So long, Royal Mail...

johnstonsj · Post by **johnstonsj** » 26 Jan 2016, 16:07

Well, after 9 months with the business, I've handed in my notice. I've worked as a postman in a delivery office in Northern Ireland and, despite good pay, the working experience has been far from pleasant! An over-ambitious, callous and frankly narcissistic DOM, petty and inept linos, a large number of selfish postmen who ruin the job for everyone by not performing the job correctly, on top of an ever increasing workload and pressure from the top, has resulted in 6 resignations in two weeks, with more threatening to leave. I feel sorry for the men who have been with the business for years and work appropriately as they are coerced to working to new Royal Mail standards, resulting in a huge amount of physical and mental pressure placed upon them, or else face dismissal. As well as those on 20 hour contracts who are expected to work 4-5 days a week within that time period and justify any overtime which will inevitably happen. I've had enough and so have so many.

Now that I've saved enough, I'm off to travel around South east Asia with the girlfriend and teach English as a secondary language. Finally putting university education to use! Good luck to those still in this oppressive business. Viva la revolution!

ziggy · Post by **ziggy** » 26 Jan 2016, 16:12

All the best mate. Well done on getting out. Enjoy your adventures, stay safe and have fun

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 26 Jan 2016, 16:25

johnstonsj wrote: Viva la revolution!

And who would have thought the vanguard would be led by junior doctors?

robbertwhitton · Post by **robbertwhitton** » 26 Jan 2016, 17:14

Very well put my friend,am finding this now after 36 years!! Very sad indeed,I wish you well my friend

Gilly856 · Post by **Gilly856** » 26 Jan 2016, 18:05

johnstonsj wrote:Well, after 9 months with the business, I've handed in my notice. I've worked as a postman in a delivery office in Northern Ireland and, despite good pay, the working experience has been far from pleasant! An over-ambitious, callous and frankly narcissistic DOM, petty and inept linos, a large number of selfish postmen who ruin the job for everyone by not performing the job correctly, on top of an ever increasing workload and pressure from the top, has resulted in 6 resignations in two weeks, with more threatening to leave. I feel sorry for the men who have been with the business for years and work appropriately as they are coerced to working to new Royal Mail standards, resulting in a huge amount of physical and mental pressure placed upon them, or else face dismissal. As well as those on 20 hour contracts who are expected to work 4-5 days a week within that time period and justify any overtime which will inevitably happen. I've had enough and so have so many.

Now that I've saved enough, I'm off to travel around South east Asia with the girlfriend and teach English as a secondary language. Finally putting university education to use! Good luck to those still in this oppressive business. Viva la revolution!

Enjoy the travels living the dream

tonytucker · Post by **tonytucker** » 26 Jan 2016, 18:49

Yeah bye bye yawn

Post by **Judgee** » 26 Jan 2016, 20:14

Have fun and feel free to pass on the message that being a postman is a bloody tough slog and not for everyone!

Real postmen are carved out of granite. They endure so much for so little and yet everybody pictures them plodding about for a couple of hours every day in the sunshine without a care in the world. If only the rest of the country knew just how much we have to put up with and how hard we work perhaps they might actually appreciate us a bit more!

Chelseablue · Post by **Chelseablue** » 26 Jan 2016, 23:23

Why doesn't the union get the customers involved let them know what's happening reg all this destruction of the Royal Mail? Send out flyers , a petition etc ?

Nondescript · Post by **Nondescript** » 27 Jan 2016, 00:21

What's needed is another Panorama episode focusing on the job as it is now and what it's doing to postal workers physical (and mental) health in the long term. The 2009 programme found that the workload was excessive, god knows what they'd make of it now.

Hitcher · Post by **Hitcher** » 27 Jan 2016, 08:50

Chelseablue wrote:Why doesn't the union get the customers involved let them know what's happening reg all this destruction of the Royal Mail? Send out flyers , a petition etc ?

The same way they did about privatisation you mean? The public doesn't care that's why.

johnstonsj · Post by **johnstonsj** » 27 Jan 2016, 15:14

Judgee wrote:Have fun and feel free to pass on the message that being a postman is a bloody tough slog and not for everyone!

Real postmen are carved out of granite. They endure so much for so little and yet everybody pictures them plodding about for a couple of hours every day in the sunshine without a care in the world. If only the rest of the country knew just how much we have to put up with and how hard we work perhaps they might actually appreciate us a bit more!

This is it exactly. I went into the job under the false pretences of it being somewhat cushy. Others were stating that I was "landed". Yes, the money is good and allowed me a comfortable lifestyle and to save money, but the flipside was the anxiety and mild depression at the start, the low morale in the office, the managers would attempt to walk all over you, the favouratism and generally crookedness, the constant tiredness, the aches and pains and the realisation that this is not a job for life, it would ruin you mentally and physically. Postmen and women who stick this out are made of strong stuff and I wish you all the best as the business continues to change for worst. I'll be making things as easy for my own postman for sure!

Post by **Anonymouse** » 27 Jan 2016, 16:26

Nice one, man. Your plans sound amazing.
Enjoy it

Bahia Feliz · Post by **Bahia Feliz** » 27 Jan 2016, 16:49

tonytucker wrote:Yeah bye bye yawn

You're only jealous

Darren Bent · Post by **Darren Bent** » 27 Jan 2016, 17:49

Make most of it and hopefully it will be a great future. It is better than working for Royal Mail.

Post by **jimmynailsalive** » 29 Jan 2016, 01:00

All the best mate, I left just before Christmas and seems my work only recently sent out for references so I'm holding off giving my big leaving post with all the facts that happen to anyone unlucky to end up in these big amalgamated offices like the one in Cambuslang.

I'm in a new job sitting on my backside with a cracking view of the Campsies and by all accounts I'll be earning about 10% less in 12 months time and my biggest concern will be the free coffee machine

I was only a couple of years in the job and my buddy next to me in my new job is an ex-postie of 6 years and it's pretty clear that any new starts(Posties) are treated like sh!te.

My advice to anyone joining Royal Mail is don't waste your time joining the Union, that is all about upholding the rights of people in before you, tell them to take a hike, as long as you are happy you turn up and do the job then forget about pissing 3 or whatever quid down the drain as you will be pumped on to the worst duties going and I'm going to go into one of them shortly if allowed to and that's about it, I must add I worked in 2 offices, one on a 4 day week and loved it, small central Scotland place and there is no problem being bumped about because there was only 20 odd walks, meanwhile the Cambuslang office has 4 different offices combined and easily 150 duties although you're more likely to get pumped on to the sh!te in Rutherglen but that's for another time.

Anyway, if this was like trip advisor etc, I'd say 1 out of 5 for the job.

ROYALMAILCHAT