I start in a couple of days, but am now worried about overtime after reading many complaints on here

inabizzel · Post by **inabizzel** » 21 Jan 2016, 13:33

I recently accepted an offer for a postman with driving job. I start in two days but after reading many threads on here about how much overtime people are putting in, Im getting worried.

I am big on bodybuilding, and train every day, so finishing at 2:30pm every day works well and is the main reason I applied for this job in the first place. If I am basically forced into doing overtime every day I think I may have to reconsider this job.

Do people have any experience with this? How easily can I just clock in and out at my contracted times? (9:30-14:30)

thanks

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 21 Jan 2016, 13:40

Its difficult to say with ay certainty as each office and each manager are different. But if the manager is a bully and it is obvious you are a bodybuilder, they'll probably be to scared to say anything.

The best way is to play it by ear, work hard, but don't be taken for a fool, stand your ground if needed and try to muck in and you should be okay. One thing for sure it is a delicate balancing act.

inabizzel · Post by **inabizzel** » 21 Jan 2016, 18:33

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:Its difficult to say with ay certainty as each office and each manager are different. But if the manager is a bully and it is obvious you are a bodybuilder, they'll probably be to scared to say anything.

The best way is to play it by ear, work hard, but don't be taken for a fool, stand your ground if needed and try to muck in and you should be okay. One thing for sure it is a delicate balancing act.

Thanks for the tips. I'll try not to overthink things until I get started. Reading some threads on here doesn't help! Hopefully my office won't be too persistent with overtime.

peshwaarinaan · Post by **peshwaarinaan** » 28 Jan 2016, 18:11

Very difficult I'd say! My contracted hours are 09.30 to 14.30 and I actually work 07.45 to anything between 14.00 and 16.00. No-one asked me if I wanted to do overtime it was just assumed I'd get on with it! I only wanted 20 hours but it's very difficult to say no when you are in situ.

solway16 · Post by **solway16** » 03 Feb 2016, 19:14

peshwaarinaan wrote:Very difficult I'd say! My contracted hours are 09.30 to 14.30 and I actually work 07.45 to anything between 14.00 and 16.00. No-one asked me if I wanted to do overtime it was just assumed I'd get on with it! I only wanted 20 hours but it's very difficult to say no when you are in situ.

Similar position to you Peshwaarinaan - I started on a 15 hour contract a few months ago and so far have only had 1 week @ 15 hours.
Been doing 6 day weeks for a while now.
Bank balance not complaining though !

Marukomu · Post by **Marukomu** » 12 Feb 2016, 22:53

I started in Sept 2015 and can honestly say for me at least that this job and bodybuilding don't mix! I started training quite seriously in 2012 and had built up quite a good physique and was training virtually every day. When I started I found I was usually too tired after work to train and also walking around 10 miles daily was a huge catabolic shock to my body and I lost virtually all the muscle I'd worked so hard for. I need to take in an extra 1200 cals a day just to cover what I burn off whilst delivering without the extra needed to build mass. Good luck.

inabizzel · Post by **inabizzel** » 13 Feb 2016, 17:41

Just a small update after 3 weeks on the job.

I've been training the gym in the mornings, so far it is working very well. I don't feel too tired, and I'm taking porridge and protein with me on my rounds, so lack of food is not an issue. I've actually put on weight in the last 3 weeks.

My office is nothing like what I have read on here. Everyone is very friendly, the managers are kind and considerate. I've not stayed past 2:30 yet, usually actually finish at about 1. I guess being young and fit helps a lot, as I walk pretty fast on my round. I figured out after the first day about bagging up your mail in the office, so when you're on your round you just pull out the bag, tie up the trolley and go deliver a few streets at a time. I've got my round perfected and am doing it faster than the guy who's been on it for the last several years!

My advice to noobies: don't read this forum! It will scare you off. Remember that people only come here to complain. I haven't experienced any of the issues I have read here, and if I do I will be stubborn about it with the managers.

Good luck to other noobies, it won't be as bad as you think, and you may end up loving it like I am so far. Bring on the summer!

Post by **aposter** » 13 Feb 2016, 18:49

inabizzel wrote:I've got my round perfected and am doing it faster than the guy who's been on it for the last several years!

You are a fookin hero, the perfect postman from the womb, lets hope you can be cloned.

wannabeek · Post by **wannabeek** » 13 Feb 2016, 19:19

inabizzel wrote: ...when you're on your round you just pull out the bag, tie up the trolley and go deliver a few streets at a time. I've got my round perfected and am doing it faster than the guy who's been on it for the last several years.

But you're not normally supposed to leave a trolley like that. I suppose you carry a bag over the shoulder too? Also not usually allowed nowadays. I imagine that's why you can probably do it faster.

inabizzel · Post by **inabizzel** » 13 Feb 2016, 21:56

wannabeek wrote:
inabizzel wrote: ...when you're on your round you just pull out the bag, tie up the trolley and go deliver a few streets at a time. I've got my round perfected and am doing it faster than the guy who's been on it for the last several years.
But you're not normally supposed to leave a trolley like that. I suppose you carry a bag over the shoulder too? Also not usually allowed nowadays. I imagine that's why you can probably do it faster.

How else do you carry a bag??? I have been told by managers to lock up the trolley if it's out of line of sight.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 14 Feb 2016, 08:57

inabizzel wrote:
wannabeek wrote:
inabizzel wrote: ...when you're on your round you just pull out the bag, tie up the trolley and go deliver a few streets at a time. I've got my round perfected and am doing it faster than the guy who's been on it for the last several years.
But you're not normally supposed to leave a trolley like that. I suppose you carry a bag over the shoulder too? Also not usually allowed nowadays. I imagine that's why you can probably do it faster.
How else do you carry a bag??? I have been told by managers to lock up the trolley if it's out of line of sight.

Must have small streets - if on a HCT Round even in the safest areas you can't leave it alone, even locked and secured, for more than 10 minutes:

Screenshot - 14_02_2016 , 08_56_07.png

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inabizzel · Post by **inabizzel** » 15 Feb 2016, 14:56

I'd say my area is pretty low risk, and I weave in and out of streets while the trolley is at the end, so it's never completely on it's own for longer than 10 minutes anyway. Sounds like my whole DO is doing it wrong though.

peshwaarinaan · Post by **peshwaarinaan** » 18 Feb 2016, 19:40

inabizzel wrote:Just a small update after 3 weeks on the job.

Remember that people only come here to complain.

Why are you on here then?????

Jim RM · Post by **Jim RM** » 18 Feb 2016, 23:46

Marukomu wrote:I started in Sept 2015 and can honestly say for me at least that this job and bodybuilding don't mix! I started training quite everything g 2012 and had built up quite a good physique and was training virtually every day. When I started I found I was usually too tired after work to train and also walking around 10 miles daily was a huge catabolic shock to my body and I lost virtually all the muscle I'd worked so hard for. I need to take in an extra 1200 cals a day just to cover what I burn off whilst delivering without the extra needed to build mass. Good luck.

That's exactly what has happened with me. I came to this job as a personal trainer with a great physique in mid November 16. 3 months on ive lost everything I've worked so hard for. I thought this job would be a doddle. How wrong I was. No help. No time to eat. No time to train. Too tired if you did have. Impossible to build muscle with poor nutrition & inadequate sleep. If I can't change things for the better, I'm quitting

Chewster · Post by **Chewster** » 26 Feb 2016, 20:22

I've never once tied up my trolley to be honest. There was a period of a few months when it was never locked as well (keys snapped in it, managers took ages to get it fixed). There are a lot of things we're "supposed" to do, but if we all followed each and every protocol, we'd be out there all day!

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