Followed on duty, harassed?, Fed up!

[tragictramp]

This week on monday an acting manager randomly turned up and carried out a craic i think it was called in which he followed me around for half hr noting if i was using a trolley, cutting thru gardens etc and if i had a post it peg nonsense, well i wasnt using the trolley as i wont complete on the easiest of days of which i informed him and have done weekly for over a year. Weds i told them i wouldnt be able to complete and had a loop took off me and still went 30 mins over which i booked, yesterday was less packets but more mail than weds and i told them again i wouldnt be able to complete, after 1hr30 on the duty a deluge of rain soaked me to the skin and after moving the van to my next loop, i sat their for 2 mins heaters on full to get some feeling back, as i got out of the van to start an undercover postie car pulled beside me (the doms), the dom dropped the window down and him and an acting manager asked me how long i had left, 2 hours give or take i said, the acting manager got out and had a look in the van to see what i had left and estimated 3 loops of 40 mins which would take me to 2.30pm with my finish time being 2.40 and still having to travel 15 mins back, fill in a manifest, book p739's in etc.

After an hours worth of posting since their visit in which i was flying around in case i was being stalked i checked my phone which was sat in the van, i had several missed calls from the office, i rang it back and the dom answered asking what time i left the office, i told him then he said ok speak to you in the morning with a voice as if he was going to challenge me but today was my day off . They obviously do not believe me and must assume i go out and fall asleep in the van for an hour or something!

I had the duty tested using the trolley on an extremely light friday at 4hr 30 mins with only 8 knock fors on that specific day, I am getting on average 40-50 knock fors ie oversized/tracked/special or recorded parcels on weds and thu and most other days less but not a significant drop.

I am really fed up with this, also this week i have had a sinus infection leaving me dripping snot constantly onto peoples letters, not being able to breathe properly and my knee starting to fail of which i was informed i have arthritis on weds by my g.p and i have an mri scan on tuesday to see if their is any other damage.

Tomorrow i will receive my 1st ever stage warning for 3 absences in the last 12 months totalling 15 days, this is for 3 sick periods, sinus infection twice - in which i couldn't breathe and my nose was pumped up like robert mugabe, and one for my knee which made me unable to walk for even short distances or drive etc. This will be the 2nd attempt for this review to take place as the 1st the rep cancelled as the line manager had not had the training in regards to the new attendance procedure, this 2nd attempt my proper union rep will not be their to attend and his new understudy, who i dont believe has had any reps experience or training will try to argue for me, but i believe a stage 1 is issued regardless of any reasons and would be issued even if i had been run over by a car and stuck in hospital for months?

I am in the understanding that i can request a consultation with atos? as my knee is starting to build up to a point where i think it will just give way again and i would have no other choice to go sick again thus near triggering a stage 2 within 6 months of a stage 1 being issued.

Would it help me in the future if atos were involved?, 2-3 hrs into my duty the knee starts to ache badly and I have to try and put all my weight on the other leg it feels as if the muscle will just collapse or the joint seize, but t gets worse daily.

I have only been a postie for a little over 5 years and in that time the job has dramatically changed, but mainly since park and loop was introduced, my job is a solitary council estate duty surrounded by rural duties which are a doddle, This last year the job has become a chore were i get home thinking FFS i got to go back in tomorrow

[clashcityrocker]

ATOS referral - definitely.
If it is arthritis, it may well be classed as a disability and you will come under the Equality Act.
You should have been given the option of a referral after the absence.

[UnhappyGremlin]

I know someone who got fed up at being harassed too.
He phoned the police and told them he was being followed.
It made him laugh at least. But not the manager.

[Himaggen]

This week on monday an acting manager randomly turned up and carried out a craic i think it was called in which he followed me around for half hr noting if i was using a trolley, cutting thru gardens etc and if i had a post it peg nonsense, well i wasnt using the trolley

The Manager is undertaking their quota of SMATS, it is their duty to provide you with safety training for any actions they deem to require it as a result of that observation.

[clashcityrocker]

The vast majority feel the same pal, the job has become tedious to the point of stupidity, and we get treated like criminals to boot. Ive never felt as old as I have this last 12 months since I started HCTs inplace of my bike. Toes/Ankles/Knees, and my back, oh my lower back, the pain constantly

Yet despite all that, you can still walk a mile in 8 minutes?

[Shambles]

Made me when you said the nurse was traumatised by you plum toe

Serious numpties...FLIP FLOPS are they taking the Michael? What about Elf n Safety, Duty of Care Also you should of had a Rehab, on reduced hours.....gradually building incrementally, weekly, after 4 months off, what did your Rep do to help?

RM just make it up as they go along

[Shambles]

I know someone who got fed up at being harassed too.
He phoned the police and told them he was being followed.
It made him laugh at least. But not the manager.

Class!

[Shambles]

Made me when you said the nurse was traumatised by you plum toe

Serious numpties...FLIP FLOPS are they taking the Michael? What about Elf n Safety, Duty of Care Also you should of had a Rehab, on reduced hours.....gradually building incrementally, weekly, after 4 months off, what did your Rep do to help?

RM just make it up as they go along

Our rep was in the doms pocket, so did nothing. Now we dont even have a rep The ingrowing toenail scenario was about 15 years ago, and to be fair the dom did say that I couldnt work in flip flops

Regarding my slipped disc, I was on reduced hours for 1 week, 4 hrs, then I went to atos who said I shud stay on 4 hours, monday morning dom says I do 8, I say atos said still 4, he rings her at 9am , suddenly I was back on 8 hours

You should have called HQ's and sought advice, from H&S...after getting your Manager to put it in writing....and you should have insisted on another Atos re-referral to discuss, because, your current health, may have been attributed to their fook up?, back then?

[music4essex]

[quote]Ive been asking for an atos appt for like 6 months, been wearing my won trainers as the cat ones have made my toenails go black (3 of them),

I had that happen to me , my big toe went black and even though i have a the nail filed down every eight weeks the nail wont grow ,what did RM say about the cat trainers that caused this ?


Essex mum

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The Manager is undertaking their quota of SMATS, it is their duty to provide you with safety training for any actions they deem to require it as a result of that observation.

SMATS - so the letter about the £300 from Moya must have filled her SMATS quota nicely - thats if SMATS is Senior Managers Always Talking Shite.

[Shambles]

The Manager is undertaking their quota of SMATS, it is their duty to provide you with safety training for any actions they deem to require it as a result of that observation.

SMATS - so the letter about the £300 from Moya must have filled her SMATS quota nicely - thats if SMATS is Senior Managers Always Talking Shite.

Ahhhh haaa.....that's why they're always referred to as 'Shysters'

[Nancy]

Can anyone shed some light on my situation please?
I have had back and pelvic problems for 15 years now. 10 of these years I've been employed by Royal Mail and never been off regarding my condition. Medical records would show that I've been on medication for years as well as attending the pain clinic I also privately see a chiropractor. I've to take a cocktail of pain and nerve medication just to get through the day. I'm on one of the most physical duties in the office and have 4 other workers that cover the duty that would agree. I would like to know where I stand in requesting a duty that has more driving as I have now found that after years of punishing my body that it is now starting to pretty much fall apart. I had an absence recently due to withdrawals of the medication and now off again with a wrist strain. After a x ray it appears that I might have osteoarthritis . Should work be trying to accommodate my situation by putting us on a duty that's less physical or can they say if I'm not fit for my duty then I'm not fit for work.
I'm scared that I will lose my job. Not sleeping well and stressed to the max.

Thank you

[flaminmoses]

Can anyone shed some light on my situation please?
I have had back and pelvic problems for 15 years now. 10 of these years I've been employed by Royal Mail and never been off regarding my condition. Medical records would show that I've been on medication for years as well as attending the pain clinic I also privately see a chiropractor. I've to take a cocktail of pain and nerve medication just to get through the day. I'm on one of the most physical duties in the office and have 4 other workers that cover the duty that would agree. I would like to know where I stand in requesting a duty that has more driving as I have now found that after years of punishing my body that it is now starting to pretty much fall apart. I had an absence recently due to withdrawals of the medication and now off again with a wrist strain. After a x ray it appears that I might have osteoarthritis . Should work be trying to accommodate my situation by putting us on a duty that's less physical or can they say if I'm not fit for my duty then I'm not fit for work.
I'm scared that I will lose my job. Not sleeping well and stressed to the max.

Thank you

certainly do not lose sleep over losing your job.
at worst you will get IHR.

with the meds your on you are well covered.

speak to your local rep or your area rep.

I have the early stages of osteoarthritis in the lower back and couldn't carry much...went off for 8 months and am now IHR'd

[tasam]

Can anyone shed some light on my situation please?
I have had back and pelvic problems for 15 years now. 10 of these years I've been employed by Royal Mail and never been off regarding my condition. Medical records would show that I've been on medication for years as well as attending the pain clinic I also privately see a chiropractor. I've to take a cocktail of pain and nerve medication just to get through the day. I'm on one of the most physical duties in the office and have 4 other workers that cover the duty that would agree. I would like to know where I stand in requesting a duty that has more driving as I have now found that after years of punishing my body that it is now starting to pretty much fall apart. I had an absence recently due to withdrawals of the medication and now off again with a wrist strain. After a x ray it appears that I might have osteoarthritis . Should work be trying to accommodate my situation by putting us on a duty that's less physical or can they say if I'm not fit for my duty then I'm not fit for work.
I'm scared that I will lose my job. Not sleeping well and stressed to the max.

Thank you

Check with you doctor, you may be covered by DDA, also request atos referral.

If atos say that DDA applies in your case then RM must make reasonable adjustments - which could include a change of duty.

You loose nothing by asking gp and may gain peace of mind.