start time/ start work question

[claretandblue]

Can someone clarify a point for me, Our start time is 6:45am and managers are saying that we must be on the sorting frame at 6:45am Is this correct ? What about time to sign in, take coat off ect ? Union rep is just letting them get away with it.

[pod25]

Your manager is being an idiot.
That said, if he/she wants you at your frame no earlier than 6:45 and your start time is 6:45, then you have no option but to start late.

In most jobs, you are allowed what is called 5 minutes walking time.

[claretandblue]

they want us on sorting at 645 when our start time is 645 and are chastising people who are 2 minutes late. Whats the official line on this ?

[pod25]

What they are expecting is unreasonable.
Ask them what they have to gain by implementing this.
If they start issuing warnings because you are a few minutes late getting to your frame, then put a grievance in.

[clashcityrocker]

I thought you were paid to start work at your start time.

We have several people that appear to have a problem with this.
Take your coat off, sign in, get a cup of coffee, have a natter about the football, go for a ciggie, go for a pee, get another cup of coffee, watch your colleagues work for a bit, go and check the overtime board, complain there isn't enough people on the sorting .........

[TrueBlueTerrier]

they want us on sorting at 645 when our start time is 645 and are chastising people who are 2 minutes late. Whats the official line on this ?

There is no official line from the Union. From Royal Mail you are paid from 0645 they are quite within their rights to expect you to be ready for work at 0645.

What they are expecting is unreasonable.

Why is it unreasonable.

Ask them what they have to gain by implementing this.

Oh I don't know people working when they are being paid.

If they start issuing warnings because you are a few minutes late getting to your frame, then put a grievance in.

What would be the point, if you are late even if by only a few minutes on a regular basis there is a process that the Managers should follow. If they follow that procedure then there is no case for a grievance.

Although I cant find the same guidance in the new attendance procedure the old one said http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 15&t=43976" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

1. Late Attendance of Less than 5 Minutes

Late attendances of less than five minutes should normally be ignored unless they become frequent in which case the employee concerned will be warned that further occurrences could lead to formal discipline.

[P13]

I believe there was a joint statement issued by Royal Mail and the CWU in Scotland stating you had to be ready to start working at your official start time

[claretandblue]

The sorting frame is in a different part of the building to the main entrance, does that make a difference ?

Just to clarify we are not talking about being late for work, we are talking about being at the sorting frame for dead on your start time, and getting hassle if you are 2 mins late.

[Jpro747]

Enter the door at 06:44:30, hang up coat and sign in at exactly 06:45:00, then proceed to the sorting frame

[rhino49]

Hmmm - I worked in retail for many years and the principle was that you clocked in (your starting time) by 08:45 and had to be ready to start the trading day at 09:00 in whatever location in the store you were based. That gave time for hanging up coats - a bit of social repartee and a quick brief on the coming days events if any. Maybe it would be fair to follow the same principle in RM and let the managers then ensure that staff were ready at their frames, IPS or whatever 15 minutes after signing in. Many people would use the time for a quick start (justified in my eyes because it was paid time), but no one would have an excuse for not following the management instruction to commence working as there was enough time to get ready for the start.

[pod25]

TrueBlueTerrier
Don't start nit picking at what I said, I think you have missed what the op was saying.

How on earth can management expect a postman to NOT come in any earlier than your start time AND start exactly at your start time ?
Are they supposed to prepare for work outside of the building, so they can walk in, sign in and go straight to the sorting frame without deviating ?

[arnold cheshire]

Your manager is being an idiot.
That said, if he/she wants you at your frame no earlier than 6:45 and your start time is 6:45, then you have no option but to start late.

In most jobs, you are allowed what is called 5 minutes walking time.

what jobs are these?

[wannabeek]

Wow. I worked in retail for many years in different places and it was always the case that you were expected to be on the till (or wherever your work station was) at your start time. This was quite a few years ago now admittedly but I can't imagine things will have changed, what with retail being in the state it is now.

For example, if hours of work were 6 to 3 it meant you were on the till from 6am sharp (the previous operator would knock off at 6am), you had 1hr unpaid break at lunch, then got off the till at 2:50, leaving 10 mins to cash up the register (it could only be done that quickly if there were no errors during the day). If the next worker was late you couldn't just abandon the till at your finish time, you had to buzz a manger down - fat lot of good that did if you needed to get away in a hurry!

Seriously guys, you gotta realise how good you've got it here at RM, even if you don't think you do. I don't see the problem with being expected to be ready to work at my start time, why would that be so hard?

[oldrope]

If the DOM said to you put that coffee down ect and get to work 2mins befor your stat time what would be your response be??????then if you are 2min late what do you think the DOMs response..

[BarnsleyLackey]

Can someone clarify a point for me, Our start time is 6:45am and managers are saying that we must be on the sorting frame at 6:45am Is this correct ? What about time to sign in, take coat off ect ? Union rep is just letting them get away with it.

You walk in the door and sign in at 6:45am - you are working from then. As soon as you sign in, you are on their time. The walk to your frame counts.

I could demand to sign out 2 mins early, to make sure I get from our sign-in board to to the edge of the premises, for my finish time.