Allowance for the over 50's

[POSTMAN]

Courier letter

Q:

Is there any allowance for postmen and women over the agof 50?
I ask as we’re expected to be out on delivery for hours now and while I’m relatively fit, some of my colleagues are struggling.

Adrian Stuart, postman, North
East Manchester delivery office

A:

Dr Corinne Parsons, group
safety, health and environment

The introduction of new delivery methods has resulted in longer delivery spans in some cases.

However, the introduction of vans and trolleys has reduced the weights carried.
They also make it easier to carry additional clothing and snacks, and there’s more flexibility for comfort breaks.

Studies have shown that the new delivery methods and spans are suitable for the majority of staff, irrespective of age, and so there are no specific age-related allowances.
However, where individuals are having difficulties they should discuss this with their manager so that adjustments can be made to the duty if necessary.

In common with other UK industries, sick absence rates for musculoskeletal disorders are higher in the over-50s than in younger age groups. We will be looking at this in more detail this year, along with a review of our occupational health services, to understand the ways that we can support our older workers better.

[Lounge Lizard]

"irrespective of age" - so why are most of the over 65s in this country shirking work ?

[rhino49]

"irrespective of age" - so why are most of the over 65s in this country shirking work ?

Because most of the over 65's in this country are recovering from 49 years of continuous, and in many cases, physically demanding work. Their contribution to this country is now travelling the land on free and concessionary passes and spending their pensions in rural areas that would become ghost towns without their input ... that's what I'm doing anyhow :)

[noggin1969]

We will be looking at this in more detail this year, along with a review of our occupational health services, to understand the ways that we can support our older workers better.

We have ordered several copies of Logan's Run from Amazon

[Dorset Plodder]

Love that bit about "They should discuss this with their managers so that adjustments can be made to the duty if necessary"

Do you think they really give a shite? The only way "Old" Posties are likely to get a break on their Duty is if they're a mate of the DOM and he lets them have an "Easy Duty"

Favouritism is rife in my office, the Mafia of Experienced Old Posties tend to get the easier duties, and the newer (often Part Time) and less experienced Posties get stuck with over size, lengthy duties. Regardless of the amount of times you ask to get duties tested (NO Hope), or adjusted it all just gets swept under the carpet!

A recent tactic is to keep rotating different temporary managers through the office. Everytime one tries to sort something out....he's out the door and you have to start explaining to next one! FFS this shite is not likely to be sorted before Christmas so that's into 2016 now!

[5plusbonusball]

The bit about more time to eat snacks?? where? with the collapse now built in to your duty we go over our time EVERY day, no easy tuesday or saturday, maybe the passenger can find time for a bag of crisps en route to the next loop but drivers can't do that.

[antcpfc]

Love that bit about "They should discuss this with their managers so that adjustments can be made to the duty if necessary"

Do you think they really give a shite? The only way "Old" Posties are likely to get a break on their Duty is if they're a mate of the DOM and he lets them have an "Easy Duty"

Favouritism is rife in my office, the Mafia of Experienced Old Posties tend to get the easier duties, and the newer (often Part Time) and less experienced Posties get stuck with over size, lengthy duties. Regardless of the amount of times you ask to get duties tested (NO Hope), or adjusted it all just gets swept under the carpet!

A recent tactic is to keep rotating different temporary managers through the office. Everytime one tries to sort something out....he's out the door and you have to start explaining to next one! FFS this shite is not likely to be sorted before Christmas so that's into 2016 now!

And so they should.

[pinstripe]

We will be looking at this in more detail this year, along with a review of our occupational health services, to understand the ways that we can support our older workers better.

We have ordered several copies of Logan's Run from Amazon

Brilliant!

Oh.......

[Dorset Plodder]

Love that bit about "They should discuss this with their managers so that adjustments can be made to the duty if necessary"
Favouritism is rife in my office, the Mafia of Experienced Old Posties tend to get the easier duties,

And so they should.

I know you're an old hand Antcpfc but I wouldn't have thought you'd have agreed with blatant favouritism? I believe all Posties would like to see Duties of Equal Length. If some would like more overtime there's usually enough to be made outside those Duties i.e Collections, IPS, Parcels, Extra Lapsing.

Once those Equal duties have been signed for adjustments could be made for Older Posties,like yourself, or those with disabilities. These Divisive ways of working are Bad for Morale and breed disaffection within a Delivery Office, often causing a lot of arguments and backstabbing.

[Bahia Feliz]

with the collapse now built in to your duty we go over our time EVERY day

When you say 'collapse' I take it you mean lapsing or absorption? You don't HAVE to go over any day,cut off!!!

[5plusbonusball]

8 permanently collapsed duties , yeah or lapsed, absorbed onto our frames so now we all have extended duties to what we signed up to.
We are happy to claim what we go over but just saying there is no time to squeeze in a sandwich, it's the pee time that puts us just over our time.

[General Mannerheim]

It must be true because they got a Dr to spout this absolute f***ing s**t,sick of reading crap from the ministry of bullshit and spin known as Royal Mail.
Here's news for you Doctor knobhead.......NO FECKER USES A TROLLEY IN OUR OFFICE.they are rusting in the yard like feckin tombstones markers,as the management likes to bully people into not using them by saying your slow if you do and putting you through performance issues.,utter lying pieces of crap,see your manager for an adjustment.

[hans solo]

ours are on the canteen roof

[dvbuk55]

You can't actually blame royal mail for not using the trolleys provided.

[postslippete]

Yes, you can't blame Royal Mail for posties that elect not to use their trolley even though they do often tend to contribute to a pain between my shoulders in my upper back if I use them all day. I don't think the trolleys have been properly field tested and were just provided to partly cover Royal Mail's own back.

Its really only staff that have a long term medical condition or disability that tend to have an allowance in the Royal Mail. There are one or two old favourites in our office like DOM support or one or two staff in the Callers Office. But then again, we have a Sunday Rota now with a dozen different names on it for staff that want to work in the Callers, and I know this because it is displayed on the notice board. So in our office staff get training and the opportunity to do different duties in the office, if only for a day at least - Tick Box

I don't know if its still the case now but Firefighters were generally expected to retire early because of the physical demands of the job, and Royal Mail could argue that they provide this somewhat by asking staff if they would like to take voluntary redundancy? Maybe I might feel differently when Im over 50 and I need my zimmer frame to help me get around