Grassing on colleague dilemna

[L8Hatter]

One of the business customers on my round today, asked what she could do about the rubbish service she's getting at her residential address. Since they've had a new postie, they've been getting letters for all over the road, which she's had to go out a post through herself, including a cheque which her neighbour had been waiting in for all day apparently. She's also had a recorded letter pushed through, with none of the stickers removed, and no attempt at getting a signature. She's very nice, doesn't want to complain, and asked if I could do anything. Being a twat, I said yes.

Turns out, it's someone on my section. Been here for 18 months on the bouncearound, but three weeks ago, given his own round after someone retired. He's a really nice bloke, but seems to be cocking up badly for some reason.

Would you;

a) Have word with the lino (Nice bloke, and won't make the worst of it)

b) Have a word with the colleague (not keen on this one at all)

c) Do nothing

d) Tell the customer to complain officially

Told her to do d) intially, but she's very nice and doesn't want to get people in trouble. Was right at the end of a long, hard week, and can't help feeling I've made a rod for my own back.

Any thoughts appreciated

[clashcityrocker]

Do you have a workplace coach?
This might be the easiest route - no official complaints and no managers involved.

[youwot!!!!!]

just tell your colleague about this womans concerns and tell him it is upto him to sort it out or this woman COULD make it official and land him in the proverbial.

[TeeferTiger]

Personally, I'd have a quick chat with the colleague and say that a person on his round has been complaining to you about the number of missorts and that if it doesn't get sorted out (no pun intended) then they'll be putting in an official complaint. You can then say to the woman that you've had a word and hopefully things will improve but if they don't then she's within her rights to complain, and he's had a friendly heads up that someone's not happy and that he's shite at his job I'd rather someone told me I'd done something wrong rather than telling a manager I'd cocked up because it might just be a genuine error for whatever reason.

[Judgee]

Don't get involved. Tell her there's nothing you can do and she needs to complain officially. If it's she really thinks the service is that bad she will go ahead and complain through the proper channels, chances are shes just sounding off because you are ready to listen. Even if an official complaint goes through all your lino will do is tell the guy to sort himself out nothing worse.

If the guy has only been on the round three weeks he will improve in his own time and no doubt long before she puts in an official complaint! Getting yourself involved will probably just piss your workmate off and cause you unecessary aggro just leave it alone!

[stokes11eg]

If the chap has been employed for 18 months--he should at least konw the basics of the job!--Personally-if he is a nice chap, I'd have a word to him first--but as you say--lino is a nice chap,so approachable too. Hard one, but as always, once you have something thrown in your lap like this--sometimes you have to do something! Good Luck!

[dubdaz]

Pesonaly I'd tell the postman exactly what you've told us,about being put on the spot and saying you'd do something but now feeling awkward about it and not knowing whats best.Its then up to him if he changes his ways or not,if he's really a nice bloke then he'll appreciate your approach,if he's not then its no loss to you and will eventually lose his job.
Good luck.

[fng]

What about asking the lady to put a note on her letter box asking for mail for her address only and for no other number. She could also ask for "signed for's" to be signed for (although, as a customer i would consider it a bonus to not have to go to the DO to sign for stuff.)

If she can't or won't do the above, i would definitaly go for the "having a word with the postie " approach rather than the lino or official approach.

[krussel]

This sort of thing has come up before in a delivery office.

I would firstly have a word with the postie and let him know the situation and explain that the women will make a complaint if it continues. Then i would let the customer know that i had spoken to her postie but tell her to complain if the situation carries on. I think that way you give the postie a chance.

[Cheetah]

Firstly is he a runner, if so I would strongly encourage the customer to complain, if he was a nice bloke or not. As has been said many times running round to finish early leads to the job being done to the kind of standards you mention. This kind of service is totaly unaceptable and does nothing to promote RM as a buisness....
Saying he has only been on the job 3 weeks and he will improve doesn't wash.... We all know not to post priorities without a signature,that's just taking shortcuts with a blind hope the customer will not complain, but what about the person who sent the item ? They haven't paid for a recorded out of fun. They obviously need to know for whatever reason the recipient has received the item once again totaly unaceptable.
No one is perfect but a sucsession of miss deliveries once again smacks of not paying proper attention or rushing, neither are acceptable and need to be nipped in the bud.
However over something like this I do not feel it is your place to do anything personally. It is the customer who needs to complain, it's obvious from what you have said it's not an iscolated incident so tell her to complain.... It's not something he's going sacked over but is something which needs adressing......

[L8Hatter]

Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment. Very much appreciated.

Think I'll try going back to the customer and ask her to complain officially. Or perhaps have a word with the postie, depending on how I feel in the morning. Longer hours starting tomorrow for me, so might not have the time to be as diplomatic as needed. Will probably put it off till Tuesday.

P.s. My first post possibly wasn't clear enough. The postie has been here for 18 months, but got his own round three weeks ago. Think he might be a runner, probably not helped by being taken out by a van driver who's usually last to leave.

[RTP]

Stop being such a fannie and just have a quiet word in your colleagues ear. If he still continues to make a pigs ear of his delivery, then at least your conscience is clear.

[twobags]

sounds like hes doin a bad job ,but i wouldnt grass on him speak to him first theres a lot missing from what you said ,im on a 9 day fortnight theres no proper cover for my days off when i have days of i get complaints from customers on mis deliveries when i return the cover on my duty isnt always the same person get to know the facts before anything else even advice ,it could look personal if you just weigh in ,"as for the grass if hes a runner" comment and the blurb that went with it well , ive seen and witnessed worse by people in the job years

[krussel]

Stop being such a fannie

[Indy]

Have a quiet word with the postie if it persists then tell the customer to call Customer Service.

People might be 'nice' thats not to say they don't exaggerate things to make a point.