Confused as to how part-time hours make any sense

[Dozen]

Hello all,

Started working as a postman on a part-time contract a couple months ago, went through the usual pandemonium all newcomers go through, things are now beginning to level out. However here's the bit I can't get my head around. As a part-timer, if I work on a weekday then i'm due in at 08:00, and my hours run until 14:00. So essentially we're expected to get everything done and be back to the office within 6 hours. I come in during the week to a frame with about 1 trays' worth of 'mech' mail prepped in the frame, nothing else (sometimes only part of it is prepped with the rest lying in a pile on the desk area). From here on it just fails to add up:

Sorting/prepping packets: approx 20-25 minutes?
Prepping numerous trays of misc flats, letters & countless more trays of 'mech': approx 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the day
D2D: approx 15 minutes or a bit more depending on how many items per address
Redirections: approx 15 minutes
Sorting out bag drops, bundling up, numbering bundles & loading HCT: sometimes up to an hour or more on busy days

So for an 'average' day, i'm getting all my indoor prep done in about 3 hours 30 minutes, and this is working as quickly as I possibly can at this stage with my level of experience. On a Saturday this wouldn't be an issue as i'm due in at an earlier time and on an 8 hour shift, so therefore getting out for delivery around 10:00 on a 4 hour walk finishing on time give or take 15-30 minutes depending on conditions. But when arriving at 08:00, this means getting out for delivery at 11:30 and expected to complete a 4 hour walk in 2 hours 30 minutes!

I've queried my manager about it, he's basically told me, without explaining how exactly, that it can be done. Baring in mind that if you're setting out for a 4 hour walk at 11:30 then your ETA to finish is now standing at 15:30 + meal break (which I never even seem to have time to take any way?!), meaning you're looking at overtime before even leaving the office! Isn't the idea behind a finishing time to be finished by that time as the norm rather than the exception? Because with this it seems like the other way around, and i've already learnt that these managers are not fans of overtime. Funny that, because neither am I a fan of finishing late into the afternoon with a rushed meal break (if one at all). Sorry boss but i'm working as hard as I can all day, as far as i'm concerned there isn't one valid reason why a minute of that hard work should go unpaid, so naturally i'm going to want to make sure I get my overtime. Oh yeah often when I get back to the office the manager's gone and everything's locked up . Fantastic.

So is my prepping time likely to improve any more with experience? If anyone's got any advice they'd like to share then i'd be very grateful. Basically i've already signed up to the CWU and am looking to consult my rep at the next opportunity in regards to this, but not sure when that will be (don't even know who the rep is yet!). Also if anyone else is in a similar situation feel free to chime in. Sadly i've heard even worse stories through the grapevine about full time and part-time posties alike finishing into the early evening at certain other delivery offices, and not being paid their overtime properly. Depressing to say the least.

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[clashcityrocker]

If your duty is supposed to take 4 hours - that leaves 2 hours of contracted time.
Minus your 30 minute meal relief = 1hr 30.
Minus 15 minutes at the end of the duty to return to the office and return shut packets/signed for stuff etc.
Minus 15 minutes to get you to your first delivery point. (Might be generous?)
That now leaves 1 hour of indoor time.

Depending on the number of redirections on the duty, dead letters etc - it MIGHT be reasonable to expect you to prep packets, D2D, tie down and load the trolley.
If the manager insists more is possible, get him to explain how and get him to itemise your daily workplan in a similar fashion to that above.

[rumble1234]

There taking liberties cause your new and thinking you won't complain cause your on a temp contract.your mail should be prepped. You should have time for the rest unless its knackered.this happens to most new starts speak to your union rep and make it clear you know that your sequenced and manual should be in so you have enough time to complete or you won't be completing expect some stick and maybe a threat to not renew your contract.good luck and take your break your entitled to it

[chrisj]

Ok, spending 3.5 hours prepping is a bit much and that can be improved and will reduce with more experience.

Considering that you are on a 6-hour duty and having a 4-hour delivery span makes it impossible for you to complete. It cannot be done!

However:
1) some of your colleagues probably come in early and get it done by working for nothing and appearing 'super' to the DOM.

2) You are definitely being taking advantage of because you are new - just come in a much earlier one day and then see for yourself what is going with people that are supposed to be on the same hours as you - it will open your eyes! (You will find that some are getting more thrown out for them and others are coming in early and having d2d prepped day/s before and so on...)

3). Are you in a van share/post revision? If yes, then your 'hours' should be more than 30-hours a week.

4) Lastly, even with 32hrs and a box of mech thrown in - it is still a struggle to do the job to one's contracted hours and even more difficult to keep up with a full-time partner - fact!

Part-time hours has never made much sense but then it is every man or woman for himself with RM and CWU especially.

[Judgee]

The reason RM want everyone part time is that there is no free pay. Ideally they want you busy all the time and available to work over whenever necessary. Therefore only paying you for the work you do and no more. This also cuts down on holiday/sick pay etc.

This is fine, I don't mind only being paid for the time I do, it's pretty much the same in most companies. But don't kill yourself trying to fit in with thier idea of a reasonable work rate. Work at a steady/reasonable pace then cut off or work over if you want as long as they pay you for your time.

Job and Knock is over with for most posties now. There is nothing to be gained from running around like a headless chicken trying to do more work than you can cope with. They won't thank you for it so stand your ground. They'll use the standard arguement "well so and so can do it". This is bad management practice and one most RM managers resort to often. You cannot be compared to other workers as everyone has different strengths and weaknesses.

Just do your best, follow the rules and take no sheet from anyone!

[Dozen]

Great advice, thanks to everyone who's responded.

If your duty is supposed to take 4 hours - that leaves 2 hours of contracted time.
Minus your 30 minute meal relief = 1hr 30.
Minus 15 minutes at the end of the duty to return to the office and return shut packets/signed for stuff etc.
Minus 15 minutes to get you to your first delivery point. (Might be generous?)
That now leaves 1 hour of indoor time.

Depending on the number of redirections on the duty, dead letters etc - it MIGHT be reasonable to expect you to prep packets, D2D, tie down and load the trolley.
If the manager insists more is possible, get him to explain how and get him to itemise your daily workplan in a similar fashion to that above.

Yeah on a really busy day the duty is probably 4 hours 30 minutes at the bare minimum, walking at a fast pace throughout. On a light day (a rarity!), probably 3 hours 30 mins minimum. Problem is when it's busy, naturally the indoor time is longer as well so the 14:00 finish is effectively redundant right from the start of the day. On the previous day this happened, I was asked by the manager during indoor time what I had left to do, and in return was told that something would be arranged to speed everything up a bit - this never happened!

There taking liberties cause your new and thinking you won't complain cause your on a temp contract.your mail should be prepped. You should have time for the rest unless its knackered.this happens to most new starts speak to your union rep and make it clear you know that your sequenced and manual should be in so you have enough time to complete or you won't be completing expect some stick and maybe a threat to not renew your contract.good luck and take your break your entitled to it

Cheers rumble, it's very tempting when you're out with the trolley to forego the break and just try and get everything done as quick as possible, especially if you're already running behind schedule. From now on, think i'm just going to take my break regardless of the situation. Every worker deserves a lunch break after all it's something that's been fought long and hard for.

Ok, spending 3.5 hours prepping is a bit much and that can be improved and will reduce with more experience.

Considering that you are on a 6-hour duty and having a 4-hour delivery span makes it impossible for you to complete. It cannot be done!

However:
1) some of your colleagues probably come in early and get it done by working for nothing and appearing 'super' to the DOM.

2) You are definitely being taking advantage of because you are new - just come in a much earlier one day and then see for yourself what is going with people that are supposed to be on the same hours as you - it will open your eyes! (You will find that some are getting more thrown out for them and others are coming in early and having d2d prepped day/s before and so on...)

3). Are you in a van share/post revision? If yes, then your 'hours' should be more than 30-hours a week.

4) Lastly, even with 32hrs and a box of mech thrown in - it is still a struggle to do the job to one's contracted hours and even more difficult to keep up with a full-time partner - fact!

Part-time hours has never made much sense but then it is every man or woman for himself with RM and CWU especially.

Good to know some of this stuff it puts it all into perspective. I can see myself improving on my prep time just need more consistent working patterns to make it happen. Right now only being called in a few days during the week but whenever I work consecutive days in a row I notice myself speeding up. Sometimes in the past i've had D2D thrown in as well, or a few little bits and bobs done to help out - but was told these were done to help out as I was new, and to not expect them once i've got a bit more experience. I look at anyone who comes in early as essentially helping to devalue everyone elses work, because they're working for nothing which then sets a precipice for exploitation.

Not on a van share, I just go out with a HCT. Wouldn't know about post revision to be honest.

The reason RM want everyone part time is that there is no free pay. Ideally they want you busy all the time and available to work over whenever necessary. Therefore only paying you for the work you do and no more. This also cuts down on holiday/sick pay etc.

This is fine, I don't mind only being paid for the time I do, it's pretty much the same in most companies. But don't kill yourself trying to fit in with thier idea of a reasonable work rate. Work at a steady/reasonable pace then cut off or work over if you want as long as they pay you for your time.

Job and Knock is over with for most posties now. There is nothing to be gained from running around like a headless chicken trying to do more work than you can cope with. They won't thank you for it so stand your ground. They'll use the standard arguement "well so and so can do it". This is bad management practice and one most RM managers resort to often. You cannot be compared to other workers as everyone has different strengths and weaknesses.

Just do your best, follow the rules and take no sheet from anyone!

Thanks Judgee, solid words of advice. A question about 'cutting off'; what is supposed to happen with the mail that gets brought back? Because i've been told in this situation the postie just ends up having to deliver it with the next days' mail - wouldn't this require unbundling, putting back in the frame to be sorted again etc If there's no time to complete then where do you get the time to do this exactly lol?

[motch]

Most people can work harder in shorter stints too, eg 3 hours worth of decent delivery speed, double that up to say 6 hours and most wouldn't get twice the work done.

I'm assuming the govt is happy with part time hours too. eg 20 lot of 25h posties is about the same as 13 full timers, so 7 less on the dole figures.

[Judgee]

Cutting off is dealt with in various ways. First off, if you are not sure if you are going to finish on time tell your lino/manager before you leave the office. Even if you are not sure as this covers your back. Then they can decide if you should leave work in your frame or bring it back at your finishing time.

When it is brought back they will either send it out on o/t the same day or following morning. Or tell you to put it back in your frame and deliver it the next day. If this happens deliver what you can and cut off again if necessary!

You MUST inform your managers if you think you may not complete. They cannot touch you if you have informed them of the situation!