Hi All Pls can you advise on Uniform?

[Hotspur Lad]

Hi everyone, I have just been given my start date (2 weeks time) Yay!! I'm so looking forward to starting. You guys were really helpful with your interview/pre-employment advice, so I wondered if you have an opinion on uniform. I'll be doing a postman with driving role and the basic uniform suggests 5 shirts. I was thinking of 3 polo shirts and 2 short sleeved shirts. But wondered as you have experience in wearing the uniform what do you think is the best combination and whether you think I need at least 1 long sleeved shirt? Your thoughts as ever are greatly appreciated.

If you have helpful advice for the first few days that would be great too. Cheers

[fb1969]

Congratulations/deepest sympathy

I went with 2 polo and 3 short sleeves shirts - so similar to your thinking. I don't like being too hot and have found this to be the best option, I wear the shirts in the summer and the polos in the winter. You should get a fleecey jacket, showerproof cagoule and a big waterproof jacket - all of these options can be pretty warm, and that was behind my thinking on the shirts. In my case I wore my own clothes for a few weeks before the uniform came through. Jeans aren't a good idea as they can be very warm and will easily get soaked if it rains!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Jeans when wet make you walk like John Wayne.

[GT85]

You are unlikely to get uniform apart from a hiviz for a few weeks but it's personal preference really, some people prefer a shirt as it has a pocket and is cooler than a polo in summer weather but that probably wont be a problem again till next year
In my experience .....Fleece is ok for standing around in but too hot to work in, cagoule is ok, can be carried in your mail pouch just in case, but is barely showerproof, coat is too hot to work in but will keep the rain out, if only for a few hours, waterproof trousers are good if you wear trousers but you will need to wear shorts all year round to be a real postie of course

I've been soaked to the skin before but never been cold.

My thoughts on my induction day...

It was reassuring that among the 8 new starters 3 had been posties before but had left and were now coming back as they had enjoyed the job so much.it's pretty low key and nothing to worry about, we did a quick 5 minute chat with the guy you are sat next to and then introduce him to the rest of the room, a short quiz on royal mail, how many letters per day etc, watched some dvds, learnt how to safely pick up your pouch (mail bag) from the floor, pushed a york trolley around the carpark. Upon reflection the relevance of the induction to the actual workplace is questionable, it was more an exercise in ticking the health and safety and security awareness boxes but was ok and as I said before nothing to worry about.

My thoughts on my first few days...

OMG, It makes no sense at all and you think you will never get the hang of it. Every office is different but don't expect in depth structured job training as in the outside world. It's pretty much monkey see monkey do.You should be placed with a work place coach to guide you through the basics and should be left on the same walk for a few weeks to gain experience but don't be suprised if you are out on delivery on your own within a few days.
You will be surrounded by people that know what they are doing and are doing it a lot faster than you, don't worry it gets easier/ faster with time and most posties will be willing to help you out, if you have any problems, just ask.
Never trust a manager and don't forget to join the union, they are there to help you if things go pete tong.
Start going for long walks as soon as you can to get your body ready for the pounding it's going to get
Good luck.

[Hotspur Lad]

Hi GT85

Just wanted to thank you so much for all your helpful information. It is quite daunting starting a new job after 7 years, but your post offers lots of helpful suggestions & has given me confidence, I really appreciate it. I'm hoping the normal British weather won't kick in until i get a chance to get the wet weather gear. Shorts all year round ummm...? With my nobbly knees i don't think the unsuspecting public should be subjected to that horror for more than 6 months, ney 6 days.
Cheers GT

You are unlikely to get uniform apart from a hiviz for a few weeks but it's personal preference really, some people prefer a shirt as it has a pocket and is cooler than a polo in summer weather but that probably wont be a problem again till next year
In my experience .....Fleece is ok for standing around in but too hot to work in, cagoule is ok, can be carried in your mail pouch just in case, but is barely showerproof, coat is too hot to work in but will keep the rain out, if only for a few hours, waterproof trousers are good if you wear trousers but you will need to wear shorts all year round to be a real postie of course

I've been soaked to the skin before but never been cold.

My thoughts on my induction day...

It was reassuring that among the 8 new starters 3 had been posties before but had left and were now coming back as they had enjoyed the job so much.it's pretty low key and nothing to worry about, we did a quick 5 minute chat with the guy you are sat next to and then introduce him to the rest of the room, a short quiz on royal mail, how many letters per day etc, watched some dvds, learnt how to safely pick up your pouch (mail bag) from the floor, pushed a york trolley around the carpark. Upon reflection the relevance of the induction to the actual workplace is questionable, it was more an exercise in ticking the health and safety and security awareness boxes but was ok and as I said before nothing to worry about.

My thoughts on my first few days...

OMG, It makes no sense at all and you think you will never get the hang of it. Every office is different but don't expect in depth structured job training as in the outside world. It's pretty much monkey see monkey do.You should be placed with a work place coach to guide you through the basics and should be left on the same walk for a few weeks to gain experience but don't be suprised if you are out on delivery on your own within a few days.
You will be surrounded by people that know what they are doing and are doing it a lot faster than you, don't worry it gets easier/ faster with time and most posties will be willing to help you out, if you have any problems, just ask.
Never trust a manager and don't forget to join the union, they are there to help you if things go pete tong.
Start going for long walks as soon as you can to get your body ready for the pounding it's going to get
Good luck.

[Hotspur Lad]

Congratulations/deepest sympathy

I went with 2 polo and 3 short sleeves shirts - so similar to your thinking. I don't like being too hot and have found this to be the best option, I wear the shirts in the summer and the polos in the winter. You should get a fleecey jacket, showerproof cagoule and a big waterproof jacket - all of these options can be pretty warm, and that was behind my thinking on the shirts. In my case I wore my own clothes for a few weeks before the uniform came through. Jeans aren't a good idea as they can be very warm and will easily get soaked if it rains!

Cheers Fb, think i might copy you and go with 2 polo and 3 short sleeves shirts. No jeans eh, uuumm... might be getting out my wetsuit then Appreciate your help once again, many thanks.