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Is this a cause for a grievance?

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Pokemon Postmon
Posts: 165
Joined: 19 May 2007, 21:28
Location: South Wales

Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by Pokemon Postmon »

Today, as someone went sick, our manager lapsed a duty. It was a pretty quiet day but even so, since the recent revision, there has been constant problems with completing some of the duties in the office. As it was, myself and my co-worker/driver did make it back just in time to do a small part of the other duty. My problem is this, we were the last two back from our own duty and doing the lapsing took us right up to our finishing time whereas the manager had left everyone else do their bit and then go home early. I am not complaining about the fact that we had to absorb but about the DOM treating other staff differently. Is this a job for the grievance procedure?
Also, as an aside, have those that have gone home early set themselves up for a fall tomorrow if the lapsing occurs again and the DOM asks them to work back their time?
Advice would be most welcome!
:)
Bahia Feliz
Posts: 1169
Joined: 22 Sep 2008, 21:04
Gender: Male

Re: Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by Bahia Feliz »

How has the dom treated other staff differently?
IcanthelpthewayIam
Posts: 4067
Joined: 26 May 2009, 13:37
Gender: Male

Re: Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by IcanthelpthewayIam »

Pokemon Postmon wrote:Today, as someone went sick, our manager lapsed a duty. It was a pretty quiet day but even so, since the recent revision, there has been constant problems with completing some of the duties in the office. As it was, myself and my co-worker/driver did make it back just in time to do a small part of the other duty. My problem is this, we were the last two back from our own duty and doing the lapsing took us right up to our finishing time whereas the manager had left everyone else do their bit and then go home early. I am not complaining about the fact that we had to absorb but about the DOM treating other staff differently. Is this a job for the grievance procedure?
He has not treated anyone differently from what you have said, everyone was allocated extra work to cover, everyone done that work and had enough time in their duty to do that, its not discrimination or grounds for a grievance.
Pokemon Postmon wrote:Also, as an aside, have those that have gone home early set themselves up for a fall tomorrow if the lapsing occurs again and the DOM asks them to work back their time?
Banking of hours like this is not allowed, he cannot ask them to make up the time later in the week
Pokemon Postmon
Posts: 165
Joined: 19 May 2007, 21:28
Location: South Wales

Re: Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by Pokemon Postmon »

My point was that he treated us differently by making us work our full hours while he allowed others to finish early. I was doubtful myself as I admitted that we did finish just in time. Thanks for that.
As for the banking of hours, I was under the impression, and this has come from our area rep, that he can ask you to work up to 30 minutes back within a given week (not rolling over to a following week). Has this been stopped?
P13
Posts: 1016
Joined: 11 Oct 2007, 14:35
Gender: Male

Re: Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by P13 »

Pokemon Postmon wrote:My point was that he treated us differently by making us work our full hours while he allowed others to finish early. I was doubtful myself as I admitted that we did finish just in time. Thanks for that.
As for the banking of hours, I was under the impression, and this has come from our area rep, that he can ask you to work up to 30 minutes back within a given week (not rolling over to a following week). Has this been stopped?
The 30 minutes is called flexibility and is entirely Voluntary your manager cannot force you to work it
Pokemon Postmon
Posts: 165
Joined: 19 May 2007, 21:28
Location: South Wales

Re: Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by Pokemon Postmon »

P13 wrote:
Pokemon Postmon wrote:My point was that he treated us differently by making us work our full hours while he allowed others to finish early. I was doubtful myself as I admitted that we did finish just in time. Thanks for that.
As for the banking of hours, I was under the impression, and this has come from our area rep, that he can ask you to work up to 30 minutes back within a given week (not rolling over to a following week). Has this been stopped?
The 30 minutes is called flexibility and is entirely Voluntary your manager cannot force you to work it
That's why I used the word 'ask' :wink:
jack
Posts: 299
Joined: 28 Aug 2007, 14:32

Re: Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by jack »

Pokemon Postmon wrote:My point was that he treated us differently by making us work our full hours while he allowed others to finish early.
I know what your trying to say mate. The DOM should make these posties going home early utilise their hours.. even if they have finished their absorption. This practise more than likely happens in most offices. This is the problem with unbalanced walks. Postie A may be on a monster walk who wants to cut off but is harassed to complete off DOM. Postie B is on an easier walk and can complete his walk and finish his absorption with 40 minutes to spare.

In this case the DOM should send postie B back out (if he arrives back early) to utilise all hours and finish postie A's cut off within his contracted hours.
'Royal Mail leaders could not lead a worm, they'll never take our pride cos that's what we earn'
Judgee
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 2262
Joined: 23 Oct 2007, 15:18

Re: Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by Judgee »

You finished on time so what's the problem? Another day you might finish earlier than some of the others. :crazy:

Until they insist everyone finishes back at the office and stay there til thier finish time you will always have delivery staff finishing at different times. Hardly a case for a grievance is it? :d'oh!
Union what Union? Do we have a union?
arnold cheshire
Posts: 5309
Joined: 14 Oct 2010, 21:28
Gender: Male
Location: england

Re: Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by arnold cheshire »

Pokemon Postmon wrote:Today, as someone went sick, our manager lapsed a duty. It was a pretty quiet day but even so, since the recent revision, there has been constant problems with completing some of the duties in the office. As it was, myself and my co-worker/driver did make it back just in time to do a small part of the other duty. My problem is this, we were the last two back from our own duty and doing the lapsing took us right up to our finishing time whereas the manager had left everyone else do their bit and then go home early. I am not complaining about the fact that we had to absorb but about the DOM treating other staff differently. Is this a job for the grievance procedure?
Also, as an aside, have those that have gone home early set themselves up for a fall tomorrow if the lapsing occurs again and the DOM asks them to work back their time?
Advice would be most welcome!
:)
wasnt quiet in our office :thumbup
IcanthelpthewayIam
Posts: 4067
Joined: 26 May 2009, 13:37
Gender: Male

Re: Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by IcanthelpthewayIam »

Pokemon Postmon wrote: As for the banking of hours, I was under the impression, and this has come from our area rep, that he can ask you to work up to 30 minutes back within a given week (not rolling over to a following week). Has this been stopped?
You have that the wrong way around, DOM can ask you to work 30 min extra to cover an unforeseen problem and then he has to give you the 30 min back later in the week, not the other way round, if your early you dont need give the 30 min back at all, that has never been any part of any agreement
Pokemon Postmon
Posts: 165
Joined: 19 May 2007, 21:28
Location: South Wales

Re: Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by Pokemon Postmon »

zx135 wrote:
Pokemon Postmon wrote: As for the banking of hours, I was under the impression, and this has come from our area rep, that he can ask you to work up to 30 minutes back within a given week (not rolling over to a following week). Has this been stopped?
You have that the wrong way around, DOM can ask you to work 30 min extra to cover an unforeseen problem and then he has to give you the 30 min back later in the week, not the other way round, if your early you dont need give the 30 min back at all, that has never been any part of any agreement
Well, thanks for that, zx135! Our area rep has been getting it wrong and our DOM has also been exploiting it for ages. I will put it to him tomorrow when I have a meeting with him. I've only recently taken on the role of rep in our office so I've a lot to take in ATM, especially a completely screwed up revision and a lack of members willing to take on board the advice from the union sometimes!
I guess starting the meeting with a request for a grievance form is off the table though....:)
fishtank
Posts: 19732
Joined: 28 Sep 2007, 17:22
Gender: Male

Re: Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by fishtank »

zx135 wrote:Banking of hours like this is not allowed, he cannot ask them to make up the time later in the week

Neither strictly speaking is going home early.
It's funny how we get all indignant about one and completely ignore the other.
I think the words in the agreement are "ensure all paid work hours are utilised".
good times, bad times you know I've had my share
Pokemon Postmon
Posts: 165
Joined: 19 May 2007, 21:28
Location: South Wales

Re: Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by Pokemon Postmon »

I have no problem with working the hours (tho' the pay rate could be better :p), and I have already conceded that I do not have a case. I was just asking a question, y'know!
:Very Happy
asap
Posts: 18
Joined: 11 Oct 2013, 15:11
Gender: Male

Re: Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by asap »

well i think its a good question.
what if walk a finishes 20 minutes early everyday and walk b can not complete is it OK that walk a does one hours work lese a week.
i know if you cut there pay by an hour there would be an outcry.
jack
Posts: 299
Joined: 28 Aug 2007, 14:32

Re: Is this a cause for a grievance?

Post by jack »

fishtank wrote:
zx135 wrote:Banking of hours like this is not allowed, he cannot ask them to make up the time later in the week

Neither strictly speaking is going home early.
It's funny how we get all indignant about one and completely ignore the other.
I think the words in the agreement are "ensure all paid work hours are utilised".
You see this is the starting point for getting harassment off managers - wanting to work your contracted hours. Good managers should at least try to manage the office in an efficient way ensuring that all hours are utilised fairly.
Say for example the postie who has to pick his/her kids up from school on a daily basis has a problem due to the duty being to big. The postie has to inform the DOM regularly that he/she will be cutting off ,this is when the postie having a problem becomes the problem for the DOM by keep cutting off.

However, instead of sending postie b back out (the doms aware he/she gone home 40 minutes early but thats ok he/she done their absorption) to finish the other posties duty...the DOM then scouts around for someone to do the cut off on docket which angers the DOM as its having an effect on the their office budget, because the DOM knows the postie whos doing the docket will probably add an extra 20 mins on anyway, but it needs doing.
So the postie who has genuine childcare issues and for whom could be genuinely hard working and an affable person could then become a target for the DOM due to the problem he/she is creating by regulary cutting off.

Hang on a minute though postie b loves his job, he/she gets to go home 40 minutes early most days even with absorption and with no hassle off any management what so ever, and thats why he or she will be voting yes. The other postie though may feel downtrodden, disillusioned, depressed all through the fault of an incompetent DOM, and may come on this forum for some much needed good advice off the real people on here who know what the real score is and therefore will vote no :angel
'Royal Mail leaders could not lead a worm, they'll never take our pride cos that's what we earn'