Part Time Attendance Hours

[Budfrog]

I realise that there has been a recession and that times have been difficult for many however I would not be surprised if RM begin to struggle to recruit part time staff in deliveries in some areas. The hourly wage is decent enough and there is also the delivery supplement and some OT to enhance earnings but the attendances leave a lot to be desired.

Take the following Vac 'Part time, 25 hours per week (8.45am - 1.45pm 5 days across Monday to Saturday with 1 day off)' - it's 5 days so your travel to work costs are the same as being full time and you are doing what many would agree is the most difficult part of the job, delivery the mail in all weathers. The job may as well be FT in practice as, unlike MC part time attendances, there is less scope and appetite for the jobholder to have a 2nd job and the hours would not suit students.

I understand that there is a need to cover workload in a manner that best utilises staff hours and this is the key driver from RM's perspective but there is there not a moral argument too. You don't see too many PT managers in deliveries (there are some in processing) even though there is a similar fluctuation in workload simply because Turkeys don't vote for Christmas.

I know all of you on here are aware of these issues - it's not only about 'family friendly' attendances it's also about maximising FT attendances so that families have enough money to live on.

Maybe some of the staff that come in before their official start time should have a long hard look at themselves in the mirror

[mickeymacca]

I agree Budfrog, I have been looking for jobs around the country myself and there was only one out of 40 odd that was for30 hours in delivery, the rest were less than that.

Generally its a pretty underhand way of operating, which I am sure saves loads in holiday pay, bonus etc. I would hazard a guess that the vast majority of those on p/t contracts work full time hours overtime included. I guess that it would also be preferable offering lower daily hours per duty and give any duties going over as OT rather than giving a higher number of hours per duty and have duty holders finishing early every day.

I would love there to be a national no overtime week just to show how they would cope. I appreciate it would be a non starter with the p/timers who need to make up there hours to f/t but long term it could lead to proper offers of f/t jobs to those that want them and regularly do 39 hours +.

[Judgee]

Personally I think the outdoor element of the job is the better half of the workload. The indoor element is just so tedious but that's just my preference.

As for PT contracts they are as you suggest, they are mostly in the best interests of RM. I guess they may suit some employees with other commitments. But for RM yes it saves them a fortune as they only pay for the hours worked and if they had thier way we would all be on these hours. The union for all its sins has saved us from this for the time being. Just how long for remains to be seen!

[Budfrog]

Iain Duncan Smith claimed on 27 May 2010 that then it was not worth going from the dole into work if the job paid £15,000 or less and although it was more of an indictment of the benefits system than a criticism of earnings potential (after all he is a Tory).

Living Weekly Wage Requirements
In April 2013, according to The Minimum Income Standard (MIS) project*:

a single working-age adult needs a budget of £200 per week;
a pensioner couple need £240;
a couple with two children need £470; and
a lone parent with one child needs £285

* These amounts are after income tax, and do not include housing or childcare costs.

The PT Vac that I highlighted at the start of the thread would only provide a weekly wage of £228.36p Gross. and IMO without OT it would be a struggle even for a single person once you factor in travelling to/from work etc.

[tasam]

Iain Duncan Smith claimed on 27 May 2010 that then it was not worth going from the dole into work if the job paid £15,000 or less and although it was more of an indictment of the benefits system than a criticism of earnings potential (after all he is a Tory).

Living Weekly Wage Requirements
In April 2013, according to The Minimum Income Standard (MIS) project*:

a single working-age adult needs a budget of £200 per week;
a pensioner couple need £240;
a couple with two children need £470; and
a lone parent with one child needs £285

* These amounts are after income tax, and do not include housing or childcare costs.

The PT Vac that I highlighted at the start of the thread would only provide a weekly wage of £228.36p Gross. and IMO without OT it would be a struggle even for a single person once you factor in travelling to/from work etc.

My family's weekly income (excluding child benefit and tax credits) is roughly £500.
Childcare is totally dependant on family, mortgage is roughly £200 per week.
I work pt, my husband works more than twice the hours I do. (He gets nowhere near twice the pay)
With 3 kids we are below living wage levels but according to government we are comfortable.

My fuel costs would not be reduced by a three-day week but it would take a huge amount of pressure away from family.
That's never been an option though.