Can RM just move your office?

mattandbenny · Post by **mattandbenny** » 03 Nov 2016, 19:14

Basically i applied and got a job at Bradford South DO. However i've got my contract through today and it says i will be based at Bradford North DO.

Doesn't sound far but i don't live in Bradford - Bradford South was the furthest i wanted / was prepared to travel for work when i applied, and Bradford North is further away in the wrong direction - added another 15 mins each way to the commute. I am flexible as in i am happy to work in a more southern office in the area - Halifax or Brighouse etc.

I assume there is some small print that RM just change the office I interviewed for (and say if i don't like it then do one), but is there any chance they would change me to another office - I am happy to work at 3 other offices (Bd South, Halifax or Brighouse).

Also is there any number i can ring / e-mail address i can contact to ask this, as the myapplication@royalmail.com one takes about 2 weeks to respond, and i start in 12 days.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 03 Nov 2016, 19:23

It's probably a typing error.

I'd hit them with an email even if the response is slow, include a contact phone number you never know they may call you.

Mark it urgent and make it obvious in title that the DO is wrong.

datasaint · Post by **datasaint** » 03 Nov 2016, 21:35

Show up at the office you applied to, the other probably has no idea. Once you're there minor details will be worked out later. They'll be more keen to get a bundle of mail in your hand.

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 03 Nov 2016, 21:39

mattandbenny wrote:Basically i applied and got a job at Bradford South DO. However i've got my contract through today and it says i will be based at Bradford North DO.

Doesn't sound far but i don't live in Bradford - Bradford South was the furthest i wanted / was prepared to travel for work when i applied, and Bradford North is further away in the wrong direction - added another 15 mins each way to the commute. I am flexible as in i am happy to work in a more southern office in the area - Halifax or Brighouse etc.

I assume there is some small print that RM just change the office I interviewed for (and say if i don't like it then do one), but is there any chance they would change me to another office - I am happy to work at 3 other offices (Bd South, Halifax or Brighouse).

Also is there any number i can ring / e-mail address i can contact to ask this, as the myapplication@royalmail.com one takes about 2 weeks to respond, and i start in 12 days.

Maybe they intend to merge Bradford South DO and Bradford North DO.

Pompey Boy · Post by **Pompey Boy** » 03 Nov 2016, 22:44

As all of us in Pompey know Royal Mail will put you where they like

Even a thicko like me knows that a contract is legaly binding and if you sign it you are accepting a post at Bradford North DO. Even if you do get the job you want at South be aware that RM ar making some horrible changes at great speed and IMHO a few people on this forum are a bit niave in that respect.

Good luck.

Post by **aposter** » 04 Nov 2016, 06:58

Bradford North is know known as Bradford Valley and incorporates Bingley, Shipley and Bfd. west.

Just for your info, even if you are tagged to Bfd sth you could be quite easily be told you are working at any other office on any particular day or week.

mattandbenny · Post by **mattandbenny** » 04 Nov 2016, 10:11

I sent them another e-mail with [URGENT] in the subject line and they actually came back to me this morning. Unfortunately the news was not good as they said there is no vacancy for me at Bradford South or Halifax or Brighouse - just Bradford North. Said to let them know if i still want the job or if not they can place me on waiting list for 3 months. So frustrating as if i knew this from the start i would have just gone on the waiting list, but now I've handed my notice in at work and signed a contract to rent a flat etc (i'm not currently based in yorkshire) so i'm at a point where i have too many commitments to pull out and go on the waiting list.

I have replied asking to start at Bradford North as they require and be moved to one of the other DO's nearest me at the earliest opportunity.

Does anyone know if it is easy to transfer between offices once you start?

mattandbenny · Post by **mattandbenny** » 04 Nov 2016, 10:34

Another little update, i was told that i must pass my 6 month probation period at bd north before i can request a transfer. Once that is up, will it be easy enough to transfer to another office?

fishtank · Post by **fishtank** » 04 Nov 2016, 12:56

That will depend on two things, how much your parent office needs you and whether the office you want to go to has a suitable vacancy, Management on the whole are quite lazy and aren't keen on transfers if it means they have to then recruit to replace you. I've seen it take years but that was for a full-time position which are obviously more difficult to arrange.

mattandbenny · Post by **mattandbenny** » 04 Nov 2016, 16:14

Cheers for any help & advice given in this thread.

One of the regional HR managers gave me a call. Was actually very helpful - said he doesn't foresee any vacancies coming up in the offices i wanted in the next few months. Said the only other vacancy was in Dewsbury. Both Dewsbury & Bradford North are the same distance away from where i live so not really an improvement - still a much longer drive to work than i was hoping for, but i've been told the area is (marginally) nicer than Bradford so have opted to work at the Dewsbury (Calderway) DO.

So plan is to stick it at Dewsbury for my 6 month probation period and then when that is up and i am officially permanent, then look for a transfer to a closer office.

Pompey Boy · Post by **Pompey Boy** » 04 Nov 2016, 16:34

Good luck!

Clared · Post by **Clared** » 04 Nov 2016, 21:07

mattandbenny wrote:Cheers for any help & advice given in this thread.

One of the regional HR managers gave me a call. Was actually very helpful - said he doesn't foresee any vacancies coming up in the offices i wanted in the next few months. Said the only other vacancy was in Dewsbury. Both Dewsbury & Bradford North are the same distance away from where i live so not really an improvement - still a much longer drive to work than i was hoping for, but i've been told the area is (marginally) nicer than Bradford so have opted to work at the Dewsbury (Calderway) DO.

So plan is to stick it at Dewsbury for my 6 month probation period and then when that is up and i am officially permanent, then look for a transfer to a closer office.

When are you starting at Dewsbury DO ?
I applied at Bradford north way back in January, i have to say the experience of driving in/out of that area was a nightmare. So glad I managed to get in & work at Dewsbury DO (calderway) & you can park which is a bonus ! I travel from cleckheaton everyday which is about 20 minutes on a good day.
Been there 5 months now & i haven't looked back. Good luck in coming in this time of year !!!

mattandbenny · Post by **mattandbenny** » 06 Nov 2016, 23:46

Clared wrote:
mattandbenny wrote:Cheers for any help & advice given in this thread.

One of the regional HR managers gave me a call. Was actually very helpful - said he doesn't foresee any vacancies coming up in the offices i wanted in the next few months. Said the only other vacancy was in Dewsbury. Both Dewsbury & Bradford North are the same distance away from where i live so not really an improvement - still a much longer drive to work than i was hoping for, but i've been told the area is (marginally) nicer than Bradford so have opted to work at the Dewsbury (Calderway) DO.

So plan is to stick it at Dewsbury for my 6 month probation period and then when that is up and i am officially permanent, then look for a transfer to a closer office.
When are you starting at Dewsbury DO ?
I applied at Bradford north way back in January, i have to say the experience of driving in/out of that area was a nightmare. So glad I managed to get in & work at Dewsbury DO (calderway) & you can park which is a bonus ! I travel from cleckheaton everyday which is about 20 minutes on a good day.
Been there 5 months now & i haven't looked back. Good luck in coming in this time of year !!!

Yea i'll be living in Halifax city centre so thought going from there all through the centre of Bradford would be a pain. Think i made the right choice with Dewsbury. Got my induction day in Leeds next monday (14th) & start at Dewsbury the next day.

Yea it will certainly be a baptism of fire!!

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 07 Nov 2016, 18:36

Did you try for Halifax, they always seem to be looking for bodies from us in Huddersfield. I thought they had a recruitment problem not an excess.

dav1524 · Post by **dav1524** » 07 Nov 2016, 22:57

aposter wrote:Bradford North is know known as Bradford Valley and incorporates Bingley, Shipley and Bfd. west.

Just for your info, even if you are tagged to Bfd sth you could be quite easily be told you are working at any other office on any particular day or week.

Bradford North serves Bd1 Bd2 Bd3 Bd8 Bd9 Bd10 postcode areas
Bradford Valley serves Bfd West, Shipley, Bingley postcode areas.
Bradford Collections also work out of Bradford Valley
Both are different offices in their own right.