Being refused overtime!

[workaholic]

Hi all, Just a quick question about a problem I'm currently going through.
I'm new to this forum and spend my time searching through posts instead of asking repeat questions hence why this is actually my first post.

I love overtime, I have the free time, energy and willingness to do it. I've been in the company 4 years now and I'm well known as the 'overtime guy'. I work 6 days a week Mon-Friday nights with sunday nights being overtime.
As part of my line managers increased victimisation of me for reasons only known to him, he has stopped offering me overtime and instead calling in agencies or giving it to unreliable colleagues who either don't turn up or get to work hours late.
My line manager and I are, to put it lightly, going through some communication problems, and instead of someone with his power and position resolving the issue he prefers to play childish games and aggravate the issues more.
During a team meeting early this year, he told us (was actually speaking to me) that overtime is not permitted the day before you go on holiday and the day you come back from holiday; he cited the name of someone from HO who apparently made the rule.
The interesting thing is, if this was a rule why was he breaking the rule for at least the last 4 years and why didn't anyone (payroll, HR) pick up on it?
Secondly within the last four months I have noticed or been informed by other colleagues that he has allowed them to do overtime before and after holiday and would even contact them on their holiday asking if they can do the overtime!
My holiday starts on Monday, I signed up for overtime this Sunday just to see what would happen, even though I had a good idea. A couple hours later he walked past me without even stopping saying "you're on holiday on monday, you can't do overtime on sunday"

Isn't this selective punishment against an employee who actually wants to work?
Is anyone aware of such rules? I know theres one about 'can't do overtime after being off sick'....but I've done that too.
Can anyone advise what I can do?

There are other more major issues concerning his behaviour towards me that I'm hoping to get support on but this problem is affecting my pocket and supporting my family.

Thanks if you can help.

[arnold cheshire]

overtime is available to ALL any problems see your rep

[workaholic]

spoke to my rep about it and other situations that myself and the majority of the team are facing. He said he would have a word with my line manager. This was a couple weeks ago, nothings changed.
I'm really considering going a step higher, just don't know what will be affective.

[broughts]

Make it official and put it in writing to your manager,pointing out all the reasons,ie others have done it etc,if no joy with this then point out that royal mail is an equal oppurtunies employer and u would like a fair slice of the cake,make a suttle under of victimisation and un fairness,if still no joy ask for a greivance form and bullying and harrasement letter and take it over his head to his boss and watch the shite fly

[adb2aber]

One point to bear in mind - you aren't entitled to all the overtime you want. Technically overtime is issued on a rolling basis - if you did 20 hours overtime last week and wanted the same this week, someone who did none last week but wants some this week will get it before you. Your local book room will keep a total of each employees total hours per week that should be referenced when allocating overtime. Of course it hasn't been for you to keep getting it every week, maybe some of your co-workers fancied a bit of Sunday night rate themselves and caused a fuss till things working as they should?

The no overtime before and after holiday is plain bullshit.

[resperin]

Managers love people who do overtime, I personally don't bother at my own office because I don't feel very appreciated. You should ask other offices, and if there's any issues being paid, then speak to area manager.

[inwebx]

I wish overtime rules were uniform,but I was told by book room you can,t resume on overtime e.g holiday or sick

[worktotime]

Hi all, Just a quick question about a problem I'm currently going through.
I'm new to this forum and spend my time searching through posts instead of asking repeat questions hence why this is actually my first post.

I love overtime, I have the free time, energy and willingness to do it. I've been in the company 4 years now and I'm well known as the 'overtime guy'. I work 6 days a week Mon-Friday nights with sunday nights being overtime.
As part of my line managers increased victimisation of me for reasons only known to him, he has stopped offering me overtime and instead calling in agencies or giving it to unreliable colleagues who either don't turn up or get to work hours late.
My line manager and I are, to put it lightly, going through some communication problems, and instead of someone with his power and position resolving the issue he prefers to play childish games and aggravate the issues more.
During a team meeting early this year, he told us (was actually speaking to me) that overtime is not permitted the day before you go on holiday and the day you come back from holiday; he cited the name of someone from HO who apparently made the rule.
The interesting thing is, if this was a rule why was he breaking the rule for at least the last 4 years and why didn't anyone (payroll, HR) pick up on it?
Secondly within the last four months I have noticed or been informed by other colleagues that he has allowed them to do overtime before and after holiday and would even contact them on their holiday asking if they can do the overtime!
My holiday starts on Monday, I signed up for overtime this Sunday just to see what would happen, even though I had a good idea. A couple hours later he walked past me without even stopping saying "you're on holiday on monday, you can't do overtime on sunday"

Isn't this selective punishment against an employee who actually wants to work?
Is anyone aware of such rules? I know theres one about 'can't do overtime after being off sick'....but I've done that too.
Can anyone advise what I can do?

There are other more major issues concerning his behaviour towards me that I'm hoping to get support on but this problem is affecting my pocket and supporting my family.

Thanks if you can help.

easy ask him to see where you are on the o/t list , mention your being victimized and a hr1 form youll see him change.

[workaholic]

I was considering requesting what he has said to me in writing, but what I've learnt is to get the best results out of a situation you shouldn't let the person know what's coming next. Depending what 'next' is, if he realises I will take it further he will have more time to fabricate evidence or deny any wrongdoing.
Currently, what I have settled for as some sort of evidence is the sudden absence of the overtime and subsequent requests by text of starting times, compared to the texts everyone else is receiving. The rest of the 'evidence' can be found by just looking at holidays taken my people and then looking at the days and times they signed for overtime around those holidays. It will show he is allowing them and not me. Plus I've got a couple photos of those texts he has sent them.
Hope that makes some sense?!

One point to bear in mind - you aren't entitled to all the overtime you want.

Yes, I understand that.
His recent words in a team meeting a couple months ago was, "soon there will me more overtime available, it will be offered first to the people who always do it without fail"; in completely open minded honesty, not one individual meets that criteria as much as me and that can be proven via my attendance records.
So imagine my surprise after a slight disagreement he targets me the only way he can get to me.
From speaking to my colleagues who are happily getting the overtime now , the general consensus is that they're only turning up because he is adding an extra two to three hours overtime on top of the actual overtime, otherwise it wouldn't be worth giving up a night off.. So it isn't actually them wanting or needing it, its just taking advantage of a convenient offer.

Add this to the fact he still has to call agencys in just incase those guys don't turn up, it really doesn't make much sense why he is leaving me out.

Managers love people who do overtime, I personally don't bother at my own office because I don't feel very appreciated. You should ask other offices, and if there's any issues being paid, then speak to area manager.

To be honest, being appreciated for my work comes third or fourth. 1) Earning as much money as I can whilst I'm willing and able to. 2) Being treated with this "dignity and respect" they keep going on about.

I wish overtime rules were uniform,but I was told by book room you can,t resume on overtime e.g holiday or sick

No I've done it in the past and seen it being done in the past and recently. Straight off holiday and doing overtime before normal salaried shift commences.
The most recent was just last week, so I feel very confident that I am being victimised.

if still no joy ask for a greivance form and bullying and harrasement letter and take it over his head to his boss and watch the shite fly

[workaholic]

easy ask him to see where you are on the o/t list , mention your being victimized and a hr1 form youll see him change.

Hi, any changes will be temporary. I think I know his games well enough. I would prefer it all on record for the amount of stress it is currently causing.
The moment he walked past and made that comment, I lost all concentration and my chest started feeling heavy (asthmatic), I could barely read the post codes whizzing past me.

I guess you're all saying that this no overtime around holidays rule isn't something that's common at the very least.

I was considering turning up this Sunday anyway because I've signed for the overtime already and either having him send me home or something because I have a feeling he can just turn around and say he never said anything to me the other day and I just didn't bother to turn up for the overtime.
What do you think?
I don't mind being sent home but at least there will be witnesses and camera footage of me coming in ready to work which cannot be denied afterwards.

[UnhappyGremlin]

I think he's talking crap.
If you work Mon-Fri every week, then Sat + Sun are days off, therefore you should be perfectly allowed to work them, even if you are on holiday the day after or were on holiday the day before, as you are technically only on leave for Mon-Fri. Ring HR and ask, ask the manager, or another manager/DOM/MCM and your Rep and Area Rep for their opinions, and ask to see the relevant documentation that states this.
All OT should be equally shared out between those that are willing to do it.

[DGP1]

Maybe you should apply to your local DO, they're always looking for people to work OT (especially on Saturdays).

[Lounge Lizard]

Hi all, Just a quick question about a problem I'm currently going through.
I'm new to this forum and spend my time searching through posts instead of asking repeat questions hence why this is actually my first post.

I love overtime, I have the free time, energy and willingness to do it. I've been in the company 4 years now and I'm well known as the 'overtime guy'. I work 6 days a week Mon-Friday nights with sunday nights being overtime.
As part of my line managers increased victimisation of me for reasons only known to him, he has stopped offering me overtime and instead calling in agencies or giving it to unreliable colleagues who either don't turn up or get to work hours late.
My line manager and I are, to put it lightly, going through some communication problems, and instead of someone with his power and position resolving the issue he prefers to play childish games and aggravate the issues more.
During a team meeting early this year, he told us (was actually speaking to me) that overtime is not permitted the day before you go on holiday and the day you come back from holiday; he cited the name of someone from HO who apparently made the rule.
The interesting thing is, if this was a rule why was he breaking the rule for at least the last 4 years and why didn't anyone (payroll, HR) pick up on it?
Secondly within the last four months I have noticed or been informed by other colleagues that he has allowed them to do overtime before and after holiday and would even contact them on their holiday asking if they can do the overtime!
My holiday starts on Monday, I signed up for overtime this Sunday just to see what would happen, even though I had a good idea. A couple hours later he walked past me without even stopping saying "you're on holiday on monday, you can't do overtime on sunday"

Isn't this selective punishment against an employee who actually wants to work?
Is anyone aware of such rules? I know theres one about 'can't do overtime after being off sick'....but I've done that too.
Can anyone advise what I can do?

There are other more major issues concerning his behaviour towards me that I'm hoping to get support on but this problem is affecting my pocket and supporting my family.

Thanks if you can help.

You may "love overtime, I have the free time, energy and willingness to do it" but the more employees rely on overtime the less need there is for a decent hourly rate to be paid, and you probably won't have the 'energy' in years to come.

[POSTMAN]

inwebx wrote:
I wish overtime rules were uniform,but I was told by book room you can,t resume on overtime e.g holiday or sick

No I've done it in the past and seen it being done in the past and recently. Straight off holiday and doing overtime before normal salaried shift commences.
The most recent was just last week, so I feel very confident that I am being victimised.

As a rule I think no one is supposed to resume on OT after a holiday/sick,your screw has been bending the rules.

The bit before you go away and not being allowed to do it I've never heard of.

[ritchie_54]

As regards your position mate all I can tell you is that it is against post office rules to perform overtime after you have been sick because logically you are still sick until the start of your conditioned hours, as for overtime before and after holidays again it is quite logical, the week in royal mails eyes runs from Monday to Sunday, so you could do overtime the Sunday before your holiday because you're not technically on holiday until the Monday, however you couldn't do it the Sunday before your return to work because you are still on holiday until the Monday, that's how I've always understood the rules after 34 years lol Hope it helps