seniority

[korky]

O/P does seem like he's had a few pops but i'm a p/t postie of 9 years and a few jobs came up recently to be f/t but i MUST give up my duty that took 7 years to get!

[Dorset Plodder]

I would support a system that rewarded Posties for being competent on more than one Duty. We all know the scenario, An Old & Bold Postie that's been in the business for decades yet has only done the same duty. He nearly dies of shock when a new road is added to his duty because he's never had to deliver it before! He's still throwing the IPS off to duties that delivered it 10 years ago because, "Well they USED to deliver it"! and he can't quite except that there's been a Revision.

In contrast you have the Reserves who cover most of the Duties in the Office, and are able to swap and change at minimum notice, although sometimes taking longer to prep an unfamiliar (and often out of date and badly labelled) frame. Sometimes these posties even go to work in other Offices that need help.

I agree that seniority can be a good tool to help selections, and we are probably our own worst enemy, becoming to "Useful" when we know a lot of duties. In a business this size I would like to think that there could be systems put in place to reward a more flexible and adaptable workforce. The opposite seems to apply, the more adaptable & flexible you are the more you get dumped on!

[janitor]

Seems your office runs different to my old office, all the long serving posties were competent on quite a few duties, in fact the present two longest serving, over 30 years each can competently complete almost every duty in the office, yet some of with less service struggle when taken off their own duty,and have to work past 11am, the newcomers that only know one duty would soon start complaining that old George is getting more than them because he knows every duty in the office, you should hear them whine about, driving allowance, old preserved bonus payments and phg allowance, that some of the senior guys get, this would turn that office into a hear protection must be worn zone.

[Judgee]

What would RM do without the super reserves to keep them afloat!

[thecompletepackage]

I would support a system that rewarded Posties for being competent on more than one Duty. We all know the scenario, An Old & Bold Postie that's been in the business for decades yet has only done the same duty. He nearly dies of shock when a new road is added to his duty because he's never had to deliver it before! He's still throwing the IPS off to duties that delivered it 10 years ago because, "Well they USED to deliver it"! and he can't quite except that there's been a Revision.

In contrast you have the Reserves who cover most of the Duties in the Office, and are able to swap and change at minimum notice, although sometimes taking longer to prep an unfamiliar (and often out of date and badly labelled) frame. Sometimes these posties even go to work in other Offices that need help.

I agree that seniority can be a good tool to help selections, and we are probably our own worst enemy, becoming to "Useful" when we know a lot of duties. In a business this size I would like to think that there could be systems put in place to reward a more flexible and adaptable workforce. The opposite seems to apply, the more adaptable & flexible you are the more you get dumped on!

Excellent post Plodder. Sums most offices up.

[Stella102]

do you think seniority will be gone soon now with privatization?

[Dorset Plodder]

Seems your office runs different to my old office, all the long serving posties were competent on quite a few duties, in fact the present two longest serving, over 30 years each can competently complete almost every duty in the office, yet some of with less service struggle when taken off their own duty,and have to work past 11am, the newcomers that only know one duty would soon start complaining that old George is getting more than them because he knows every duty in the office, you should hear them whine about, driving allowance, old preserved bonus payments and phg allowance, that some of the senior guys get, this would turn that office into a hear protection must be worn zone.

No disrespect to you Janitor, but I notice your an Ex-Postie. This business has changed (and is still changing) drastically from month to month. Even within the last 3 years you wouldn't recognise the business you used to work in. The Axe has fallen on many a Full Time Postie and the Remaining FT Posties seem to have become more entrenched in their attitudes to change (which is understandable) and more uncooperative than ever (again understandably).

The upshot of this is that the Part Time workforce (which is supposed to make up only 25% of our numbers, but I don't believe that for one minute) has been left to take up the considerable slack. The many reasons for this have been covered in many other posts. They revolve mainly around a PT workforce hungry for work, but at the same time unwilling to upset the management that is providing that work regardless of how badly treated. Much of the overtime is provided on a unfair, and unregulated, basis. Encouraging favouritism and toadyism.

As for experienced Long Serving Posties being able to swap duties and complete them faster than the Reserves....Well in most Offices those posties have long been feathering their own nests, having maneuvered themselves onto the best duties, and would rather cut their own dicks off than move duties! ALL those old allowances have gone and the problem is now that a lot of Duties are still not even.

[bogstandard]

Seems your office runs different to my old office, all the long serving posties were competent on quite a few duties, in fact the present two longest serving, over 30 years each can competently complete almost every duty in the office, yet some of with less service struggle when taken off their own duty,and have to work past 11am, the newcomers that only know one duty would soon start complaining that old George is getting more than them because he knows every duty in the office, you should hear them whine about, driving allowance, old preserved bonus payments and phg allowance, that some of the senior guys get, this would turn that office into a hear protection must be worn zone.

No disrespect to you Janitor, but I notice your an Ex-Postie. This business has changed (and is still changing) drastically from month to month. Even within the last 3 years you wouldn't recognise the business you used to work in. The Axe has fallen on many a Full Time Postie and the Remaining FT Posties seem to have become more entrenched in their attitudes to change (which is understandable) and more uncooperative than ever (again understandably).

The upshot of this is that the Part Time workforce (which is supposed to make up only 25% of our numbers, but I don't believe that for one minute) has been left to take up the considerable slack. The many reasons for this have been covered in many other posts. They revolve mainly around a PT workforce hungry for work, but at the same time unwilling to upset the management that is providing that work regardless of how badly treated. Much of the overtime is provided on a unfair, and unregulated, basis. Encouraging favouritism and toadyism.

As for experienced Long Serving Posties being able to swap duties and complete them faster than the Reserves....Well in most Offices those posties have long been feathering their own nests, having maneuvered themselves onto the best duties, and would rather cut their own dicks off than move duties! ALL those old allowances have gone and the problem is now that a lot of Duties are still not even.

No disrespect, but how can you reference most other offices to bolster your position ? would i be correct to assume you've assumed that all offices are like yours or should i say most?

[Dorset Plodder]

Hi Bog

I realise that with over a thousand offices across the country no two are going to be the same. However I've worked in quite a few different Delivery Offices across several Counties. A few are great, with a good group of Posties who help each other and have an approachable manager who tries to solve problems and make improvements for everyone. It was actually enjoyable working there, believe it of not.

I've also worked in DOs that were a bloody disaster area! Normally it's a case of traveling to a nearby office to help out, and when you walk in to find the Walk they're asking you to cover was failed the day before and there's 2 days mail not even thrown off you know it's going to be a long day! It's then you notice the difference..... are there helpful Posties who give you a bundling list or maps etc......does someone come over and explain where the flats, letters and drop bags are. Or even collect the mail for you, or is a case of "Stuff you mate I've got to get out on MY duty....Haven't got the time to help you"! Does the Manager actually say "Hello" and actually acknowledge that you're there to help him out?

Perhaps I should have added, "Well in most of the Offices I've worked in those Posties have long been feathering their own nests"! I'm sure there's probably a few Offices full of Eccentric Old Posties who go out of their way to help everyone else, Deliver the worst Duties in the Office (and turn down those Cushy Rurals), Stay on the ISP longer than they have to, Offer to deliver those extra parcels just to save their partner some work... I've just not found many, but I would always recommend to my colleagues that they check out a few other Offices before they think their's is the worst. What's yours like Bog?

[N1-22postman]

Duties in our urban office are now much more equal following a revision and the introduction of P&L last year. Now we work in pairs so now I deliver half of my walk and half of my partners walk. This means instead of 26 individual walks our office has 13 pairs which balances out inequalities which is good for everyone. As for oldies "feathering their own nests" this is more a thing of the past. I have done 36 years delivering and ,yes, my seniority allowed me to pick a walk without lots of stairs (my knees are gone) but on the downside of this is middle class houses get loads more mags,brochures,parcels and redirections than the social housing flats that have the stairs. We all now finish at similar times which is fairer than the old way.

[bogstandard]

Hi Bog

I realise that with over a thousand offices across the country no two are going to be the same. However I've worked in quite a few different Delivery Offices across several Counties. A few are great, with a good group of Posties who help each other and have an approachable manager who tries to solve problems and make improvements for everyone. It was actually enjoyable working there, believe it of not.

I've also worked in DOs that were a bloody disaster area! Normally it's a case of traveling to a nearby office to help out, and when you walk in to find the Walk they're asking you to cover was failed the day before and there's 2 days mail not even thrown off you know it's going to be a long day! It's then you notice the difference..... are there helpful Posties who give you a bundling list or maps etc......does someone come over and explain where the flats, letters and drop bags are. Or even collect the mail for you, or is a case of "Stuff you mate I've got to get out on MY duty....Haven't got the time to help you"! Does the Manager actually say "Hello" and actually acknowledge that you're there to help him out?

Perhaps I should have added, "Well in most of the Offices I've worked in those Posties have long been feathering their own nests"! I'm sure there's probably a few Offices full of Eccentric Old Posties who go out of their way to help everyone else, Deliver the worst Duties in the Office (and turn down those Cushy Rurals), Stay on the ISP longer than they have to, Offer to deliver those extra parcels just to save their partner some work... I've just not found many, but I would always recommend to my colleagues that they check out a few other Offices before they think their's is the worst. What's yours like Bog?

its great

[Dorset Plodder]

Glad your Office is working well Bog. I have worked in smaller Rural Type DOs and they are quite enjoyable. You tend to get lulled into a false sense of security though.
Then a quick move to a large town DO and you think WTF, is this the same Business? Totally different work ethics and attitudes (which is often down to the personnel but often aggravated by the management style) not very enjoyable at all.
Perhaps RM should introduce a "Wind Up Allowance" that would be paid if you work in these horrible places?

[2ndclasspostie]

Question 1 - Have you been part time for 13 years?

yip sure have

[2ndclasspostie]

Question 2 - Did you fail your English exam?

ha! i didnt take it hence reason i work for royalmail duznt tak a degree

[2ndclasspostie]

Fail? I doubt by attempting to read that pitiful statment that he even studied english, how standards have dropped since I first started Royal Mail.

he is a she