at least 30 mins early everyday (unpaid) so that I can finish the sorting (if necessary) do the re-directs and then pick up. I have been doing this to help make sure we "get out" at a decent time. Whenever I have asked about putting some D2Ds out, I have been told not to bother as there is no time! Apparently the manager is now aware and annoyed that I havn't been doing my D2Ds and apparently said that it is my responsibility to do them after my walk. So as from today I will do this but from now on will start on time and the others who share the van will just have to wait for me!

[G Bolster]

Thanks TBT.
Obviously good advice but I am not sure this is a manager problem? I rarely finish my round on time and yet most of the others in my section always finish early. It seems to me that I have been coming in early to help them finish early but they are not willing to return the favour?

[fishtank]

TBT is right...you don't have any control over what work you do....only the hours you work.
Take control of that and do not worry about the other.

[Royal_Fail]

Its not your responsibility to prep door 2 doors if you walk is suposed to be ready when you get into office they are classed as live mail now so its fails to person who is prepping your round remeber full time staff are paid more for d2d so its only right they do extra work.

Of course since you are on temp contract management will lie and bully to try get you to do it.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Thanks Calpsy, thats what I suspected! What pisses me off about this is the fact that since I started 10 wks ago I have been going in at least 30 mins early everyday (unpaid) so that I can finish the sorting (if necessary) do the re-directs and then pick up. I have been doing this to help make sure we "get out" at a decent time. Whenever I have asked about putting some D2Ds out, I have been told not to bother as there is no time! Apparently the manager is now aware and annoyed that I havn't been doing my D2Ds and apparently said that it is my responsibility to do them after my walk. So as from today I will do this but from now on will start on time and the others who share the van will just have to wait for me!

I'm sorry for the reality check, but you are playing into your manager's hands...
Coming in unpaid for at least 30 minutes a day is madness, your manager is allowing this to happen because of your perceived carrot on a stick, in that you (and most other short term fixed contract holders) think you might get a longer contract by "helping out." The reality is, you are bailing your manager out through times of change in the Royal Mail delivery system and the chances of a long term postie job are pretty bleak (basically you will be "let go" once your depot has undergone its impending major revision). Are you so well off that even though you are on an unrealistic weekly contract (see below), you can afford to "give away" 2.5 hours (or ~£25 less tax) every week?

Your contract of four hours per day does not leave room for prep, you should have 3hrs30mins for delivery; 20 minutes PAID BREAK and you should be getting 15mins to "pouch off" (come back to depot and sort out failed recorded; packets; missorts etc). Not to mention "bundling up" is another 15mins.

D2D are now part of the "live mail," they are classed on an equal standing with a customer's new cheque book and alike (as daft as that seems). As already said, this should be getting done by someone before you arrive for paid work, it is not your responsibility to prep them. If you are happy to do them after your walk and your manager will give you overtime when needed for doing so, that's fine, but you are not obliged to do so.

[fishtank]

Your contract of four hours per day does not leave room for prep, you should have 3hrs30mins for delivery; 20 minutes PAID BREAK and you should be getting 15mins to "pouch off" (come back to depot and sort out failed recorded; packets; missorts etc). Not to mention "bundling up" is another 15mins.

Who decided that?
What if his four hours doesn't leave room for a 3hrs30min delivery?
We are not managers and CANNOT decide which part of the workload there is room for.
We can only decide when that room starts and when it stops.
The advice on this thread is dangerous.

[krussel]

At my place the Managers prep D2D into the partimers frames (a row a day) when they have gone out so its already for the morning

[POSTMAN]

Rep? Senior posties? Work place coach? Is he working in la la land on his own ffs!

[DirtyHarry]

Nobody in this crappy firm takes the pisss out of me when it comes to Door2Dustbins.
Nope, no sireeeee, quite the opposite in fact.

[itslofty]

i am on a 25 hour temp (but renewed for another 3 months) we used to have to prep hole frame and d2ds, but about 3 weeks ago were told that as no overtime being paid anymore to come in early (used to come in 3/4 hour a day to prep, and book it) now when come in hole frame done and d2ds in frame easy life, all i have to do is packet bag redirections get specials from cage and bundle up and off we go, i miss the o/t but still book if go over and book not having break.

[IloveMYredTROLLEY!]

Your contract of four hours per day does not leave room for prep, you should have 3hrs30mins for delivery; 20 minutes PAID BREAK and you should be getting 15mins to "pouch off" (come back to depot and sort out failed recorded; packets; missorts etc). Not to mention "bundling up" is another 15mins.

Who decided that?
What if his four hours doesn't leave room for a 3hrs30min delivery?
We are not managers and CANNOT decide which part of the workload there is room for.
We can only decide when that room starts and when it stops.
The advice on this thread is dangerous.

fishtank, what I was trying to get at was that a 20 hour contract is as shambolic as a 1 hour contract i.e. there is not enough time to do everything required to do the job properly. If G Bolster, or anyone lese on such contracts does not want to work past their contract finish time (or the manager will not authorise paid overtime), something has to give (and sadly its often the paid meal relief entitlement, as these short term fixed contract posties fear their contract not being renewed, rather than standing upto the pressure from the manager).

What really frustrates me and other PTers is that management know full well that most days we do not have enough contract hours to do all aspects of the job, yet if we complete on "voluntary" overtime, we get no credit for this when it comes to annual leave pay.


So in conclusion, I guess it comes down to this: G Bolster should carry out the manager's request, but as soon as G Bolster thinks there is not enough time to do all aspects of the job (and take meal relief entitlement), the manager should be informed so they can decide if they are willing to give G Bolster paid overtime (if its wanted, if not manager can decide what to do with the "excess" mail)?

[calpsy]

G Bolster I was like you ( apart from coming in early for nothing ) .

My frame was always unfinished and when i came in i had to finish prepping it , get packets , do redirections , bag up and go .

This took up to an hour a day which shouldnt have happened .

NOW after highlighting it to my manager ( who has been very good about the whole issue ) my frame is fully prepped each and every morning and the d2d's are ready too .

All i do is redirections and bag up and go . Normally post my 1st letter half an hour after i arrive at the DO .