Culture of speed?

[bustedflush]

Once the PDAs are fully rolled out there shouldn't be any runners then. Whilst DOM's can't use the tracking directly for conduct coding people that could use the tracking to see where the runners hide, then drive out at catch them red-handed or they could just dump more lapsing on the runners the next day

Yes, but as Fishtank says what benefit it there for the DIMs? To track people would cause resentment and after the novelty wears off they would be back round the coffee machine and the runners will still run. The DIMs will have little time or will to sit monitoring the whereabouts of 100 OPGs surely? And even if they did, they need the runners most of whom will populate the docket list anyway, which is the manager's lifeline.

Like I said the situation has evolved, and evolution usually produces the optimum result. It isn't ideal but it's a mutually beneficial situation.

You can't 'dump more lapsing' on the runners as they will simply refuse to do more than the rest for the same money (quite rightly) or slow down and become uncooperative and refuse docket etc.

This thread proves my point - people make responses along the lines of "it isn't fair" or "do this or that to the runners" (usually resentment-based) but what practical solutions have you come up with? None!

Because every idea simply has more drawbacks or pitfalls for the DO or DIM than benefits, which is why it doesn't happen.

Instead of punishing the runners maybe people should see what they can glean from them to make their own day easier?

[awesomepenguin]

It's just the culture of the job from what I have seen. Some people are obsessed with what time they are finishing and also what time others get finished to the point it's bordering on mental illness such is the paranoia that someone might possibly be getting finished 30 minutes before them. Absolutely crazy!

[Vwtouran]

Once the PDAs are fully rolled out there shouldn't be any runners then. Whilst DOM's can't use the tracking directly for conduct coding people that could use the tracking to see where the runners hide, then drive out at catch them red-handed or they could just dump more lapsing on the runners the next day

Once the pda's are fully rolled out there shouldn't be any snails then. Whilst DOM's can't use the tracking directly for conduct coding people that use the tracking to see where the snails hide until there finishing time.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Actually, in my honest opinion its not a culture of speed.

There is an element of that but there is also an

A culture of fear,
A Culture misplaced work ethic and pride.
A culture of "in it for themselves"
A culture of keeping their heads down.
A culture of bullying
A culture of not being seen as unable to do the job.

In most respects its not one or the other, its a mixture of all or some of the above reasons.

[k979aaa]

Actually, in my honest opinion its not a culture of speed.

There is an element of that but there is also an

A culture of fear,
A Culture misplaced work ethic and pride.
A culture of "in it for themselves"
A culture of keeping their heads down.
A culture of bullying
A culture of not being seen as able to do the job.

In most respects its not one or the other, its a mixture of all or some of the above reasons.

And what has fostered this culture? A culture of greed from above at first with the carrot of job and finish and secondly lapsing and non payment of overtime for the workers. Yet the fools who still think this is job and finish is ok are deluding themselves cutting every corner to save time does not make you the best postman/woman the job need's to be done properly no doorstepping not getting things signed for and a litany of other things can save time but damage the business!

[toomuchcoke]

You can't 'dump more lapsing' on the runners as they will simply refuse to do more than the rest for the same money (quite rightly) or slow down and become uncooperative and refuse docket etc.

If someone consistently finishes their round an hour earlier, then the DOM can either add more indoor work onto their round that they have to do before leaving the office or just add extra calls onto their round.

Instead of punishing the runners maybe people should see what they can glean from them to make their own day easier?

Well personally I don't regard :-

Speeding
Running
Driving whilst not wearing a seatbelt
Entering data into the PDA whilst driving
Never taking my meal breaks
Not doing vehicle checks

... as things would make my day easier, but rather as things that might have a negative impact on the health & safety of myself or others!

[Ralph Wiggum]

BustedFlush quote "You can't 'dump more lapsing' on the runners as they will simply refuse"

Someone 'simply refuses' to go out with extra lapsing WITHIN their contracted hours = Sacked.

[Lounge Lizard]

BustedFlush quote "You can't 'dump more lapsing' on the runners as they will simply refuse"

Someone 'simply refuses' to go out with extra lapsing WITHIN their contracted hours = Sacked.

[bustedflush]

BustedFlush quote "You can't 'dump more lapsing' on the runners as they will simply refuse"

Someone 'simply refuses' to go out with extra lapsing WITHIN their contracted hours = Sacked.

Yes, but you know as well as me the round would 'suddenly take longer' if that were the case and the lapsing wouldn't get done anyway and would likely be brought back. Plus the DIM may not want to upset a docket person.

When I said 'learn something from the runners' I didn't mean cutting corners or not getting signatures. You find that two quick people tend to use the van a lot, split the loops up really small so no trolley necessary and do packets as they go, prep their D2Ds before the week starts by doing them in work time Saturdays etc. It means that in many cases ALL tasks can be carried out satisfactorily well within time. For example we used to have a long avenue on one round and I'd be dropped one end, the partner park at the other end and he'd chuck the keys across to me when we crossed halfway and I'd simply retrieve the van and pick him up. Saved a good 5-10 mins each time. We'd write out 739's in the office and slip them in the bundles (much more efficient doing loads at once rather than write them out one at a time when out) and this was a decent time-saver. Yes, we'd chuck a few away unnecessarily if the b*ggers were actually in for a change but then again every pouch you pick up or van you use has hundreds of the bloody things wasted and strewn around in anyway.

Then because we seldom ever worked beyond 13:00 we didn't need to waste time diverting to deliver Specials as we would always deliver them as we went within time. It really IS the 7 p's - Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents P!ss-Poor Performance.

I never saw the headstone that had engraved "Here Lies John Doe Who Wished He'd Worked More Hours."

[postslippete]

No... but those who rush round would probably find themselves in an early grave anyway....



I understand good planning and breaking the loops and everything. I know that all rounds are different but in our office with all the lapsing that is going on, you still have to work quite fast in order to shave something like an hour off a 5 and a half hour delivery. And its physically and mentally tiring!!

[malawihap]

In out office if you say you cant do the lapsing, you are threatened with being taken off your round with the DOM saying he will replace you with someone who can do the lapsing. He will also give you the story of the relief postman can do your delivery an hour quicker than you. And if that dont work you get into a argument with the manager who is less than happy with the situation and is ignorant and rude about it .

[Lounge Lizard]

In out office if you say you cant do the lapsing, you are threatened with being taken off your round with the DOM saying he will replace you with someone who can do the lapsing. He will also give you the story of the relief postman can do your delivery an hour quicker than you. And if that dont work you get into a argument with the manager who is less than happy with the situation and is ignorant and rude about it .

Yes and the DOM isn't interested that the relief postman can do your delivery an hour quicker than you because he routinely doorsteps parcels, leaves mail hanging out of the letter box, leaves gates open and drives recklessly.

[SpacePhoenix]

For example we used to have a long avenue on one round and I'd be dropped one end, the partner park at the other end and he'd chuck the keys across to me when we crossed halfway and I'd simply retrieve the van and pick him up. Saved a good 5-10 mins each time.

Lucky you never got pulled over by the old bill, if your partner had been the one who had signed for the van and you was driving it

[Postie45]

BustedFlush quote "You can't 'dump more lapsing' on the runners as they will simply refuse"

Someone 'simply refuses' to go out with extra lapsing WITHIN their contracted hours = Sacked.

Yes, but you know as well as me the round would 'suddenly take longer' if that were the case and the lapsing wouldn't get done anyway and would likely be brought back.

it could "take longer" for a few days, then runners tend to get fed up with that and manage to be able to do the lapsing too finishing maybe 30 mins early rather than 1 hour +

[celtic1967]

For example we used to have a long avenue on one round and I'd be dropped one end, the partner park at the other end and he'd chuck the keys across to me when we crossed halfway and I'd simply retrieve the van and pick him up. Saved a good 5-10 mins each time.

Lucky you never got pulled over by the old bill, if your partner had been the one who had signed for the van and you was driving it

Exactly. Plus we have a long road like that but just park halfway down and do our loops from there. One does top end evens up and top end odds down. Other one does the opposite.