stress

[rafayel]

i find it worrying the increasing amount of staff in my workplace who tell me they are on medication for stress or depression .

[DGP1]

There's only one way for people to deal with it....................just remember that it's just a job, you start at your starting time, you finish at your finishing time and you can only do what is possible within that time.............everything else is for the managers to sort out.


Which is why I'm not stressed anymore

[cliffeyhez]

A sign of these rotten times!

[wiganpostie]

I'm finding the job to be a real drag these days. What's worse though, is when you go on the government's 'job' site and try to find an unskilled vacancy that pays a similar hourly rate with similar perks.

[P739]

4 and half hour delivery span is a barrel of laughs.. A few posties in my office are off with stress

[happymackem]

I'm finding the job to be a real drag these days. What's worse though, is when you go on the government's 'job' site and try to find an unskilled vacancy that pays a similar hourly rate with similar perks.

perks? which perks

[spoodoo]

We had 18 posties off sick ,most with stress caused by bullying etc ,I've never worked in a place like this in all my work life!

[General Mannerheim]

We had 18 posties off sick ,most with stress caused by bullying etc ,I've never worked in a place like this in all my work life!

And yet the bullying and harassment claims are down.

[london sub]

Before P&L 0 stress count. After P&L 10 off sick with stress or depression.

[krussel]

Our sick record is at it worse in years. Mainly strain type injuries since some deliveries exceeded 4 hours.

Stress is another matter which is mainly caused by people rushing around to try to make some time or taking on too much overtime and becoming exhausted.

My advice is to try and let it go, take your break and cut off if your not going to make it back in time. Personally I rarely get an early day and mostly work to my time.

[wiganpostie]

I'm finding the job to be a real drag these days. What's worse though, is when you go on the government's 'job' site and try to find an unskilled vacancy that pays a similar hourly rate with similar perks.

perks? which perks

The wonderful perks such as a 'death in service' payment and a pension...although I've never really truly understood the term death in service - does it mean we have to die whilst out on delivery to get the money?

[anTi]

The wonderful perks such as a 'death in service' payment and a pension...although I've never really truly understood the term death in service - does it mean we have to die whilst out on delivery to get the money?

Yes, you actually need to be within 2.4 meters of the letter box.

[fishtank]

Long Term Study of the Delivery Role.
Version Draft


2nd Feb 2011

Corinne Parsons
Senior Technical Expert
Ergonomics
corinne.parsons@royalmail.com
Postline 5264 7211
STD 01904 617211

Contents

Introduction 3
Objective 3
Scope 3
Method 4
Timescales 5
Dependencies 5



Introduction
The implementation of sequence sorting will reduce the amount of indoor work in delivery offices. As a result the current pattern of IPS, delivery preparation and a 3.5 hour delivery will not be enough to fill a full time 5 day week duty. Many offices have already implemented longer delivery spans or part time working for some of the workforce. This study will monitor post revision deliveries covering key parts of the delivery strategy to ensure that the work does not pose long term issues for the health and wellbeing of the staff.

The study will monitor the main delivery methods:-
• Shared vehicles with LWDT & light pouches
• HCT
• eHCT
• Cycles
• Pouch on shoulder

The study will consider indoor as well as outdoor work and will consider full and part time working.
Objective
The objective of the study is to monitor the long term fatigue and health of individuals working in deliveries following revisions carried out under the new delivery strategy, looking at both the indoor and outdoor part of their jobs.
Scope
The study will monitor deliveries 6 months after revisions have been carried out and then at 12, 18 and 24 months, It is envisaged that the study will consist of two parts, a field study and the analysis of health and accident data.

The field study will consist of monitoring subjective fatigue, discomfort and heart rate in a sufficient number of offices to obtain adequate sample sizes for each delivery method. Data will be collected over the course of the week to take account of workload variations. The timing of the study will aim to be completed during periods of normal traffic levels which reflect the model week on which the deliveries were planned i.e. avoiding peak periods where possible.

The health and accident data will be obtained from the MyPeople database. Additional data including Atos referrals, duty changes and staff turnover will be included if this is available.
Method
Field study
It is proposed that the field study will take place in at least three offices, to be agreed. It is likely that additional offices will need to ensure that a range of equipment and terrain are included. The data collection will be carried out over the course of a week at each site. Participants will take part on a voluntary basis but it is hoped that there will be 15 participants at each site.

The measurement techniques and data recorded will include:-
• Subjective measures of fatigue including discomfort assessment, fatigue scores, views of walk-holders and a questionnaire related to longer term health, fatigue and workload.
• Heart rate data will be collected from up to 15 participants throughout the shift.

The following data will also be collected for the deliveries participating in the study
• Indoor work - IPS, prep length, frame type, standing/sitting, % mail sequenced other indoor tasks. The actual time spent on indoor tasks will be compared to the scheduled time allocated.
• The actual time taken to complete the delivery will be compared to the scheduled time for the route.
• Timing and length of breaks, delivery span, indoor work and overall duty pattern (FT &PT), hours worked compared to scheduled, rotation arrangements.
• Call rate, based on an empty slot count for single slot fittings and an estimation based on sequencing for dual slot fittings.
• The number of attendance calls compared to the planned number.
• Terrain assessment, including breakdown of routes by sections if appropriate,
• Route characteristics including DPs, distance covered, burst length and number, building type, low level boxes, travel out and back method.
• Georoute breakdown – travel time, service time, dead walking
• Weather conditions will be noted
• Individual profile (age; sex; health, injuries, experience, footwear, regular duty holder/relief)

Health and accident data
This will involve analysing data from all sites for the 2 year period of the study and will include all members of staff, not just those participating in the field study. The data will be downloaded from the MyPeople database. The data collected will include:-

• Sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorders, stress related conditions and cardiovascular complaints
• Accidents on duty
• Medical retirements
• Referrals to Atos
• Staff turnover (and relationship to specific duties)
Timescales
The work will be carried out to fit in with the delivery revisions program. It is envisaged that the initial visits will be carried out in April/May 2011, with subsequent visits being carried out at 6 monthly intervals over the following two years.
Costs
Costs are currently being scoped. The study may require support from external contractors.
It will be necessary to review the costs and the balance between staff and contractor time once the trial offices have been agreed.
Dependencies
Approval for funding is not yet guaranteed and may impact on the scope of the study.

Staff will need to be motivated and given sufficient time to take part in the study, the support of managers and the CWU will be necessary to achieve this.

Availability of data from HR, Atos the delivery revisions team and local offices.

Equivalent reports to those available from MyPeople will be available from the new HR system, PSP

Ability to use contractors as additional ergonomics resource.

[General Mannerheim]

Referrals to Atos

Good grief thats our office f****d then as they send you there if you cut a fart.

[oypostie]

And the results of the report are ..................................................