Not being paid for work I do

[Harry_Perkins]

Never seen so much mail in my life. Finally got out and delivered my first letter at 11:30 and did not finish until 5:45

That's just crazy postman2011! You've got to inform him you're cutting off and go through with it, no matter what comes of it. Fight that battle later.

[Lincox]

As soon as you are in tomorrow, ask to speak to him. Tell him that you have taken advice and that you require a grievance form. If he continues to hassle you, state that you will be escalating this to a bullying and harrasment situation. You want to be paid for all of the overtime that you have worked, and if this is not in your wages slip within two weeks, you will be making an application to Small Claims Court. You should also send an email to Ask Moya (someone will give you her email address) and report all of his actions to her, and see what the outcome is. He should be hung by his balls in the market square until he screams blue mercy.

[Cedar]

I have just emailed the union and put it all into writing. I hope they can do something to help me. I don't know how I am going to get through tomorrow in this pain.

I don't think overtime should be paid to someone who is working over and taking the manager and the company for a ride.

However,if you are working to the best of your ability and trying your very best to get your duty completed properly and in the right way and you are still going over then who are they to refuse overtime to be paid.How demoralising is that ?

Unfortunately,it does happen.You're new to the job and probably came into it with high hopes.My advice to you is to look for something else if you're the type of person who avoids confrontation because in this job you have to fight your corner.Sometimes,it's not worth the hassle and it's better to just walk away and find another job like I've recently done.I did eight months.These part time fixed term temporary contracts,as we know,aren't the best of contracts.Good luck.

[MrPPatt]

When I started, just over 6 months ago, I went savagely over time most days. I just filled out the O/T form and got paid for it. The managers didn't hassle me about it once. (The more I hear about people's managers - the more I realize mine are excellent)

You manager is breaking RM rules and possibly the law. Make sure you keep a note of ALL the extra time you have worked, for when you eventually get paid for it all.

Join the Union if you haven't already done so. This is exactly the situation they are needed.

Hope this tw@t of a manager loses his job over this - he should.

MrPostmanPatt :(

[Toby Tyke]

If you are doing all this overtime and not getting paid for it then Royal Mail will almost certainly be paying you less than the minimum wage which is illegal.
Point this out to your manager.If no joy then tell him you are going to shame and name him.Go public and complain to your local MP.
Also try and talk to the local papers(or nationals) They do love storys like this.
Get everything in writing, ie how many hours you have worked and how many they are actualy paying you and give it a go.
If its that bad what have you to loose.

[boogyman]

Don't listen to him, when I was new they have to give u benefit of overtime especially once they expect u to finish prepping etc, if your not leaving til 1115 there is no way u can finish at 2, the manager is using and abusing you, probably as he knows what people will take to keep a job in this day in age. I know its hard but u need to stand up to him even if u get someone else in with u, u cannot work 4 hours for free under no circumstance. Everybody needs time to get used to rounds and prepping takes getting used too. Don't stand for it.

don't work 1 minute over if you don't want to. even if your not in union,don't let lino's get away with it, just leave it in the office and let them know what your leaving. their bullying more now than ever.

[postman 2011]

Thank you for all the brilliant replies. I am with the union now and they are going to try and sort it for me. I just hope that it does all get sorted out. I can't handle another day like I had when I finished at 5:45.

I have truly never had a week at work like that horrible in my life. I honestly felt like a slave when I was delivering letters for almost 4 hours over my finishing time with the thought in my mind that I am not going to get a single penny for this and I am in all this pain. My wife told me to send the mail back and leave. I was so tempted to do it but managed to stick it out some how.

I wanted the job because it was part time and so I could spend time with my young son whilst he is growing up. I can imagine that in a couple of weeks time when I finally do finish on time the manager will force me to do overtime :-(

[gsans218]

All you need to do in future is work to your time, if you feel you will go past your time tell your line manager but give a reasonable notice of this matter, you do not have to work beyond your normal working hours unless you agree but they should pay you overtime for this, if they disagree then CUT OFF tell them this and watch the anger in their eyes if you are in the CWU tell your rep about this matter straight away.

[coxie]

Cut off when your finish time comes, take some mail back and I bet every day after that he will pay you, tell him if he's not going to pay you then you're not going over your time. He will try to bully you but he can't do anything mate. Don't fall for their bull

[coxie]

Remember as well, you're only paid to work a certain number of hours, you are not paid to complete a delivery, if your work load is too much to complete in your contracted hours, that is not your problem and you can take the mail back to the office, they can't touch you for doing that. I finish my delivery at "2:15 everyday, since park and loop came in 3 weeks ago I have completed only 2 days. They have created this problem and I won't let them make it my problem by working over my time and especially not for free.

[postman 2011]

Thanks - I am really hoping that the union can sort this one out for me. When I mentioned cutting off to the LM he was furious. He said it straight that I am not allowed to cut off ever. The minute I mentioned it he wanted to take me in the office and I offered to go with him, but he then said he would sort it out there instead.

Although it was not said I feel like I would certainly get the sack if I brought any mail back. That is why I was out until almost 6 the other day.

I have just been reading through old posts and found one that was written nine months ago. It was from another new starter that was not getting paid for working over his time as well. He did write the department where he works and it is the same place I work. Seems like it has been going on a long time. I would put a link to it but it would give away who I am.

[Harry_Perkins]

Although it was not said I feel like I would certainly get the sack if I brought any mail back. That is why I was out until almost 6 the other day.

Mate, seriously, you have the luxury of working for an employer that recognises a union. There are agreements between the union and the employer that have to be followed and there are procedures for cutting off or saying you need to extend delivery. If you follow them, you simply can't be sacked for cutting off or needing to extend. Royal Mail would be destroyed at an employment tribunal if they did that.

[Postman Plodd]

Thanks - I am really hoping that the union can sort this one out for me.

Where is your rep when all this is happening?

When I mentioned cutting off to the LM he was furious.

I'll bet he was, bullies dont like being challenged plus you're threatening his bonus.

He said it straight that I am not allowed to cut off ever.

An utter lie, you are allowed to cut off but you must inform him that you are going to at the earliest opportunity so he can make provision to have the left post delivered

The minute I mentioned it he wanted to take me in the office and I offered to go with him, but he then said he would sort it out there instead.

If he wants to drag you in the office take a witness or better still, get the rep, you are allowed this no matter what this c*ck says.

Although it was not said I feel like I would certainly get the sack if I brought any mail back.

This is why you dont take more than you can deliver in the 1st place also why you NEED a witness to his unspoken threats

It seems a mammoth task to take on this guy but look at it this way what he's doing he should be sacked for but is probably in reality being rewarded for, how wrong is that?

[postman 2011]

Thanks for all of your help on this forum - you have all been great. Just to give you an update.

I got the union involved and one of there best men was on the case. Things have dramatically improved since involving them and I cannot recommend them enough. Still not sure if I will get paid for the extra hours that I put in but at least my working conditions have got a lot better meaning I can stick the job out a bit longer. Just taking each day at a time at the minute but it has been a good past few days.

Just hope it stays that way :-)

[Harry_Perkins]

Thanks for all of your help on this forum - you have all been great. Just to give you an update.

I got the union involved and one of there best men was on the case. Things have dramatically improved since involving them and I cannot recommend them enough. Still not sure if I will get paid for the extra hours that I put in but at least my working conditions have got a lot better meaning I can stick the job out a bit longer. Just taking each day at a time at the minute but it has been a good past few days.

Just hope it stays that way :-)

Good to hear it. And good to hear some postives about the CWU!