Working at Royal Mail 4 months...

[Matt_d843]

I've been at Royal Mail over 4 months now after asking daily were is my uniform I still do not have it.
I've been moved around from run to run about 1nce a month . I've had no 1 show me my routes and my mail is hardly ever prepped after asking if some one can show me my route they said no but we can provide a map. 1st two days on this percific run I did not finish till 7 pm my finishing time should be 2 pm they are happy to pay me for running over but I would rarther finish at 2 .1nce I get to know my route I am then moved to another route. most full time posties refused to do my route because a box is broke on this route so I end up carrying around 20+ kg on my back.
It's now snowing and icey still have no uniform and boots. and are being told to take 12 plus mailbags out in my car as they are no spare keys for the boxes on my new route.so I'm driving car from street to street like a portable mailbox I'm sure my insurance would not even cover me if I had any sort of accident ?

Also I have spent over £200 of my own money on water proof bottoms and jackets and boots
because I have not received any Royal Mail uniform.
Is this normal at Royal Mail or am I being mugged off..?

[Mark_Law22]

I've been at Royal Mail over 4 months now after asking daily were is my uniform I still do not have it.
I've been moved around from run to run about 1nce a month . I've had no 1 show me my routes and my mail is hardly ever prepped after asking if some one can show me my route they said no but we can provide a map. 1st two days on this percific run I did not finish till 7 pm my finishing time should be 2 pm they are happy to pay me for running over but I would rarther finish at 2 .1nce I get to know my route I am then moved to another route. most full time posties refused to do my route because a box is broke on this route so I end up carrying around 20+ kg on my back.
It's now snowing and icey still have no uniform and boots. and are being told to take 12 plus mailbags out in my car as they are no spare keys for the boxes on my new route.so I'm driving car from street to street like a portable mailbox I'm sure my insurance would not even cover me if I had any sort of accident ?

Also I have spent over £200 of my own money on water proof bottoms and jackets and boots
because I have not received any Royal Mail uniform.
Is this normal at Royal Mail or am I being mugged off..?

Sounds like the usual royal mail story tbh.

You should be able to order your uniform online. All the details for doing so are in the forums somewhere. But if not, keep getting on at the mangers. Or ask if they have any spares lying about.

[Lincox]

Speak to your health and safety rep tomorrow and refuse to go out on delivery until they provide you with the correct equipment to do the job. Do not under ANY circumstances use your car. You are not insured and if you are stopped by the police they will impound your vehicle. Royal Mail will not want to know.

[ratchet]

You order your uniform yourself online.

I ordered mine at the weekend and it was sitting there in the office waiting for me today.

[Cedar_Room]

I've been at Royal Mail over 4 months now after asking daily were is my uniform I still do not have it.
I've been moved around from run to run about 1nce a month . I've had no 1 show me my routes and my mail is hardly ever prepped after asking if some one can show me my route they said no but we can provide a map. 1st two days on this percific run I did not finish till 7 pm my finishing time should be 2 pm they are happy to pay me for running over but I would rarther finish at 2 .1nce I get to know my route I am then moved to another route. most full time posties refused to do my route because a box is broke on this route so I end up carrying around 20+ kg on my back.
It's now snowing and icey still have no uniform and boots. and are being told to take 12 plus mailbags out in my car as they are no spare keys for the boxes on my new route.so I'm driving car from street to street like a portable mailbox I'm sure my insurance would not even cover me if I had any sort of accident ?

Also I have spent over £200 of my own money on water proof bottoms and jackets and boots
because I have not received any Royal Mail uniform.
Is this normal at Royal Mail or am I being mugged off..?

[Postie45]

Firstly you REALLY need to contact your union rep, I dont know what kind of contract youre on but it will protect you if he/she knows whats going on.

"I did not finish till 7 pm my finishing time should be 2 pm they are happy to pay me for running over but I would rarther finish at 2 "
you CAN finish at 2pm, if you know you wont complete make sure you tell your manager before you go out on delivery that you wont complete.

"most full time posties refused to do my route because a box is broke on this route so I end up carrying around 20+ kg on my back."
you should not be taking 20kg bags, I think you know this. If not, the guildelines are 16kg 1st bag, then 11kg for the rest. If a box is broken then the managers will have to arrange a method of getting additional bags to you, again its a manager issue, just inform them of problem.

"It's now snowing and icey still have no uniform and boots. and are being told to take 12 plus mailbags out in my car as they are no spare keys for the boxes on my new route"
Theres SO much wrong with this .. sigh ...
The managers should not be asking you to use your own car, not only are YOU not insured, the mail is unsecure compared to being in a van. Again, inform your managers you wont be using your car (probably first thing in the morning so they have a chance to make other arrangements) If they comeback and say they have no other way to get your bags out, stand your ground, they are responsible for giving you the tools to do your job, whether its providing you with a van or having bags brought out to you.
good luck !

[Pat Ostman]

I've been at Royal Mail over 4 months now after asking daily were is my uniform I still do not have it.
I've been moved around from run to run about 1nce a month . I've had no 1 show me my routes and my mail is hardly ever prepped after asking if some one can show me my route they said no but we can provide a map. 1st two days on this percific run I did not finish till 7 pm my finishing time should be 2 pm they are happy to pay me for running over but I would rarther finish at 2 .1nce I get to know my route I am then moved to another route. most full time posties refused to do my route because a box is broke on this route so I end up carrying around 20+ kg on my back.
It's now snowing and icey still have no uniform and boots. and are being told to take 12 plus mailbags out in my car as they are no spare keys for the boxes on my new route.so I'm driving car from street to street like a portable mailbox I'm sure my insurance would not even cover me if I had any sort of accident ?

Also I have spent over £200 of my own money on water proof bottoms and jackets and boots
because I have not received any Royal Mail uniform.

Is this normal at Royal Mail or am I being mugged off..?

They are most certainly not mutually exclusive.

Sadly the answer is yes.

[MrJumper]

I've been in a similar situation! Started a month before Xmas. No real time for training! Bags were getting heavier and heavier. More and more parcels. I thought that would stop after Xmas. No chance! I kept asking for help but no luck. It was really getting me down. I've now left. I loved the job, except the lack of help. I'd love to carry on. Does anybody know what I can do?

[jw1234]

I've been in a similar situation! Started a month before Xmas. No real time for training! Bags were getting heavier and heavier. More and more parcels. I thought that would stop after Xmas. No chance! I kept asking for help but no luck. It was really getting me down. I've now left. I loved the job, except the lack of help. I'd love to carry on. Does anybody know what I can do?

If you have quit normally royal mail dont take people back on

Maybe phone the manager if you got along? Cant believe there was no one there to help, I always try and ask the new guys if they need anything explaining.

[Matt_d843]

When you are moved on to a new walk should you be shown it 1st or just thrown in at the deep end I've been on two diffrent walks in the last two days and not been able to finish maybe because I have been doing a walk and a half and not familiar with the area ?

[Darren Bent]

Sound like a bad walk. You need to write a note to tell the area rep to sort this walk out. It should be split into two. How many houses is it ?

[Matt_d843]

Not sure just know it is 1 walk plus half a walk should you be shown the route
Or just thrown in the deep end on it

[meercat]

No there are no rules about being shown round a walk. you just have to get on with it and either agree to book OT or tell them before you leave the office what time you can work to. If you agree to go over by an hour or so you are being flexible which they should thank you for but there is no obligation on anyone to work part their finish time.