ADVICE FOR NEW POSTIES

[SP115]

I'm struggling with my time on the round. I'm always last one out and obviously last one back. This is my second week... they have me on the shittest trolley round in the office according to others. Needless to say it takes ages, I've done it twice on my own now, first time went over by 1 hour 30 so booked it as overtime. Then the following day doing it the manager comes up and says "Well I don't usually give over-time to people so it sets you the pace you have to complete it by". WTF outrageous... I'm still booking it no matter what.

Anyway my question is.... what do you guys do to cut time whilst out on the round? Is it ok to walk over a garden to get to the next house? Does anyone give much of a damn how far you've pushed the mail through the letter box?

Dont worry about being slow buddy, Your manager sounds like a complete tosser. New people are expected to be slow, Everyone was.

If your manager says something along those lines again, Ask for it in writing and hand it to your union rep, If not in union join asap.

Once your prep is upto speed and your out the door the same time as others, and you get to the know the round a bit more you wont be coming back last all the time, But most importantly ALWAYS CLAIM FOR ANY OVERTIME even if its just 15 mins.

[chumley.mouse]

Best piece of advice I was ever given by an old boy (postie). Was just get out there and enjoy it.

To this day , even on the grim ones, I try to remember this

[Dynorod]

Hi

Part of me wants to run for the hills already after reading this thread lol. I am on induction Monday then at my office Tuesday. 18 hours a week (wow) and 6 months fixed term. Manager at interview said most have their contracts extended. Contract says we don`t anticipate needing you after 6 months due company reorganisation..is this standard blurb?

My hours are 8-2 it does not bother me to stay over that time as long as it is paid. Do they moan if you go over 2pm and not like to pay overtime? What is cut off? Can you just complete what you have if you want to?

I was told I will always work with 1 other person and share a van round.This person i take it will be experienced not new like me ? Also in 1st 6 weeks do most people really leave? As you cannot get full uniform or even a coat etc until after 6 weeks do you just wear your own coat and hat etc cause 6 weeks takes me to January and gonna be freezing

Sorry for so many questions....thanks in advance

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Hi

Part of me wants to run for the hills already after reading this thread lol. I am on induction Monday then at my office Tuesday. 18 hours a week (wow) and 6 months fixed term. Manager at interview said most have their contracts extended. Contract says we don`t anticipate needing you after 6 months due company reorganisation..is this standard blurb?

Yes its standard blurb

My hours are 8-2 it does not bother me to stay over that time as long as it is paid. Do they moan if you go over 2pm and not like to pay overtime?

Depends on your manager and how much pressure their budget is under.

What is cut off?

Its a procedure that you need to be aware of when you have more work than its possible to do whitin your contracted hours

Can you just complete what you have if you want to?

Yes - but to get paid overtime you need to follow the "overrunning deliveries procedure" but don't worry about that till you get your feet under the table.

I was told I will always work with 1 other person and share a van round.This person i take it will be experienced not new like me ?

If you are lucky. With staff turnover being high it cannot be guaranteed.

Also in 1st 6 weeks do most people really leave? As you cannot get full uniform or even a coat etc until after 6 weeks do you just wear your own coat and hat etc cause 6 weeks takes me to January and gonna be freezing

Yes its not as easy as putting bits of paper through a letterbox, and having a stroll of a few hours. Its a lot more physical than nearly everyone thinks and turnover is very high for an "unskilled" job. Despite it being classed as unskilled, its not a job that a lot of people can get on with. You need to act on your own initiative and yet follow instructions. You need to work as a team, yet not be afraid to work on your own. You need to have a strong enough personality and to be able to stand up for yourself, yet be polite to the public when they are angry at something, you need to be confident but not arrogant. You need to be willing to work hard, but not be a push over and take on too much.

Its a rare skill set and some can't handle it, however if you get through the first 6 weeks (especially around Christmas) then despite the "moaning" on here its still a brilliant job.

Sorry for so many questions....thanks in advance

[Dynorod]

Thanks TrueBlueTerrier am glad this forum is here

[Clovis]

Its a rare skill set and some can't handle it, however if you get through the first 6 weeks (especially around Christmas) then despite the "moaning" on here its still a brilliant job.

Well that's good to hear.
As a new starter myself, I found my one day of "training" (watching someone sort their frame and tagging along on their walk) a bit overwhelming.
Being sent out with a load of post and parcels on my second day was quite a surprise I can tell you.
Not quite what my induction led me to expect.

Oh well, day three tomorrow. I'll probably be pointed towards a frame and told to get on with it.

[cweg]

Weather was a nightmare up here. Pair that with me doing a P&L driving duty that I'm not trained on and you have a s**t day!

Aren't you supposed to be shown duties by someone before you're asked to do them?

[Burghboy]

Been in for about 5 weeks now! Really enjoying the job b ut could do with more hours, my training was decent most of the staff are friendly and helpful enough and even the managers are willing to take time to help you out when they can, a bit of a surprise after all the horror stories I had read on here!

[hantsman]

Been in for about 5 weeks now! Really enjoying the job b ut could do with more hours, my training was decent most of the staff are friendly and helpful enough and even the managers are willing to take time to help you out when they can, a bit of a surprise after all the horror stories I had read on here!

Sounds like a good office, is it small?

[Burghboy]

Been in for about 5 weeks now! Really enjoying the job b ut could do with more hours, my training was decent most of the staff are friendly and helpful enough and even the managers are willing to take time to help you out when they can, a bit of a surprise after all the horror stories I had read on here!

Sounds like a good office, is it small?

No mate I dont think so

[cweg]

I have a question about P&L driving duties.

Me and the bloke I've been working with finish our loops at roughly the same time, apart from one which I finish about 15 minutes earlier. This doesn't really give me a lot of time to do oversized stuff, and with the smaller packets piling up we would be working over our time without even touching the oversized.

Is it mandatory that you deliver all the oversized for the duty you're on, or can you leave some behind for a parcel driver to pick up?

[fishtank]

Is it mandatory that you deliver all the oversized for the duty you're on, or can you leave some behind for a parcel driver to pick up?

That's a question for your particular office.
In my office we have put in extra parcel duties for Christmas to take the pressure off the P&L duties...and we have guys coming back to do the large parcels for their delivery on OT.
Every office is different though,speak to your rep if you have one or as a last resort...speak to a manager.

[cweg]

Is it mandatory that you deliver all the oversized for the duty you're on, or can you leave some behind for a parcel driver to pick up?

That's a question for your particular office.
In my office we have put in extra parcel duties for Christmas to take the pressure off the P&L duties...and we have guys coming back to do the large parcels for their delivery on OT.
Every office is different though,speak to your rep if you have one or as a last resort...speak to a manager.

Cheers, I'll have a chat with my rep on Monday. I wouldn't mind coming back and doing parcels on OT, at least that way my partner isn't left waiting while I clear them.

[billy44]

Hi,
Am a new Postie and have so far done 4 rounds.
Not sure if this is a stupid question but on the bundles you obviously take off the one elastic band going length ways but do you experienced Posties take off the other one as well or leave it on?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Hi,
Am a new Postie and have so far done 4 rounds.
Not sure if this is a stupid question but on the bundles you obviously take off the one elastic band going length ways but do you experienced Posties take off the other one as well or leave it on?

Depends on different factors for me but I use 3 - 1 lengthwise and 2 crossing. -

But I never keep a band on unless its windy, or the bundle has a lot of small packets in it. However compared to others my bundles are quite small but that's so I can keep a grip of them with my cradling hand.