SPDO Woes

[postm@np@t]

I work in a small SPDO. My immediate boss owns the Post Office from where we work. Her husband now delivers parcels for Hermes and they have put pressure on us to help them out by delivering local parcels for them at no cost. They meanwhile pocket the cash saying that they are hard up and need it to keep going.

What on earth do I do? An easy answer you would think but you have to understand the mentality and peer pressure of a very small unit (4). We all deliver them but I am beginning to feel very uneasy over this, after all, Hermes are the opposition. If I refuse to deliver them, life will become more difficult than it already is.

Any advice welcome.

[noggin1969]

I think a quiet word with the local rep would help He could just say to the Post Office owner that it has come to his attention and if it doesn't cease a letter may be on it's way to Hermes

[Lounge Lizard]

I work in a small SPDO. My immediate boss owns the Post Office from where we work. Her husband now delivers parcels for Hermes and they have put pressure on us to help them out by delivering local parcels for them at no cost. They meanwhile pocket the cash saying that they are hard up and need it to keep going.

What on earth do I do? An easy answer you would think but you have to understand the mentality and peer pressure of a very small unit (4). We all deliver them but I am beginning to feel very uneasy over this, after all, Hermes are the opposition. If I refuse to deliver them, life will become more difficult than it already is.

Any advice welcome.

The four of you together should remind your 'immediate boss' that he's already getting many thousands of pounds a year for managing or supervising you all, that you've already got plenty to do delivering legitimate items for Royal Mail and that if they can't make a reasonable profit from running the Post Office that's not your problem.

[postm@np@t]

Thanks but the other 3 are more than happy to deliver the parcels so won't say a word. They like to keep their heads down and not make waves hoping that nobody knows we exist. I am very much out on a limb here. You have nowhere to run in a small office, you are supposed to just get on with it or face being ostracised. Imagine going to work where nobody will talk to you. I am worried that what we are doing is very wrong and we are all digging a very big hole.

[fishtank]

What on earth do I do?.

If you get caught you will all be sacked.
Who will feed your family then...your boss?

http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 68#p411495" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Do it now.

[jamwell]

I would imagine that if Royal Mail bosses found out that you were delivering Hermes parcels whilst in a Royal mail van or uniform then you would all be in trouble, just imagine if one of the parcels went missing, it could cause all sorts of problems. I know that a lot of local post offices are struggling to survive but you should not be put in a position where you are expected to put your job on the line for them.........

[mandelsons_toenail]

This is a joke right

[postm@np@t]

This is a joke right

No it is not, this is a serious discussion about a serious problem and myself asking for help and advice of which I am very grateful for.

[hans solo]

shop the greedy bastards

[mandelsons_toenail]

This is a joke right

No it is not, this is a serious discussion about a serious problem and myself asking for help and advice of which I am very grateful for.

There is no problem.

Call your rep or local rep and shop everyone else.

Then you are top dog in the spdo.

Jesus I know a guy who had 2 year serious on his record for delivering 50 pub leaflets for his mum

Man up

The postmaster is racking in over 20k for the spdo

[postm@np@t]

Thanks for the help - going to sleep on it tonight and decide what to do.

[mr ford]

Thanks for the help - going to sleep on it tonight and decide what to do.

theres got to be an area manager who bobs in or tell security helpdesk

[74tower]

Plain and simple you are performi g work for a rival , free of charge , in RM time so don't be surprised when you all get the sack, I cannot believe you can be so stupid , haven't you got enough to do ?

[Fatboyslim]

I had to re-read this several times as I could not believe what I was reading.

Your direct manager will already be getting a SPDO payment rate. And they are requesting/ordering you to deliver her husbands parcels for a Competitor.

If you are delivering competitors work in Royal Mail time. You are not allowed to do this. Simple as that. No matter what your direct 'employer' says. This is fraud. Simple as that. Quite simply refuse - what are they going to do. Report you to the area DOM? I hardly think so. The worrying thing for you - have you already been delivering competitors parcels in RM time?

Contact your area rep ASAP. You will loose your job if caught in the act. As for your colleagues - more the fools them. Do, they realised they could be dismissed for fraud too?

As you say - you want a quiet life. And understandably so. But, this is not on. You work and are paid by RM. You do not deliver competitors work in RM time. End of.

Good luck - I hope you get it sorted out.

[postm@np@t]

Hi

Just a quick update. Told the bosses husband that I would no longer deliver anything that wasn't part of my job. The others, well that's up to them but made it clear that he was putting all of our jobs at risk. He nodded and agreed but I know that I will now have to watch my every move as his wife (who runs the Post Office that we are attached to) is very vindictive. I know a lot of you may think that I should have shopped them and deep down I fully agree, but that could have meant the end of the SPDO and the merger into the parent office which is very many miles away and don't fancy all of the hassle at my time of life. Life will be made difficult enough as it is so unless they really make my life hell, I will leave it at that but with my options well and truly open.

Thanks for taking the time to read the thread and for all of the advice.