Correct protocol for non-completeion of round

[WOBBLY]

Yesterday my round was extraordinarily busy. (its a well known fact, by both managers and colleagues, that my round is too big) I spoke to my assistant manager (dom was out of the office) informing him I could not complete in the allotted time and could not work overtime due to childcare issues. The manager removed my summer absorption and asked if that would suffice. I replied "not really, I will still go over my time". He said see how you go and walked off..........
I tied up my duty and left the office. Approx halfway through I knew I wasn't going to finish in time so I rang the office to see what they wanted me to do. My dom had returned at this point and replied with "don't you think you should have mentioned something this morning if you knew you weren't going to complete?" To which I replied "I spoke to the assitant manager and he told me to see how I get on" She got a right titty on and said "we'll be having words about this when you're back in on Friday." I was told to leave the packets and just take the 1st class mail, which is what I did. Approx half an hour overtime would have needed to be booked to complete the round on time making a total delivery time (rural, first letter to last letter) of 5hrs 50 mins

Basically I need to know if I've done the right thing before going in tomorrow or should I have insisted earlier on that I couldn't complete? Thanks.

[fishtank]

DELIVERY

3.1 PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT

a) Where an employee feels that on completion of preparation he/she may experience difficulty in completing his/her delivery within the authorised time allotted, he/she should approach his/her manager as soon as possible before setting out on delivery. It will be for the manager to discuss any problem and advise the employee what particular action should be taken.

b) When an individual has requested assistance on delivery, but the manager feels that assistance is not required, this decision along with the advice given to the employee will be recorded and associated with the daily traffic volume records. The employee can have access to this record and may ask to see it prior to commencement of his/her delivery. In addition to recording the employee’s request, the employee will be instructed to ring his/her local manager prior to a specified time or as soon as possible if full completion of delivery workload within the time allotted proves not to be possible.
3.2 AFTER COMMENCEMENT OF DELIVERY

a) If an individual is prevented from completing their delivery for any reason, it is essential that this is reported immediately either by returning to the office or by telephone (telephone costs will be refunded). A written record will be kept.

b) All employees should be informed of the local authorised arrangements, in writing, preferably in plastic card form if available.


I sounds like you did it by the book.
The only thing i will say is make sure you have a witness, preferably your rep when discussing overrunning issues with management.

[WOBBLY]

Thanks fishtank

I thought I had done it by the book but management have a way of making you doubt yourself. I will be taking the rep in with me for this chat as I know I was in the right.

Am I still able to request a copy of the record even after it has happened?

Which brings me onto how I go about proving my duty is too big. I was plonked on it when I transferred offices and was not a duty I applied for. It has had 80+ new houses built which were just 'added to the duty', as part of other savings (the name escapes me) there were another 50 calls added on and to top it all off now I have an extra 28 summer absorption calls to deal with....... My total call count is probably nearing nearly 700 in total whilst most other rurals in our office have 300-400 max! It seems I'm now permanently on that round with no sign of me being moved again.

Also there are several duties in the office that have been vacated and filled temporarily with PT'ers or agency staff. Can management hold back advertising theses dutys?

[hatetheboss]

If you are running over on a regular basis and they are paying you, or other members of staff, then to question you because you you want to work your contracted hours constitutes bullying.

When you have your meeting raise this point then ask for a bullying and harassment form.

[WOBBLY]

If you are running over on a regular basis and they are paying you, or other members of staff, then to question you because you you want to work your contracted hours constitutes bullying.

When you have your meeting raise this point then ask for a bullying and harassment form.

I run over at least twice a week in the summer period and 3-4 times over the rest of the year. Its not been a problem up until recently.

My boss has now decided to 'question' my prep rate as she thinks i'm too slow!!! She had my frame checked and counted on my RDO too I've had various sorting tests over the years and have never failed one yet. I said they are more than welcome to shadow me for the day but this was politely declined!

The problem I have is that I come in dot on time but (despite constant requests not to by myself and our union rep) my link reserve and anyone covering my leave start work anything up to an hour early which management turn a blind eye to. Makes my blood boil as it makes me look like I'm being lazy when in fact I'm doing my job correctly........

[Postman Plodd]

They KNOW your covers are starting early, they just hope that by constantly griefing you about your time that you'll toe the line. Get the rep involved as this is harrassment.

[WOBBLY]

They KNOW your covers are starting early, they just hope that by constantly griefing you about your time that you'll toe the line. Get the rep involved as this is harrassment.

She can hope all she likes as they won't get me to toe the line if involves working for free. I am quite happy to do the job as set out by RM in the allocated time.

My rep is already involved and has been keeping a close eye on me. I had to ask for assistance today and she brought up the prep issue, she was prepping a part time duty on the frame next to me so saw I didn't stop from the moment I got in till the moment I left for delivery! She's mentioned the prep time issue twice now without backing it up by performing any checks. If she mentions it a third time without any back up or proof (which I know doesn't exist) I'll be taking the harassment issue further. I'm a fairly easy going bloke usually, so to get me to this stage means she must be pushing her luck.........

[Militantdave]

wobbly,ive had prep tests galore..until i filled out a bulling and harrasment form.

just do the job as you are and they aint got a leg but fill in a daily diary of whats said to you and vailed threats .sounds petty but it will do the trick.even when they say things like that ask them to write it down and sign it.

[sirgordonzola]

Well done Wobbly,

i think you did everything by the book, everything that is quoted in Appendix 3 of the conduct code which was posted earlier.
Sadly i've had a manager this week who told me he didnt care about Appendix 3, saying its just an excuse for people not to do there job, its amazing that these people are in charge of a workforce yet think the nationally agreed procedures are something that they can just bypass. Managers will try and be clever and try not to give you a concise answer in what they are wanting you to do, so leaving doubts in the mind of us posties, it is vitally important that if you have this situation again you have a witness with you for all communication with the manager. I have also noticed this week, that the harrasment seems to have stepped up a gear, there seems to be no compromise anymore, they are trying to bully people into going beyond there time, its not fair, its not pleasant, but because of the national agreement we are protected.

[WOBBLY]

wobbly,ive had prep tests galore..until i filled out a bulling and harrasment form.

just do the job as you are and they aint got a leg but fill in a daily diary of whats said to you and vailed threats .sounds petty but it will do the trick.even when they say things like that ask them to write it down and sign it.

I've been making daily notes and do my best to have someone in earshot when speaking to management.
I suspect the bullying and harassment form will be requested tomorrow if she's anything like she was with me today!

Well done Wobbly,

i think you did everything by the book, everything that is quoted in Appendix 3 of the conduct code which was posted earlier.
Sadly i've had a manager this week who told me he didnt care about Appendix 3, saying its just an excuse for people not to do there job, its amazing that these people are in charge of a workforce yet think the nationally agreed procedures are something that they can just bypass. Managers will try and be clever and try not to give you a concise answer in what they are wanting you to do, so leaving doubts in the mind of us posties, it is vitally important that if you have this situation again you have a witness with you for all communication with the manager. I have also noticed this week, that the harrasment seems to have stepped up a gear, there seems to be no compromise anymore, they are trying to bully people into going beyond there time, its not fair, its not pleasant, but because of the national agreement we are protected.

I've been doing my level best to do everything by the book. The last thing I need is to give them some rope with which to hang me. Managers may try to be clever but generally their not and I do enjoy tripping them up if I can. As you say the national agreement is there to protect us and I carry a copy of appendix 3 in my pocket at all time ready to produce if necessary!
As said I've asked her to shadow, or have someone shadow me, for a day but she politely declines every time, knowing full well that she wouldn't have a leg to stand on!!