ADVICE FOR NEW POSTIE PLEASE

[NWRM]

I've been offered a part time job, 3 weeks on, 4th week off. I feel a little apprehensive about it really, maybe just because its new, but also because it seems like everyone else moans about it, so you'd assume theres no smoke without fire. I've worked in a delivery office before and quite enjoyed it really, pretty mundane but i clocked on, did my work, clocked off. The time went pretty quickly.

I suspect a life as a postman is going to be quite different. I'd like to be able to get in for 8am, crack on with sorting my mail, get out and deliver it then go home, early as possible. But i have a feeling its not going to be that simple. I know others within that mail centre get in work 'earlier' to 'make the day run a bit smoother', and i know from how the mail is being delivered in my area they must be short staff wise. I dont want to be in a situation of, having to get to work for 7am (not due to start until 8), not finishing until 3.30 (Officially finishing at 2.40), 6 days a week, doing my round, then half of someone elses, every single day, then battling with overtime etc. As far as im aware they generally do early days and later days in terms of when they finish, regardless of their contracted hours. I was looking at the routes on the staff canteen wall, and they seemed incredibly small, i expected them to be far longer. Ive been reading of postman delivering to 500-600 addresses , yet the amount of houses on these routes has to be half that at least.

Another thing thats bothering me, is that when i was at the delivery office, the staff already there seemed to go at half the speed of the new staff. I'm not knocking them maybe they had it the right way around, but again... although a bit of social is good, and pacing yourself is sensible, i want to get on with the job and come home early as possible, but i also dont want to rock the boat.

During the interview it seemed like role wise it was a real mixed bag. Some drive/deliver to rural & packages, some stay in the office, some on park and loop, others out on foot or bike. Id like to know how these roles are dished out.

Besides that : Im just going to try and enter it with an open mind and be positive, see how it goes. I can always leave if its crap

[kirstyx]

if you finish early you can be asked to deliver more so work to your time! dont rush too much

I've been offered a part time job, 3 weeks on, 4th week off. I feel a little apprehensive about it really, maybe just because its new, but also because it seems like everyone else moans about it, so you'd assume theres no smoke without fire. I've worked in a delivery office before and quite enjoyed it really, pretty mundane but i clocked on, did my work, clocked off. The time went pretty quickly.

I suspect a life as a postman is going to be quite different. I'd like to be able to get in for 8am, crack on with sorting my mail, get out and deliver it then go home, early as possible. But i have a feeling its not going to be that simple. I know others within that mail centre get in work 'earlier' to 'make the day run a bit smoother', and i know from how the mail is being delivered in my area they must be short staff wise. I dont want to be in a situation of, having to get to work for 7am (not due to start until 8), not finishing until 3.30 (Officially finishing at 2.40), 6 days a week, doing my round, then half of someone elses, every single day, then battling with overtime etc. As far as im aware they generally do early days and later days in terms of when they finish, regardless of their contracted hours. I was looking at the routes on the staff canteen wall, and they seemed incredibly small, i expected them to be far longer. Ive been reading of postman delivering to 500-600 addresses , yet the amount of houses on these routes has to be half that at least.

Another thing thats bothering me, is that when i was at the delivery office, the staff already there seemed to go at half the speed of the new staff. I'm not knocking them maybe they had it the right way around, but again... although a bit of social is good, and pacing yourself is sensible, i want to get on with the job and come home early as possible, but i also dont want to rock the boat.

During the interview it seemed like role wise it was a real mixed bag. Some drive/deliver to rural & packages, some stay in the office, some on park and loop, others out on foot or bike. Id like to know how these roles are dished out.

Besides that : Im just going to try and enter it with an open mind and be positive, see how it goes. I can always leave if its crap

[CharlesSpooner]

I suspect a life as a postman is going to be quite different. I'd like to be able to get in for 8am, crack on with sorting my mail, get out and deliver it then go home, early as possible. But i have a feeling its not going to be that simple.

Due to understaffing at RM there's a good chance that if you come in, rush around and get finished early you'll be pulled up and told to take out another delivery that hasn't been covered. RM are very insistent that they want their staff working all paid hours - job and finish is a thing of the past.

I know others within that mail centre get in work 'earlier' to 'make the day run a bit smoother', and i know from how the mail is being delivered in my area they must be short staff wise. I dont want to be in a situation of, having to get to work for 7am (not due to start until 8), not finishing until 3.30 (Officially finishing at 2.40), 6 days a week, doing my round, then half of someone elses, every single day, then battling with overtime etc.

There's no requirement from you to work anything other than your paid hours as defined in your contract. If your hours are 8 till 2.40 then those are the only hours you have to work. A lot of managers will try and bully you into working over these hours as it makes their job easier. A lot of people feel intimidated by this and as such end up coming in "earlier to make the day run smoother".

I was looking at the routes on the staff canteen wall, and they seemed incredibly small, i expected them to be far longer. Ive been reading of postman delivering to 500-600 addresses , yet the amount of houses on these routes has to be half that at least.

My walks around 650 calls, no terraced houses, big front gardens and lots of mail and packets but it is by no means one of the worst. I've seen walks with near 1000 calls. 250-300 seems too good to be true

Another thing thats bothering me, is that when i was at the delivery office, the staff already there seemed to go at half the speed of the new staff. I'm not knocking them maybe they had it the right way around, but again... although a bit of social is good, and pacing yourself is sensible, i want to get on with the job and come home early as possible, but i also dont want to rock the boat.

What used to happen is that people would come in, get done as quick as possible and go home. The managers would see people finishing early and see that as a green light to make walks bigger - people obviously had the time right? This cycle was repeated over and over again and now we're in a situation where walks have 2 or 3 times as many calls on them, 8 sets of door to doors, less jobs and people getting f****d around left, right and centre.

The people who have been there a while have seen this happen and realised that rushing around, though good when you get home, is terrible in the long term. Rushing around to get home early has killed this job and is the most selfish attitude you can take to your co-workers wellbeing. Concentrate on doing the job properly without cutting corners, take your breaks, don't doorstep packets or dump D2Ds and look after your body by using the correct delivery methods such as trolleys and correct bag weights. If this means you can't get home early then so be it. If it means you can't complete your full duty on time then that's your manager's problem - you just work your contracted hours.

During the interview it seemed like role wise it was a real mixed bag. Some drive/deliver to rural & packages, some stay in the office, some on park and loop, others out on foot or bike. Id like to know how these roles are dished out.

The real answer - whatever suits your manager. There's a real know-your-place-pleb attitude prevalent throughout managers in RM these days towards staff.[/quote]

Besides that : Im just going to try and enter it with an open mind and be positive, see how it goes. I can always leave if its crap

Hope you have fun. I know I'm giving a cynical viewpoint but it's what the job has become in the office I work in. Hopefully it's better in yours.

[NWRM]

Thanks for the replies, particularly charlesspooner taking the effort. Thanks for being honest and frank as well. It felt like a dark grey cloud is approaching me, and it still does. All the information based on experience is very useful.

[Lazycarton]

You have convinced yourself that you are doomed to a life of drudgery and frustration already. Are you sure you want to even start

[catch22]

What used to happen is that people would come in, get done as quick as possible and go home. The managers would see people finishing early and see that as a green light to make walks bigger - people obviously had the time right? This cycle was repeated over and over again and now we're in a situation where walks have 2 or 3 times as many calls on them, 8 sets of door to doors, less jobs and people getting f****d around left, right and centre.

The people who have been there a while have seen this happen and realised that rushing around, though good when you get home, is terrible in the long term. Rushing around to get home early has killed this job and is the most selfish attitude you can take to your co-workers wellbeing. Concentrate on doing the job properly without cutting corners, take your breaks, don't doorstep packets or dump D2Ds and look after your body by using the correct delivery methods such as trolleys and correct bag weights. If this means you can't get home early then so be it. If it means you can't complete your full duty on time then that's your manager's problem - you just work your contracted hours.

on my delivery- most nights i need to pick my kids up from school. My hours to finish, are 2:45 now in theory- that should be me finished by 2:45 with enough time spare to get the kids...

But in reality- specifically after the revision, i can only manage 2:45 without taking my break. I spend the day rushing around, cutting corners where i can... because on paper i should already be finished. bearing in mind i've been in since 6.45.
and my starting hours where 7-2pm... very quickly changed to 'on call' 6.45 till all the mail was delivered. All managers already gone home... And god helped me if i came back with anything- i never did... in fact i've been late to pick my kids up so many times.

Also if you really want your week off, make sure they know that... before you find yourself on the rota for 4 weeks.

If i have any advice- make up some bull****, that you got some place to be... so you can't work past that time... 'if you give them an inch- they take a mile. '

[CharlesSpooner]

and my starting hours where 7-2pm... very quickly changed to 'on call' 6.45 till all the mail was delivered.'

See your rep - or go to area if your rep is no good. "Till all the mail is delivered" is not a finishing time.

[bigcol]

I spend the day rushing around, cutting corners where i can...

[catch22]

thats the point tho, shouldnt have to fly around and cut corners. not fair on no-one... rep is in doms pocket.
need to be firm from the beginning. and not back down is my point.