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Flexing

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
WOBBLY
Posts: 362
Joined: 27 Apr 2012, 13:19
Gender: Male

Flexing

Post by WOBBLY »

Can this be IMPOSED on us. 30mins off one day and 30 mins back on another??
steve1873
Posts: 800
Joined: 08 Oct 2007, 13:55

Flexing

Post by steve1873 »

WOBBLY wrote:Can this be IMPOSED on us. 30mins off one day and 30 mins back on another??
As far as I am aware the agreement reads "you may be ASKED"

The term "asked" implies to me that it is completely voluntary. For example, you may well have something planned quite soon after work - are you then expected to rearrange (perhaps with financial implications) at short notice? TBH, I don't even feel anyone should be obliged to try and justify a reason for refusing to flex if asked and they don't want to.
Surreypostie
Posts: 999
Joined: 04 Aug 2013, 21:05
Gender: Male

Flexing

Post by Surreypostie »

No, in a word. You can be asked to flex, you don't have to agree, They will ask why not? Just not wanting to is good enough. We have people who will not flex ever, they have children to collect from school.
postslippete
Posts: 4194
Joined: 14 Jul 2014, 16:27
Gender: Male

Flexing

Post by postslippete »

No, it is voluntary

A manager can only ask you if you can work over your time by 30 mins - they cannot force you. This is why I work to my time everyday.
On the face of it, shareholder value is the dumbest idea in the world.
k979aaa
Posts: 12578
Joined: 03 Sep 2007, 19:14
Gender: Male
Location: THE NORTH

Flexing

Post by k979aaa »

steve1873 wrote:
WOBBLY wrote:Can this be IMPOSED on us. 30mins off one day and 30 mins back on another??
As far as I am aware the agreement reads "you may be ASKED"

The term "asked" implies to me that it is completely voluntary. For example, you may well have something planned quite soon after work - are you then expected to rearrange (perhaps with financial implications) at short notice? TBH, I don't even feel anyone should be obliged to try and justify a reason for refusing to flex if asked and they don't want to.
But as you know ASKED has a lot of pressure on it if you don't have a permanent contract or you do not have a duty of your own.
steve1873
Posts: 800
Joined: 08 Oct 2007, 13:55

Flexing

Post by steve1873 »

k979aaa wrote:
steve1873 wrote:
WOBBLY wrote:Can this be IMPOSED on us. 30mins off one day and 30 mins back on another??
As far as I am aware the agreement reads "you may be ASKED"

The term "asked" implies to me that it is completely voluntary. For example, you may well have something planned quite soon after work - are you then expected to rearrange (perhaps with financial implications) at short notice? TBH, I don't even feel anyone should be obliged to try and justify a reason for refusing to flex if asked and they don't want to.
But as you know ASKED has a lot of pressure on it if you don't have a permanent contract or you do not have a duty of your own.
Very true, unfortunately.
daveyeff
Posts: 4699
Joined: 12 Mar 2010, 19:38
Gender: Male

Flexing

Post by daveyeff »

tell them you will flex up 30 mins, if you can have that 30 mins knocked off the back of your duty time on Saturday. when they squirm and say no, then tell them sorry then, afraid not.
dennis12
Posts: 37
Joined: 18 Jun 2013, 19:46
Gender: Male

Flexing

Post by dennis12 »

As I understand it if you did do 30 minutes flex then they have to give it back to you in the same week.
daveyeff
Posts: 4699
Joined: 12 Mar 2010, 19:38
Gender: Male

Flexing

Post by daveyeff »

you can't get it on a Saturday. not at ours anyway, that's why nobody will flex for them. you would think you were asking for a kings ransom if you ask for Saturday time.
rubberbond
Posts: 1497
Joined: 24 Aug 2014, 16:03
Gender: Male

Flexing

Post by rubberbond »

As far as I am aware, it is only in EXCEPTIONAL circumstances,for example, a lorry may be late due to an accident,or other unforeseen incident. However, as has been stated on many,many threads,work to your time, after that,your time is your own ,there is precious little of it as it is,without giving anymore away to this company.
al64
Posts: 102
Joined: 04 Sep 2008, 16:45
Gender: Male

Flexing

Post by al64 »

We have set duties that we flex every Monday, Tuesday,Friday, Saturday unless it is exceptionaly heavy, But strangely enough they never think it is :evil/mad
eastie
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 2234
Joined: 16 Jun 2011, 15:32
Gender: Male

Flexing

Post by eastie »

Our 6.30am van didn't turn up this morning due to lack of drivers and the Dom tried to get us to do meal relief 40 mins after we started . All you could hear was people laughing :Very Happy
WOBBLY
Posts: 362
Joined: 27 Apr 2012, 13:19
Gender: Male

Flexing

Post by WOBBLY »

I thought it was voluntary! Wasn't too sure so didn't argue, got my ammo now :)
Cheers guys :thumbup
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POSTMAN
SITE ADMINISTRATOR
Posts: 32794
Joined: 07 Aug 2006, 03:19
Gender: Male

Flexing

Post by POSTMAN »

Please be aware it was slightly changed (RE:Time back in the 'SAME WEEK') in the new AFG2014 agreement...
Point of Clarification on 30 mins Flexibility

Both parties re-affirm their commitment to the 30 minute flexibility arrangements within the Pay and Modernisation agreement. The following provides clarification of the agreed approach.

Where necessary, for example when traffic volumes are unexpectedly high or resourcing issues arise, individuals may be asked and may themselves request to vary their duty times by up to 30 minutes on a swings and roundabouts basis. Individual circumstances will be taken into account and total weekly contractual hours will not change. This means that individuals may flex their duty times by up to 30 minutes on any given day and this will be balanced either way over the next 5 working days. However this period can be extended by local agreement. A local record will be kept. Any to change times of attendance or flex will take into account individual’s personal obligations and responsibilities.
I Wrote-During Covid-Which is still relevant now
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox, so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been.
My BFF Clash
The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
WOBBLY
Posts: 362
Joined: 27 Apr 2012, 13:19
Gender: Male

Flexing

Post by WOBBLY »

POSTMAN wrote:Please be aware it was slightly changed (RE:Time back in the 'SAME WEEK') in the new AFG2014 agreement...
Point of Clarification on 30 mins Flexibility

Both parties re-affirm their commitment to the 30 minute flexibility arrangements within the Pay and Modernisation agreement. The following provides clarification of the agreed approach.

Where necessary, for example when traffic volumes are unexpectedly high or resourcing issues arise, individuals may be asked and may themselves request to vary their duty times by up to 30 minutes on a swings and roundabouts basis. Individual circumstances will be taken into account and total weekly contractual hours will not change. This means that individuals may flex their duty times by up to 30 minutes on any given day and this will be balanced either way over the next 5 working days. However this period can be extended by local agreement. A local record will be kept. Any to change times of attendance or flex will take into account individual’s personal obligations and responsibilities.
Cheers for that :thumbup

Question is though can they force it upon us or do we have to agree to it??