Do i have to work overtime?

[Futplayer78]

When i get back from a walk, even when i get back late, i am expected to go out and deliver packets.

I started with RM in June, so fairly new to everything. I am on a temporary fixed term 24 hour per week contract and the other week did 60 hours.

Yesterday I went in hour and half early at 9.30 and had a shared walk i'd never done before and it took til 5pm because the other postman was new to the round he couldnt help me much. I didn't have time to stop all day and then when i got back i had lots of parcels waiting for me and this took me till 7pm and i brought a few back because it got too dark and i got really fed up.

They just expect me to do it and I feel bullied into it because i want a permanant contract offer.

[gary1975]

No

[Darren Bent]

You will get quicker, and don't do overtime unless they pay you. Get yourself a union rep. you are supposed to finish by 3pm.

[Futplayer78]

At the moment I don't have a walk of my own, so each day I go in I don't know what I am going to be doing, they are just using me as cover as the office has just gone through the revision and I have to pick up the pieces or cover for days off. Its getting me down to be honest, would just like to know where i am, instead of getting messed around everyday. They even change the rota without telling me.

[chrisj]

You do not have to do overtime. But if you can just do some and explain that you are too tired and it will be better if you did something reasonable than go off sick or injured... that will be better.

Silver lining... You are entitled to Free Shares - and you are likely going to get a lot if you work all those hours. And when it comes to Christmas bonus, you will also get a lot based on hours worked just prior to Xmas...

It is hard just after a Revision for Shared Vans and all that, but things will settle after some time.

* This might be a good or bad thing - you might even be able to take your shares if they refused to renew your contract. That is, if you are happy to leave, of course.

[LukeyBoy]

It can be as easy or as difficult as you want it.You are obviously being taking as a mug by them you've got to stand your ground.Of course you don't have to do overtime if you don't want to but the trouble is as soon as a manager see's people that will always pick up the slack they will always rely on you to do it.They don't mind giving out the overtime as long as they have cleared the office,the more you do the more the will expect I see it day in day out the people who always do the most are always the ones who get s*it on the most like you said never know what your doing day to day etc.

Go and see a local rep or e-mail someone who can help you.In the meantime you just have to say no if you don't want to do it it's that simple (easier said then done I know).
Don't let the fear of being on a 24hr temp contract let them think they have the running of you.

[chrisj]

Don't let the fear of being on a 24hr temp contract let them think they have the running of you.

Unless you are on a 24hr temp rolling contract then it is hard to say the above. It is not an idle fear, this person does not have job security beyond the current contract and working 24 hours for someone with a family or lots of expenses is not just enough...

So he needs to appear willing and adaptable and he probably need some overtime if not 38 hours a week. It is about finding a sensible solution and compromise... And the goal is to get that permanent contract which is likely coming when the office goes for a full resign/repick.

But definitely talk about your concern to manager or rep.

[OnAFlyer]

Decide what time you're willing to work until and tell your rep and manager, 7pm is a joke and nobody should be out at that time.

As a couple of others have pointed out though, doing lots of hours will mean you're entitled to quite a few shares, as well as Christmas bonus and then there's the back pay (assuming its in the pay deal, it had better be!) that should be worth around 25p per hour for every hour you've worked since you started in June.

To be honest, if I were you I'd make sure I finished at a decent time but other than that I'd keep knocking a good few hours in until Christmas as it will be worth it, obviously only if you want and are able to though!

[Stella102]

GROW A PAIR OF BALLS !! AND STAND UP TO THIS BULLYING!!!

[LukeyBoy]

chrisj I'm a 24hr man myself finally got made up to perm .But you are totally right in what you say in there is a compromise because it is hard to live on the basic with a family etc.You should be made to to perm after 2 years anyhow but it's not always that easy.The point I was making was that just because he's on a 24hr temp contract shouldn't dictate how much his manager chucks at him and he feels obliged to do,there is a balance there.You can call the shots and only do what you want you just have to stand your ground.

[Stella102]

you won't get made perm unless there has been a revision or you have passed your trial period. even then you may have to wait a few years since its more beneficial to them to keep you on rolling contracts since you will therefore be their runt.

[meercat]

You can't keep that up for 2 years it will kill you.

The thing is you don't need to do every bit of OT just to be safe in your job. All you need to be is useful to your manager. In other words if you do an hours OT after your walk each day and only 2 other guys out of 10 do the same then you are an asset and that manager is not going to want to lose you. So just think in terms of how useful you are. Even if you only do 10hrs OT each week that will make you very useful and the manager is not going to say you should not be hired because without you he is stuffed.

It sounds like he is desperate to have you around if you have that much work so like I say even if you deliver 5 packets each day for him you are doing more than anyone else who doesn't want the OT.

To move forward you should:

a) Tell your line manager you are happy doing OT each day but you need to start finishing by for example 5pm at the latest each day because you are getting knackered from the long days. As advised, he can not make you do ANY overtime so stand your ground, be strong, if you let him persuade you otherwise he will keep on at you day after day. So you need a firm line in the sand that you do not cross no matter how much he begs. Make that line 5pm, 4pm whatever you think.

b) If the packets are 'overweights/too big' and left by HTC deliveries question why so many packets are being left. He might not be bothered by what is being left if you are picking them all up for him. But once you start finishing earlier he will probably start telling people they are leaving too many packets and need to take more out with them. So give him a solution, these Managers are a bit dim as you probably already know, so implant in his little brain the fact that some of the packets are not overweight/too big. You should find less packets waiting for you each afternoon if he sorts something out. He might just start getting someone else to take some of the packets instead of leaving them all to you.

btw If you don't want to be out late on a Saturday make that part of your line in the sand - you will only do OT Mon-Fri.

And ALWAYS take your breaks. If you are out late you are also due extra break time, make sure you take it or book it as OT if you can't stop. Have fun.

[Postie45]

a bleak preview to all our futures

[wabbithunta]

Overtime is not mandatory or compulsory. It's up to you if you want to do overtime and not them.

Don't let them pressure you into doing it if you have no wish to do it.

Just say NO!