Abandonment of Service

[Rob21]

To try and cut a long story short, I've been working for the Royal Mail since January of this year and I put in for a day off 8 weeks ago. The day off I wanted is this coming Saturday 18th August. I was initially told it will be no problem.

My manager has this week put me down to work on this day, which just isn't possible for me. There's no if's or but's about it I simply cannot work that day. I informed my union rep who said he will speak to the managers tomorrow and I have spoken with one of the managers myself.

My manager informed me that if I do not attend work on Saturday then it will be classed as 'abandonment of service'. I am furious about this. I gave them 8 weeks notice, so I am not abandoning anything, they were well aware that I would not be able to work that day. I could understand if I just didn't show up for work one day without contacting them. But I have given them 8 weeks notice.

I haven't had any holidays this year and have previously been denied 2 holidays and now they are trying to deny me a for third time. There is no chance of me attending work on Saturday so I was wondering, what are the procedures for abandonment of service?

[Patrick Clifton]

So I take it that you dont have to fill in a 'leave request' form when requiring time off? Which is then signed by lino/dom with the answer to the request?

[Rob21]

So I take it that you dont have to fill in a 'leave request' form when requiring time off? Which is then signed by lino/dom with the answer to the request?

No, my branch is very poorly run and not at all professional.

[fishtank]

You should have put your request in writing.
You should have received your reply in writing.
That said if your manager genuinely told you that you could have the time off he can't change his mind at the last minute so your rep should sort it out...but it would be so much easier for your rep...if it was in writing.

[Rob21]

You should have put your request in writing.
You should have received your reply in writing.
That said if your manager genuinely told you that you could have the time off he can't change his mind at the last minute so your rep should sort it out...but it would be so much easier for your rep...if it was in writing.

I did hand my request in writing and had to get on and on and on at my manager for a reply. He never replied in writing but he did say I would be able to have the day off.

[Lincox]

Sick, let him prove otherwise.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

Sick, let him prove otherwise.

Great suggestion, just lie about it, sod everyone else, no wonder people get grief when off with a genuine illness with people like you encouraging people to pull sickies

[darren d]

Well said zx135.I second that comment

[Lincox]

If this man has done all he can to book a day off, which for some reason private to him he must have off, and he is being told he will be done for abandonment, what other course would you two suggest? It is Royal Mail management that is causing his situation, and it is also Royal Mails medieval attitude to sickness that is giving us all grief. If we had a caring employer who had caring managers then I would support you 100% if someone was pulling a fast one. Unfortunately we do not live in that world.

[robd]

i would suggest that you contact your DSM (area manager ) directly,you can get his/her number from your rep/area rep.
explain your situation/circumstances and when you ask why it's not possible for you to have that particular saturday off after giving nearly two months notice?..make sure you ask if any other sectors have surplus staff that can cover for you
good luck mate

[POSTMAN]

I never get how it works elsewhere,at my place we see the screw,he has a shuftie at the leave on the computer,an answer is given and a new updated leave card is printed out.

None of this dear John shite.

[fishtank]

I never get how it works elsewhere,at my place we see the screw,he has a shuftie at the leave on the computer,an answer is given and a new updated leave card is printed out.

None of this dear John shite.

You're in a smallish office where almost everyone is full-time and you haven't had a delivery methods revision.
Your leave is a piece of piss to work out.

[DGP1]

I never get how it works elsewhere,at my place we see the screw,he has a shuftie at the leave on the computer,an answer is given and a new updated leave card is printed out.

None of this dear John shite.

You're in a smallish office where almost everyone is full-time and you haven't had a delivery methods revision.
Your leave is a piece of piss to work out.

I'm in a small office but we're chronically understaffed and the DOM is long gone by the time we get back so we can't get our leave sorted out..............still trying to get this years leave sorted which is going to come to a head soon.

[darren d]

Like Fishtamk says he should of put it in writing Lincox

[Lincox]

Maybe he should have put it in writing. However from his posts I think you can agree, he has made consertif efforts to get this day off and he has been totally ignored. There are many offices that have still not agreed 2012/2013 leave, as confirmed by DGP1. The problem is that these managers have failed to prepare or organise and it is the staff that are having to go to extraordinary lengths to obtain the dates they require, and in many cases lack of response to written requests, which has happened frequently in our office.