Driving and the Royal Mail

[postslippete]

Been working with a new starter this week and he tells me that it was in the job description that you had to be able to drive. Could this be classed as discrimination to non-drivers that wish to apply for a job now in the Royal Mail operational side??

In our office because of the shared van duties and the single driver duties means that at least over half of our workforce must be able to drive. Also, when the duties need covering by reserves or for overtime they usually need people that can drive the vans.

Apart from the fact that being a non-driver takes away some of the responsibilities of the job. For example, they are not really responsible for delivering the large packets and/or specials (they are supposed to have a bigger loop to deliver instead - though I would testify that they are pretty much the same). And some of the lucky ones get dropped off at home whilst the driver has to come back to the office with all the bags and packet returns, and occasionally, having to face a firing squad of managers waiting to see how many tracked items you brought back either

The few indoor staff at our depot that can't drive never get sent out to cover any deliveries either. They just make their way down to the callers office while the managers do it.....

[korky]

they don't advertise the jobs as just post-person now, its post-person with driving in the description so no discrimination there, can't remember the last time i saw a new starter who didn't drive, agency aside

[ScousePostie]

When I first applied for a job at Royal Mail last year, I'm sure there was a question in the application form that asked whether or not I'd be willing to drive as part of the job. The job title itself was clear to me that the role would involve driving.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

It's not discrimination that anyone would have any recourse on, employers are perfectly entitled to say you need a driving licence

[yubin282]

what about when 2 vacancies to be made up to full time are advertised both driving duties, blokes been there 4 years got it, I've been there 11

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

what about when 2 vacancies to be made up to full time are advertised both driving duties, blokes been there 4 years got it, I've been there 11

do you have a driving licence? If not then he should have got it if he was the most senior suitable applicant, you weren't as you were not "suitable" if you didn't have a driving licence, it's not any form of discrimination you can take further

[Cobblers_3]

I am a reserve who works with a full timer who doesn't drive. If you sort you bulk out as effectively as you can then he can walk not to far a distance if he's waiting on certain loops. We work great together on a hefty round. But I guess it all depends what round you are on if working with a 'non' driver.'