Threatened with suspension today

[Splappy_McSplap]

OK,

Today was a relatively easy day, no lapsing, so I got back to the mail centre quite early...about 30 mins before my time, on a city centre job so early finish expected on a Saturday. Normally I would put in my D2Ds for Monday.

Just as I was about to get back to my frame I hear the line manager call me, and he asks me why there is a redelivery sitting on my frame. I have no idea, because I waited until the redeliveries were in before I went out. I even received a missorted redelivery from the next frame for the same address which proves I waited for the redeliveries before I went out. I opined that this must have been a missort and I didn't know why it wasn't bundled with the other missort for the same address.

The manager asks me to go back out with the item. I say I don't have time and I was going to put my D2Ds in (everyone else who is back is doing this exact thing) and he tells me no, I can do that on Monday (I don't know why he didn't ask anyone who was back before me) and when I say I already put the keys back etc. etc. he asks me to take it in my own car which I refuse as I live in the opposite direction and I'm not going to take mail in my own car anyway. I argue that I did everything I could to make sure that I got the redeliveries before I left, and break down travel time, re-signing for the keys, etc. and reiterate that I won't have time. The manager accuses me of always refusing things he asks me to do which simply isn't true. If I haven't got time to do something I just won't do it as I won't work for nothing and they don't pay overtime.

At this point we had been arguing for 10-15 minutes.

Eventually in a fit of pique he says he is going to take it out himself and threatens to suspend me for failing to follow a reasonable request. I offer the compromise that I will take it out but if I am 1 minute over my time I want the overtime board, which he refuses, and goes off to do it himself, but he says that I have to stay back and take my 40 minute break, and I can't leave until I have finished my break or he'll suspend me bla bla bla which I agree to and started putting my D2Ds in and made some improvements on the frame, and stopped at the start of my break.

The manager then comes back and claims he did the 7 mile round trip (plus presumably van checks, and the delivery and signing for the item itself) in 22 minutes, when google maps suggest the two shortest routes at 11 and 12 minutes. I ask him if he stuck to the speed limit and he says a) yes, b) he didn't even know where he was going and c) he even got stuck in traffic. I estimate the time he took to be closer to if not more than 30 minutes. If he indeed did this trip in 22 minutes he must have either skipped his van checks or exceeded the speed limit. Maybe I should ask to see some of this fabled telemetry for the period he was driving.

He "let" me go about 10 minutes into my break but he told me to "never question him again". IF I had just agreed and gone out with the item rather than try to stand up for myself I would probably have finished just on my time (not taking into account doing the NATAs and gone aways etc. and signing out), but it's really a matter of principal.

Yes I know....TLDR.

Was I being unreasonable? Was the manager? You all probably hear this stuff every day. I am somewhat suspicious that there will be some kind of follow up to this.

Thanks for reading.

[Shambles]

Well Done, I think he realised you had him, which is why after demanding you stayed to take your 40 minute break, he let you go after 10....

You won that battle, just watch your back because he will want to win the war!


They despise anyone with a brain, who also refuse to be treated like crap, And who also have the temerity to stand their ground!

[catch22]

You shouldnt be putting in your d2d's till monday. regardless of what everyone else is doing. If you had time to put your d2d's in you had time to deliver it.
Although not getting paid for the overtime- Well done for standing your ground...!
For threatening you- They like to throw they're weight around, and want to do it even more if you have a mind and an opinion.
However him asking you to deliver in your car is out of order- so if he does mention it again- pull that up. What he asked you to do was illegal. Any manager worth his salt wouldnt ask you to do that.

[Splappy_McSplap]

You shouldnt be putting in your d2d's till monday. regardless of what everyone else is doing. If you had time to put your d2d's in you had time to deliver it.

I don't blame you for thinking that. I tried to illustrate the times above. I know I shouldn't have put the D2Ds in until Monday but I suppose it's a bad habit and it's common practice on the 5 jobs I cover. I try to sync up with the duty holders. There was only one and it took about 10 minutes.

However him asking you to deliver in your car is out of order- so if he does mention it again- pull that up. What he asked you to do was illegal. Any manager worth his salt wouldnt ask you to do that.

Yes, that's a good call...I hope he remembers asking me to do that as it should keep him quiet.

[fishtank]

Most of it is fine but some of it is iffy.
Don't take it personally,It's meant to be constructive.

For a start you shouldn't be taking your full break at the end of your shift.
Secondly don't spend 10-15 minutes arguing with a manager,It's a recipe for disaster,state your case,let him state his and then close the conversation down,If necessary by getting a rep/witness.If they refuse to stop after you've asked them and your rep has asked them,let them know you will consider taking it through the B&H procedure.
Comments like " I ask him if he stuck to the speed limit " are just going to escalate an already tense situation,It's really irrelevant to your situation what he did or says he did,let him know this.
If a manager "accuses" you of anything ask for it in writing,An accusation goes beyond the scope of what they call performance management...then speak to your rep.

[catch22]

lastly- dont lose sleep over it... its not worth it.
you didnt have time to fix someone elses mistake. END OF!

And i agree with fishtank- dont argue... you'll never win... its just asking for trouble... trouble, that really isnt worth losing sleep over... enjoy the weekend. and smile at him when you next see him...! :-D

[DiamondSmiles]

Perhaps you might have agreed to go back out there again but also told him you didn't think you would have enough time to deliver it and would return to the office at your finish time. It would have been quite fun to bring the item back again and hand it to him, there would be no time for an argument and you could go on your merry way home with a smile on your face. Preping D2D's on a Saturday is a no no in my view. Would also let your rep know the manager asked you to take the item in your own car as this is totally out of order. If you have anymore bother have the conversation in earshot of a fellow colleague.

[goldy]

I dont like the bit about never questioning again thats bullying period

[catch22]

I dont like the bit about never questioning again thats bullying period

point- argue if its worth it... if you have the energy.

of course its bullying...

[aiden01]

I dont like the bit about never questioning again thats bullying period

point- argue if its worth it... if you have the energy.

of course its bullying...

But no,one ever believes you.

[DB1100]

Grab him by the lapels and headbutt him,no seriously next time just stay out a little bit longer then all of this can be avoided,if it's an easy day take your time.

[krussel]

Firstly iam quite surprised that a manager was still there when you got back.

Fish has the best answer.

It reads like a 50/50 affair with fault on both sides. I ve been in a similar situ and if your before your finish time its best to bite the bullet and go back out. However get the manager to agree that if it takes longer than your time you will book it.

Personally I doubt its worth a 15 min argument as they normally have an answer for everything and it just messes up the BH weekend.

[arnold cheshire]

stick a greviance in seriously

[scoobydo79]

"Normally I would put in My D2Ds for Monday"
Well dont. Thats next weeks work not this weeks

[Bahia Feliz]

We have idiots that put next weeks d2d's in on FRIDAY and deliver most of them on the saturday!!