Residents can't keep popular postman

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/20 ... ar_postman" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A well-loved postie has been told he must retire from the round he has held for more than 20 years when he reaches 65 this month even though more than 100 people have written asking for him to stay on.

Popular postman Richard Owen, who is responsible for the rounds in Farley Hill, has been told he cannot stay on in the role despite pleading with his bosses to let him carry on working.

And the 64-year-old, who has been doing the round for 27, years will be missing out on a change in the law by just a month which would have meant he would be able to carry on working beyond retirement.

Luke Busfield, who has lived in Farley Hill for five years, said neigbours were desperate to keep their faithful postie who never puts a letter in the wrong door.

He said: “It is an interesting way of meeting your neighbours having to sort out all the wrong mail but when Richard is around we always get all the correct mail.

“If there is anything for the village hall he knows where to post it, whereas everyone else just puts it in the village hall and no-one picks it up.

“He does not want to retire at all.

“He put a little note through everyone’s door saying he does not want to go and if we want to write a letter we can.”

Mr Busfield said more than 100 neighbours had contacted Royal Mail asking them to let Mr Owen continue working but the postie had been told he would have to retire on Friday, September 16, three days before his 65th birthday.

The neighbour also said Mr Owen’s wife passed away in March and that was another reason why he was keen to carry on working.

He said: “He wants to stay on. For the last two to three months he’s been trying to convince his bosses to let him stay.”

Under existing legislation an employer can force an employee to retire at 65 without paying any financial compensation.

But new laws which are set to come into play in October will mean employers are no longer able to dismiss staff just because they have reached retirement age.

Mr Owen said he was devastated at the prospect of losing his job and said it would take a “miracle” for him to be allowed to stay.

He said: “It is heartbreaking. When I lost Angela it was an outlet for me rather than just coming home to an empty house.

“I have been told that the only way I shall keep my job is if the Prime Minister orders the chief executive to keep me on.

“What I need is a miracle in London.”

Mr Busfield added: “With the law soon to change outlawing the enforced retirement of staff one might expect a national institution of the stature of The Royal Mail to take a lead on the issue.

“Were he a few months younger his birthday would fall after the change in the law and this shabby treatment would not be allowed.

“It seems bizarre that one of the few postmen to both successfully navigate our village and put letters through the correct letterboxes is being cast aside so gratuitously.”

[clashcityrocker]

“If there is anything for the village hall he knows where to post it, whereas everyone else just puts it in the village hall and no-one picks it up."

If it is addressed to the village hall, where else would you post it?
And if it is so important to have it delivered somewhere else, why doesn't Mr Superpostie have a special instruction on the frame so the floater/reserve/cover know what to do with it?
I hate posties like him.

[POSTMAN]

I have an email (person thinks we're an official RM site) about him from one of his customers,seems they love him.

[maisymoo04]

wonder wat else he is doin to all them old ladys

[Lounge Lizard]

Let's just hope that he adjusts to retired life and takes up a new interest, lies in until late morning then off to the Fox and Hounds for several pints each lunchtime then he'll soon be questioning how he ever found the time to go to work.

[bunkerland]

http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/20 ... ar_postman



“He put a little note through everyone’s door saying he does not want to go and if we want to write a letter we can.”

Crikey,he really is the perfect postie! Even when RM are trying to get rid of him he's drumming up extra revenue for them!

[fishtank]

Most people are nervous of retirement.It's a big change if you've worked all your life.
What worries me about people wanting or being forced to stay on is where will the jobs be for those at the other end of the age range?
If..and it's a big if....you don't financially need to work is it fair to hold onto a job just because you don't want to go home to an empty house?

[Lounge Lizard]

Most people are nervous of retirement.It's a big change if you've worked all your life.
What worries me about people wanting or being forced to stay on is where will the jobs be for those at the other end of the age range?
If..and it's a big if....you don't financially need to work is it fair to hold onto a job just because you don't want to go home to an empty house?

or he could seek employment with a company, like B&Q, not so particular about age.

[scoobydo79]

He sounds the sort of postman who does the unofficial redirections,leaves packets in the coal bunker,gives the mail to Mrs Smith when Mrs Jones goes on holiday to look after ,and every body on the delivery hates his cover man cos he does the job properly.

[tonywildchid]

I thought it was now illegal to force someone to retire at 65.

[fishtank]

I thought it was now illegal to force someone to retire at 65.

the 64-year-old, who has been doing the round for 27, years will be missing out on a change in the law by just a month which would have meant he would be able to carry on working beyond retirement

Kicks in next month.
From what i hear the business want an exemption.

[bunkerland]

I have been told that the only way I shall keep my job is if the Prime Minister orders the chief executive to keep me on.



I'm sure that with the country on high security for terrorist attacks,the recent rioting in major English cities and Britain still trying to climb it's way out of recession.............the PM will make that his top priority!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I thought it was now illegal to force someone to retire at 65.

Nope not at this present time -

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills had originally proposed having a blanket end to forced retirement on 30 September 2011 i.e. within six months of the last notice-issuing day (yesterday). However, last minute changes to the transitional arrangements have meant that employers will still be able to give up to a years notice to their employees – providing they are 65 before October 2011– meaning workers could be forced out until April 2012. In addition, it will still be possible to agree an extension of up to a furher six months, meaning the final forced retirements could take place as far away as October 2012.

[templepilot]

Whilst I sympathise with this guy , I'm not keen on the way he was working. I'm covering some one long term at the mo and I get a load of grieve off customers because he was doing a few things that let's say aren't taught in training. Like taking specials etc to neighbours, packets for people being left in places etc. One of the customers phoned my lino and complained because I left a p739 for her and hadn't signed for and posted the item like the regular postman does. They keep asking me when he's back because they keep having to go to the depot to collect items when they didn't have to when he was delivering. They all thought he did it to help them out but we now know he did so so he didn't have to take their items to a p.o to pouch off. Whilst 27 years on a del is admirable the little deals struck can cause aggro for whoever has to cover for him.

[Stormproof]

Why the f**k would you want to stay on in this job past 65. Once all the changes come in we'll all be dead before we get to 65 anyway