Ive just started as a postman, is this right, legal or usual

[General Mannerheim]

Is shadowing the same as grooming?

[gfboots]

Used to be a Great Job, best job in the world!--- not anymore sad to say--- Too many bullying/aggressive/ scaremongering managers.also, too many managers full stop.

[rubberbond]

Used to be a Great Job, best job in the world!--- not anymore sad to say--- Too many bullying/aggressive/ scaremongering managers.also, too many managers full stop.

Welcome to privatisation,shareholders and profits first.
Back to the original point, aren't you supposed to be on the same delivery for 6 weeks? Or is that me being naive. I wasn't,but that doesn't make it right, I wasn't some kind of superstar,like the previous correspondent,it took 6 months to get there. Stick it out is my advice.

[Dozen]

When I was new and on a part-time contract, I used to wonder why it was always me getting out of the office late and struggling to finish on time, even several months after starting and finally beginning to feel like I had finally adapted to the pace of work. Then I found out most of the full-timers in the office where regularly coming in half an hour, an hour or in some cases even an hour and a half before their start time. I felt like the workforce was betraying itself by doing this, and still can't get my head around why people continue to insist on coming in early. I've been full time for a while now, and I insist on coming in on time, taking my breaks, and working at a sensible, un-hurried pace regardless of how heavy the workload is on the day. There comes a point when you realize you have to decide which side you're on. Other full-timers in my office are still coming in early every day to throw off all their sequence boxes, and then have the gall to wonder why we get ladled with absorbtion

But it's not the same for part-timers and staff on fixed-term contracts to just start cutting off and standing up for themselves. The managers could simply choose to not renew your 3 month/6 month contract if they decide they don't like you. This is what I always worried about as a part-timer. The union needs to do more to protect staff on fixed-term contracts, or at least make their support more accessible and visible. Part-time staff are treated as disposable, they are powerless to the managers and entirely dependent on staying in the managers good books, as usually the basic hours are not enough to get by on. It really gets me wound up seeing part-timers get treated like this and no one seems to say anything.

[Barbel]

Hi there.
I have just become a postman. Had the induction last thursday, went out with two different postmen on two different rounds (friday & Sat). Then went out on my own on Monday (well the round was shared with another newbie).

Was just wondering is this right? I was told i would be shadowing someone for two weeks til i got accustomed to the role.

My hours are meant to be 9-2 but so far i have been in at 8. Yesterday didnt finish til gone 3 and NO break. Is this legal?

Thinking of getting out already if this is how the job is going to be.

Any help, comments, advice welcomed.

Sounds about right!

[GoingRoundTheBend]

if you don't take your break just add 40 minutes on when you book your overtime.

Don't think that's allowed, sure I read on here before that breaks cannot be taken as overtime.

evertime we have a revision the manager always says everyone must have their break. does it happen? no. do ppl book in 40 mins and get it? yes

When you book your overtime just say its extended delivery never mention its your break or you wont get it

[Postie45]

When I was new and on a part-time contract, I used to wonder why it was always me getting out of the office late and struggling to finish on time, even several months after starting and finally beginning to feel like I had finally adapted to the pace of work. Then I found out most of the full-timers in the office where regularly coming in half an hour, an hour or in some cases even an hour and a half before their start time. I felt like the workforce was betraying itself by doing this, and still can't get my head around why people continue to insist on coming in early. I've been full time for a while now, and I insist on coming in on time, taking my breaks, and working at a sensible, un-hurried pace regardless of how heavy the workload is on the day. There comes a point when you realize you have to decide which side you're on. Other full-timers in my office are still coming in early every day to throw off all their sequence boxes, and then have the gall to wonder why we get ladled with absorbtion :crazy:

But it's not the same for part-timers and staff on fixed-term contracts to just start cutting off and standing up for themselves. The managers could simply choose to not renew your 3 month/6 month contract if they decide they don't like you. This is what I always worried about as a part-timer. The union needs to do more to protect staff on fixed-term contracts, or at least make their support more accessible and visible. Part-time staff are treated as disposable, they are powerless to the managers and entirely dependent on staying in the managers good books, as usually the basic hours are not enough to get by on. It really gets me wound up seeing part-timers get treated like this and no one seems to say anything.

so much sense talked in this post

[OnAFlyer]

We had some new starters this week, all they'd been taught was health and safety and had practised pushing a cage around. They knew absolutely nothing whatsoever about delivery - didn't know how to fill a 739 card out, didn't know how to turn for packets and hadn't been PDA trained.

They started on Wed, one of the busiest days of the year so far and by yesterday some of them had already done nearly 20hrs work. One finished at nearly 7pm working with the regular postie on P&L, that's with some mail and van packets taken off them.

[meercat]

On a 6hr day you are due a 30min break I think. If you don't have a break during your day you need to ad that 30mins to the end of your shift. So if you walk out the door at 3pm with no break you will book until 3:30pm. NEVER EVER fail to claim your breaktime if you don't take a break during the day. In a lot of offices you take 1/2 your break before you go out on delivery and the other half comes off the end of your shift (so you would walk out the door 15mins early.) Either way your breaks are PAID breaks so you claim for them if you don't take them during your shift. If they say you must take your breaks then TAKE THEM!

[Delsin]

When I was new and on a part-time contract, I used to wonder why it was always me getting out of the office late and struggling to finish on time, even several months after starting and finally beginning to feel like I had finally adapted to the pace of work. Then I found out most of the full-timers in the office where regularly coming in half an hour, an hour or in some cases even an hour and a half before their start time. I felt like the workforce was betraying itself by doing this, and still can't get my head around why people continue to insist on coming in early. I've been full time for a while now, and I insist on coming in on time, taking my breaks, and working at a sensible, un-hurried pace regardless of how heavy the workload is on the day. There comes a point when you realize you have to decide which side you're on. Other full-timers in my office are still coming in early every day to throw off all their sequence boxes, and then have the gall to wonder why we get ladled with absorbtion

But it's not the same for part-timers and staff on fixed-term contracts to just start cutting off and standing up for themselves. The managers could simply choose to not renew your 3 month/6 month contract if they decide they don't like you. This is what I always worried about as a part-timer. The union needs to do more to protect staff on fixed-term contracts, or at least make their support more accessible and visible. Part-time staff are treated as disposable, they are powerless to the managers and entirely dependent on staying in the managers good books, as usually the basic hours are not enough to get by on. It really gets me wound up seeing part-timers get treated like this and no one seems to say anything.

This, so much.

[donnyhammer]

stick it out ,my advice too .lack of proper training is not unusual ,but then managers never do your reviews on time, if at all !! mine just said unless you drop a massive b,,,ck you,ll stay .theres always a shortfall of staff and it takes months to recruit.Went from 20 hr temp to 30hr perm in 6 mths .
Ignore bullying managers
stand your ground
make sure your paid correctly
always book o/t when you work over,if you dont want o/t then tell them your finishing on time.( the look on their faces is priceless)
once your away from the office , you become your own boss , happy days
good luck