Bank Holidays and cutting off?

Lewis1993 · Post by **Lewis1993** » 27 May 2016, 21:05

Hey I actually have tons of questions that pop up from time to time but as I'm sure more than a few of you are aware getting a straight answer from a manager is like finding ice in the dessert so here I am!

Firstly, what are the rules around "cutting off"? I ask because I am on a 24hr contract but am regularly working 35+ hours which I simply don't need, is it actually allowed that if you go over your time you can bring it back? I have asked for a 4 day week as I know others like to come in on days off and need the money, but as of yet cutting off might be the only viable option?

Also more pressing, I'd like to know where I stand on an issue that is very grey in my office, bank holidays. Now, on may 31 the way my shift schedule was going, I was sure to (luckily) get Tuesday+Wednesday off,thus giving me a beautiful 5 day weekend including bh Monday, however another postie has his holiday week coming up and he does a massive duty that nobody else likes. I figured they'd have me.on it as not many have been trained on it (some refuse to be so), maybe on the Thursday Friday and Saturday, however they have changed my days off entirely. I am.in tuesday-saturday as if I've jut had my 4 day weekend (I haven't, in Friday and Saturday) and what's worse is on the duty I'm covering, the Postman going on his hols was actually due to have his 4 day weekend Next week, so to summarise;

Taken my scheduled sat-thursday off me to cover his duty.
Didn't even have the decency to give me his long weekend for that week,
And finally have had the audacity to put my day off as Monday, thus robbing me of my bank holiday

So is there anything I can do here? Feel like I've been shafted just about as badly as I could have been on this one, and I really don't see why if he was supposed to get Friday/Saturday off next week anyway they have given me monday? Sorry to rant but it soothes the soul, any info/help would be appreciated! Going to have it out with them tomorrow so the more I know the better!

wannabeek · Post by **wannabeek** » 27 May 2016, 22:11

With regards to cutting off, i would advise against just bringing mail back when your time is up. Many do that but it is dangerous ground in my opinion. The rules are that if you take it out, you are expected to deliver it, unless weird things like accidents, etc happen on delivery. Always make it clear before you go out just what time you are working to and what the managers want done with the excess. They may tell you to bring it back, they may tell you to leave it, that's their decision.

With regards to the switching of days off, totally empathise but you are far from alone. Ive been a reserve for a few years now. One of the more senior ones nowadays. However, that doesnt change the fact that the day off of the duty im covering next week has been magically flipped from the thurs to being the bank hol monday. It saves the gaffer having to provide day off cover for the duty that week and theres not a thing any of us can do about it.

Just claim the day off payment and enjoy it, is the only advise i can give.

A2B · Post by **A2B** » 27 May 2016, 22:36

wannabeek wrote:With regards to cutting off, i would advise against just bringing mail back when your time is up. Many do that but it is dangerous ground in my opinion. The rules are that if you take it out, you are expected to deliver it

Since when? I thought you advised management at the earliest opportunity that you wouldn't be able to complete in your hours and asked them what they wanted you do next, i.e. take it all with you and bring back what you couldn't delivery or leave behind the amount you thought would take you over your time?

Lewis1993 · Post by **Lewis1993** » 27 May 2016, 23:28

Yeah I'm really not keen on cutting off because mostly I don't actually mind doing the extra for the pay, plus it doesn't hurt to keep.in the good books, it's just because they've really done a number on me this week in terms of days off and honestly the duty is huge it needs timed but they refuse to do it, but if I hit my 24 hour contract by the end of Thursday do I have grounds to say I'm not coming in to do a duty on friday? Doesn't sound right but I'm curious about the procedure here just even for future reference.

Also I know I'm clutching at straws hereby is there nothing I can do in terms of them not o ly switching my duty and taking my Tuesday/Wednesday but also changing the Friday/Saturday on that duty just to take the Monday as my day off? Just seems like it shouldn't be an outcome that's allowed?

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 28 May 2016, 13:11

A2B wrote:
wannabeek wrote:With regards to cutting off, i would advise against just bringing mail back when your time is up. Many do that but it is dangerous ground in my opinion. The rules are that if you take it out, you are expected to deliver it
Since when? I thought you advised management at the earliest opportunity that you wouldn't be able to complete in your hours and asked them what they wanted you do next, i.e. take it all with you and bring back what you couldn't delivery or leave behind the amount you thought would take you over your time?

Its is in there: http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 36&t=18563" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All decisions must be made on the basis of a clear expectation that once the OPG departs from the Delivery Unit they will be able to deliver all mail in the remaining duty time. Failure to complete delivery could be investigated and may result in a conduct code interview.

But Wannabeeks main warning still stands, don't make the decision for them it releases them from all responsibility. Ask them what they want you to do, in the grand scheme of things it should mean your arse is covered.

Don't forget to make sure there is a witness, preferably a decent rep.

A2B · Post by **A2B** » 28 May 2016, 14:38

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:
A2B wrote:
wannabeek wrote:With regards to cutting off, i would advise against just bringing mail back when your time is up. Many do that but it is dangerous ground in my opinion. The rules are that if you take it out, you are expected to deliver it
Since when? I thought you advised management at the earliest opportunity that you wouldn't be able to complete in your hours and asked them what they wanted you do next, i.e. take it all with you and bring back what you couldn't delivery or leave behind the amount you thought would take you over your time?

Its is in there: http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 36&t=18563" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All decisions must be made on the basis of a clear expectation that once the OPG departs from the Delivery Unit they will be able to deliver all mail in the remaining duty time. Failure to complete delivery could be investigated and may result in a conduct code interview.
But Wannabeeks main warning still stands, don't make the decision for them it releases them from all responsibility. Ask them what they want you to do, in the grand scheme of things it should mean your arse is covered.

Don't forget to make sure there is a witness, preferably a decent rep.

I go to my manager and tell them i expect to cutoff, they 9 times out of 10 say take it all with you and bring back what you can't complete.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 28 May 2016, 14:58

If they tell you to do that

If you do it off your own back

Lewis1993 · Post by **Lewis1993** » 28 May 2016, 16:51

Went in and told them.today that I wanted paid for the Monday simply, then explained that for this week due to the messing around of my shifts I won't be doing overtime and will be working purely my contracted hours. Didn't take it too well and gold me il never be getting overtime again (unlikely to be the case but as I explained I'm not in need of it anyway so that was fine) and I'd be starting at 9 which again isn't really much of a problem as long as I'm home early enough. Called my CWU rep and explained the whole thing to him just to make sure he knows early on as I expect i'll be in the crossheirs for a while and he said if they want a meeting about it to call him in. All good then I suppose so far, DOM wasn't in though so maybe come Tuesday things won't be as smooth but thanks for the info guys! Always good to know where you stand!

richiebroon · Post by **richiebroon** » 28 May 2016, 23:09

Lewis1993 wrote: And finally have had the audacity to put my day off as Monday, thus robbing me of my bank holiday

Ask for another day off in the week or ask that they pay you the bank holiday as overtime and not as a day in lieu.

If they say they can't inform them that the company employment policy says different.

super-postie · Post by **super-postie** » 30 May 2016, 06:42

Theyll do anything to save a buck. I think theyres a nanagement hand book of sneaky money saving tips eg. Removing an hour or two from your overtime and kidding on it was a mistake (if you notice). Forgetting to add a bank holiday credit to your leave if your day off falls on one. Plus many other tricks. I personally think that cwu and postal staff need to taclke all the wrongdoings nationally. Perhaps start a national database of unreported bullying etc etc. and present it to moya so she can see what really goes on. Too much "sweeping under the carpet" of problems. Needs stopped. Im fed up hearing all these stories of normal good folks getting shafted regularly, something is seriosly wrong with this business.