Advice pls

Stubs · Post by **Stubs** » 12 Nov 2016, 22:18

Hi guys,

Bit of advice would be be appreciated. Earlier this week i was prepping my walk when a manager approached and asked if i could do some overtime, i had signed to do segging on this particular afternoon and informed him of this, i tend to do segging a couple of times a week as it saves on my legs as the rest of the week i tend to take half walks out as overtime, I'm part time hours and need supplement the part time hours.

The manager replied that he could square it with the operations manger in the afternoon for me to do the walk instead, to which i declined explaining that i had signed to do the segging and also that i had sore legs etc etc. He response was that if i was doing overtime they could specify which overtime i did, basically they could force me to do the walk instead, i questioned this by saying the overtime was surly my choice?, i also asked what would happen if i chose to do no overtime on that particular day for the reasons i had stated, he replied that if i decided to take that route i would get no more overtime, i was a bit shocked at this to say the least, i have always been willing to help out where needed and always approached the job with good will.

I told him ok and that i would inform the ops manager that i would be not be doing any segging this afternoon and would not be doing the walk either(all in a calm manner), at this point i was pretty miffed and felt i was being bullied and threatened. I walked away and went to speak with the 2nd in command, he agreed with the manager and stated that they could choose what type of overtime i completed, i did not mention the threats at this point as i just wanted clarification on the actual rules.

Confused and now a bit worried i backed down and did the walk instead of the segging, i contacted the ops manager who was not happy at all, not with me i might add but the situation, i could go on but you get the jist of it.

I am going to speak with the rep on Monday (he was off this week) but i would like to see what you guys think?? what should i have done and what are the rules on this? i have tried to find out but it seems that working for royal mail is a minefield, nobody seems to be able to give me a straight answer:(

Thanks.

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 13 Nov 2016, 02:04

That's the sort of treatment that many of us expect on a regular basis.
Maybe the two main things to remember are not to refuse a reasonable request and that overtime is not compulsory.

terry2972 · Post by **terry2972** » 13 Nov 2016, 07:08

As far as I am concerned we choose what overtime we do or are we slaves?

lightningpostman · Post by **lightningpostman** » 13 Nov 2016, 09:38

segging?

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 13 Nov 2016, 11:27

lightningpostman wrote:segging?

As in segregating.

In my gaff in which 2 postcodes mail and flats are mixed, separating them into the 2 codes. Sometimes called splitting.

mbavelja · Post by **mbavelja** » 13 Nov 2016, 12:23

TrueBlueTerrier wrote: Sometimes called spitting.

Really?

I think they segregate the mail into PPI first and second class, open collections, mail order returns etc.

crazyshrew · Post by **crazyshrew** » 13 Nov 2016, 13:23

I would say that if RM are paying you whether it be in your contracted ours or on OT, they are entitled to give you any reasonable work-related task.
The only difference is there is no requirement for any of us to perform OT, it is our time that we have kindly agreed to give up for RM's benefit and therefore there is often a little more power on our part, rightly or wrongly, to negotiate the workload and reward we receive.
Your manager is an arse, there were two lots of OT going and he should have been thankful one lot was covered, instead of that and finding someone else to do the rest he decided to play the big i am and bully you into doing something you don't want to do, if it was me I would have politely informed him that OT is my time and therefore my choice what to do with it, I don't want to do an extra half walk so won't be doing anything extra at all.

Being PT myself I fully understand the financial dilemma but, given some recent going ons in my office, it has become clearer than ever that WE are the union, each and every one of us. We can't wait for "the union" to do something because we are it. the power is in our hands.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 13 Nov 2016, 13:49

mbavelja wrote:
TrueBlueTerrier wrote: Sometimes called spitting.
Really?

UnhappyGremlin · Post by **UnhappyGremlin** » 13 Nov 2016, 17:30

You have every right to choose what OT you do or don't do.
They cannot force you to do anything.
Don't be bullied.

OT is completely voluntary, and it's your decision what you do.

Stubs · Post by **Stubs** » 13 Nov 2016, 18:57

Thanks for all the advice guys!

UnhappyGremlin wrote:You have every right to choose what OT you do or don't do.
They cannot force you to do anything.
Don't be bullied.

OT is completely voluntary, and it's your decision what you do.

Excellent, thanks and i won't!:)

Post by **Judgee** » 13 Nov 2016, 19:27

Fortunately RM are so keen to keep the staff count down that they probably couldn't afford to deprive you of overtime out of spite as there is often too much work and not enough workers now.

They wanted less staff now make them suffer for it. Only do the overtime that you want to do, as I suspect they are bluffing about not letting you do any more overtime should you refuse to do the o/t they want you to do!

Post by **woopesh** » 13 Nov 2016, 19:32

I've cut off delivery before to do inward sorting OT. The delivery DOM was not happy. He had a moan at me but I was just like nah, I'm cutting off and going. There was nothing he could do to me, so he had it out with the Inward Sorting Manager instead and told him to back off from "poaching" his staff. Apparently they are completely different departments with different budgets and targets and because I'm a delivery guy, the delivery DOM has to pay out of his budget for my OT regardless of where that OT is done. The official line of Royal Mail is that you can do overtime whereever you want in any part of the company. Just go for what you want. There's nothing your manager can do apart from moan.

sussexlad · Post by **sussexlad** » 13 Nov 2016, 19:52

UnhappyGremlin wrote:You have every right to choose what OT you do or don't do.
They cannot force you to do anything.
Don't be bullied.

OT is completely voluntary, and it's your decision what you do.

Unless he has signed into some SA overtime which he would need to give notice if he wants to stop it. He did say in his OP that he had signed to do segging that day but no other details on what sort of O/T it is.