Reserve/Floater - how does it work?

[movingon]

I have survived my first week!!! Hurray!!!
Yes, I am slowly picking up the job and feeling good about it but one thing I hadn't quite realised before I started is that I won't have a duty of my own. Maybe ever?!
I spose it must be different for all offices but what's the likelihood I will get a duty of my own and how long in the future AND if I have to keep changing from place to place surely I will be a major pain in the butt for the partner I'm working with that day/week?
Can anyone tell me how it works, please??

[GT85]

Well done on getting through the first week, it's a steep learning curve but gets easier and you will become faster as time goes on.

A Reserve covers any duty in the office ( or nearby offices if required), a Floater covers walk holders rest days so covers 5 duties and a Walk holder obviously has their own walk.

How long before you get your own walk ? Who knows, it's down to circumstances in your office. It's normally based on seniority so you may have to bide your time or you may luck out and get one quickly if people leave etc. We have reserves with 10 years seniority in our place who are still waiting, some people like the variety rather than having to do the same walk every day.

Yes it's sometimes a pain when you get a new partner and some people may be reluctant to work with you if you have not done that walk before, however don't take it personally, it's just that management often ignore the fact that it takes more time when doing a walk blind as you obviously have to show the new person around the walk. As long as you are competent with delivery it's just a case of picking it up as you go and you should have some idea of where you are going within a few days. The problem comes when you get put on a new walk every day and you have no chance of learning it

[Sir Henry]

Took me five years to get my own walk, had it for while then went full time and lost my walk, now I'm back at the bottom of the pile waiting for another walk to be vacated. Got fairly bored doing the same walk for a year when for all the years previously, the longest I had on a walk outside of my breaking in period was a fortnight.

[peshwaarinaan]

I started 7 weeks ago and have my own walk. I get dropped off with a trolley and loop from the trolley. It's a lovely round and my customers are great .

[movingon]

Thanks GT85, Sir Henry and peshwaarinaan - good to hear from you all.
I see it will depend on my office and I don't know yet whether I'll be a reserve or a floater. I must find out how many others there are who may be waiting. They've recently had a revision and some walks have been "shared out" among the rest, though some voluntary redundancies too, I don't know if some people lost their walks and may be waiting too - I will have to investigate......
I was wondering if once I get into the job a bit more and feel more confident that I would like to move around rather than have my own walk but also, this week I've been so impressed by the customers' reactions to my workplace coach - they obviously absolutely love him - so having your own walk must be great.
Have a great week everyone

[Barbel]

I got my own round after 2 years, and I went from part time to full time. As someone else said, it depends on circumstances in your office. You might get lucky you might not.