Overtime

[presumingrob]

I started at RM about a month ago at a relatively small DO on 23 Hours and in that time I've been paid about 2-3 hours overtime per week. I've tallied up my actual hours worked and I'm doing between 2 to 4 hours O/T a day but since I start quite late and I'm still getting used to the many different rounds I'm put on I'll usually come back after the office has shut and therefore I won't be able to sign my overtime/sign out for the day and according to my managers the reason RM won't authorise my O/T is that my signing out time doesn't match my O/T sheet.

I told both my line manager and the DOM about this and they both agreed that I should be paid for the hours I've worked and to give them my payslips and my personal tally of hours. I gave this to them over a week ago and every time I ask if it's been done the DOM says it's the line manager's job and the line manager says he's busy all the time but he'll "definitely get it done" when he has a chance. We had a really light Tuesday yesterday and it still wasn't done.

My funds are running seriously low due to my partner being unable to work very often due to severe anxiety and we've had unpaid bills for the last week. My rent is due out on Friday and if I don't get this money through then I'm scared of being evicted.

Sorry for the sob story but I'm getting pretty desperate and I need to know- is there ANY way I can get someone to backdate my pay without having to rely on my managers? What do I do?
Thanks in advance

[pod25]

Seeing as you have posted this in the union room, I'm going to assume you are in the union ?
Get your rep on the case, that is why you pay your subs every week.

If you are unable to sign the overtime sheet on return to the office because your managers have gone home, then agree and sign the overtime before you leave.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Having been threatened with eviction in the past I wouldn't worry too much about it, on average it takes nearly 6 months from 1st letter to the bailiffs coming, and anyway if you speak to the landlord and tell them what's happened and promise to settle the outstanding amount as soon as you can, most are okay with that. Mine accepted an increase of £10 a week on top till I was clear.

Of course if you are already some way down the eviction route then it will be a bit more difficult, but still as long as you keep them informed most reputable landlords (at least if they don't vote conservative) tend to be flexible if you are at least show willing.

[rubberbond]

Having been threatened with eviction in the past I wouldn't worry too much about it, on average it takes nearly 6 months from 1st letter to the bailiffs coming, and anyway if you speak to the landlord and tell them what's happened and promise to settle the outstanding amount as soon as you can, most are okay with that. Mine accepted an increase of £10 a week on top till I was clear.

Of course if you are already some way down the eviction route then it will be a bit more difficult, but still as long as you keep them informed most reputable landlords (at least if they don't vote conservative) tend to be flexible if you are at least show willing.

Bit of a sweeping generalisation there, about voting intentions of landlords, any evidence of this? Or is it like the Jimmy Savile allegations? One person claimed it to be true,so they are all true,yet none of them are. Why does voting Conservative make you a bad landlord?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Having been threatened with eviction in the past I wouldn't worry too much about it, on average it takes nearly 6 months from 1st letter to the bailiffs coming, and anyway if you speak to the landlord and tell them what's happened and promise to settle the outstanding amount as soon as you can, most are okay with that. Mine accepted an increase of £10 a week on top till I was clear.

Of course if you are already some way down the eviction route then it will be a bit more difficult, but still as long as you keep them informed most reputable landlords (at least if they don't vote conservative) tend to be flexible if you are at least show willing.

Bit of a sweeping generalisation there, about voting intentions of landlords, any evidence of this? Or is it like the Jimmy Savile allegations? One person claimed it to be true,so they are all true,yet none of them are. Why does voting Conservative make you a bad landlord?

Sorry if you took offence none was meant. However there was nothing sweeping about voting intentions of landlords, or that voting conservative makes you a bad one. It was meant as a jocular remark at worst it was a sweeping statement about inflexible landlords voting conservative.

[rubberbond]

Having been threatened with eviction in the past I wouldn't worry too much about it, on average it takes nearly 6 months from 1st letter to the bailiffs coming, and anyway if you speak to the landlord and tell them what's happened and promise to settle the outstanding amount as soon as you can, most are okay with that. Mine accepted an increase of £10 a week on top till I was clear.

Of course if you are already some way down the eviction route then it will be a bit more difficult, but still as long as you keep them informed most reputable landlords (at least if they don't vote conservative) tend to be flexible if you are at least show willing.

Bit of a sweeping generalisation there, about voting intentions of landlords, any evidence of this? Or is it like the Jimmy Savile allegations? One person claimed it to be true,so they are all true,yet none of them are. Why does voting Conservative make you a bad landlord?

Sorry if you took offence none was meant. However there was nothing sweeping about voting intentions of landlords, or that voting conservative makes you a bad one. It was meant as a jocular remark at worst it was a sweeping statement about inflexible landlords voting conservative.

No offence taken, I merely replied out of the fact that I believe in being fair and equitable ,and acting on evidence as opposed to prejudice, probably why I didn't last long as a manager....

[presumingrob]

Hi all, thanks for your replies and yes, I am in the union but I rarely even see our rep around so I thought I'd ask somewhere I could get a quick answer.

To be fair the matter of eviction wasn't my main reason for bringing this up, and I haven't had a formal warning, but the agent has told us our landlord is getting 'irritated' and that's only after two late due dates.

But enough about my flat, I digress.

Does anyone know of a good number to call or anything that could get me through to someone who knows how to deal with pay matters? I'm sick of waiting for "I'll get round to it"s and "when I get the chance"s. Like I said before, our rep is barely ever around (I think he's being replaced soon anyway, no-one tells me much) and although I could blow my lid in person I'm wary of the fact that I've still got 2 months of probation and as far as staffing in my office goes I'm slightly surplus to requirement.

I'm a bit dismayed that I even have to be bringing this up really, I know it's been said before but why are RM so stubborn about getting clock-in machines when we work by the hour anyway and we still have to rely on useless managers to make sure we get paid? Working here has certainly been a culture shock so far...

[rubberbond]

Hi all, thanks for your replies and yes, I am in the union but I rarely even see our rep around so I thought I'd ask somewhere I could get a quick answer.

To be fair the matter of eviction wasn't my main reason for bringing this up, and I haven't had a formal warning, but the agent has told us our landlord is getting 'irritated' and that's only after two late due dates.

But enough about my flat, I digress.

Does anyone know of a good number to call or anything that could get me through to someone who knows how to deal with pay matters? I'm sick of waiting for "I'll get round to it"s and "when I get the chance"s. Like I said before, our rep is barely ever around (I think he's being replaced soon anyway, no-one tells me much) and although I could blow my lid in person I'm wary of the fact that I've still got 2 months of probation and as far as staffing in my office goes I'm slightly surplus to requirement.

I'm a bit dismayed that I even have to be bringing this up really, I know it's been said before but why are RM so stubborn about getting clock-in machines when we work by the hour anyway and we still have to rely on useless managers to make sure we get paid? Working here has certainly been a culture shock so far...

Just keep nagging I am afraid. The only way to get anything done.

[Dorset Plodder]

This is not a new practice and you're not the first to suffer. I personally think it's a well tried method of saving money in every DOMs budget. You may think me cynical but if you times all those hours, not paid, by all the Posties across the UK it would add up to Hundreds of Thousands and that's a BIG Saving!

Get a Diary record your Hours every Day. Book out when you finish, if you have access to the Overtime Sheet, if not do it first thing the next day. It's easy to forget what you did, and didn't do, several days after the fact. As soon as you get your Payslip double check your hours paid against your record in your diary. If it doesn't tally speak to the Manager ASAP. Record the fact in your diary. The following week if he hasn't paid it either E-Mail him your detailed breakdown (every Manager has a Royal Mail E-Mail Account) or Sent him a letter. State: Date, Duty No, Time Started, Time Finished, Overtime Worked.

If possible keep all these details on your PC or Laptop. Contact your Local Union Rep, if you're not happy with his efforts ask for the Area Reps Name & Number. You may find them on a CWU Notice Board in the Canteen. Get in touch with him. This is were your records are important. If your Manager keeps on stalling ask him for a Grievance Form (This often bucks his ideas up) fill in the form (which is basically a complaints form) and put it in.

DO NOT just let it go! These Managers rely on Posties ignorance of procedures & entitlements to line their own pockets. Perhaps they are more guilty of incompetence, rather than planned fraud, but they should not get away with it. To often Posties just cannot be bothered to chase a few hours Overtime...But If you've worked it you're entitled to be paid for it. Good Luck and don't be put off.

[presumingrob]

Well Payday has come again and I've only been paid 3 and a half hours overtime for the week. Coupled with the fact that none of the managers will take my P45 part 2/3 so I'm getting emergency taxed, things are looking bleak. I just found out after my shift yesterday that our rep has indeed been replaced and now that I know who it is I'll definitely be having words during my shift tomorrow.

Luckily I do have a very nice fancy spreadsheet of my exact hours I've worked every day. Does anyone know how pay is supposed to be split, as in does basic pay cover the previous tuesday to the wednesday before payday? and is overtime a week in hand? there's nothing on the payslip telling you what period of time it represents. I want to work it out to the minute how much they've underpaid me.

I'm getting that money.

[steve1873]

Overtime worked this week - Monday to Saturday will be paid (or should be) in next weeks pay.

We aren't paid a week in lieu, but overtime is paid a week in lieu.

[scoobymunster]

Well Payday has come again and I've only been paid 3 and a half hours overtime for the week. Coupled with the fact that none of the managers will take my P45 part 2/3 so I'm getting emergency taxed, things are looking bleak. I just found out after my shift yesterday that our rep has indeed been replaced and now that I know who it is I'll definitely be having words during my shift tomorrow.

Luckily I do have a very nice fancy spreadsheet of my exact hours I've worked every day. Does anyone know how pay is supposed to be split, as in does basic pay cover the previous tuesday to the wednesday before payday? and is overtime a week in hand? there's nothing on the payslip telling you what period of time it represents. I want to work it out to the minute how much they've underpaid me.

I'm getting that money.

Your can send the P45 to Sheffield yourself then, it'll be the easiest way to get the tax sorted quickly.

[Dorset Plodder]

Glad you've got a good record keeping system. It's ridiculous that you need to go through this crap, but I'm sure managers always try it on with the new guys, as they figure it'll take you a while to twig. By that time they saved quite a bit on their budget.

It's a sad state of affairs that working men can have their financial affairs messed up by these Clowns!

[presumingrob]

Your can send the P45 to Sheffield yourself then, it'll be the easiest way to get the tax sorted quickly.

That's a good idea, does anyone know what the address would be for these matters?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Your can send the P45 to Sheffield yourself then, it'll be the easiest way to get the tax sorted quickly.

That's a good idea, does anyone know what the address would be for these matters?

There is an address on the back of your pay chit, once you've unfolded it.