No seats or stools on frames?

templek · Post by **templek** » 09 Dec 2016, 05:25

A mate is working as a Xmas casual at Mount Pleasant doing nights. He said staff are not allowed to sit on the frames as they sort Mail. They have to stand for whole 8 hour shift, unless they have a medical reason.

Anyone know why this is? He did ask a manager but she had no idea. Is it new health & safety rules? Will it apply to the rest of Royal Mail?

deltaforce · Post by **deltaforce** » 09 Dec 2016, 18:02

They have probably worked out that letters are sorted at a faster rate standing versus sitting. It's just another page out of compassion free style of management we see more of these days.

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 09 Dec 2016, 19:23

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
Section 11.
Paragraph (3) A suitable seat shall be provided for each person at work in the workplace whose work includes operations of a kind that the work (or a substantial part of it) can or must be done sitting.

Kings Norton · Post by **Kings Norton** » 09 Dec 2016, 19:35

templek wrote:A mate is working as a Xmas casual at Mount Pleasant doing nights. He said staff are not allowed to sit on the frames as they sort Mail. They have to stand for whole 8 hour shift, unless they have a medical reason.

Anyone know why this is? He did ask a manager but she had no idea. Is it new health & safety rules? Will it apply to the rest of Royal Mail?

I sit dowm every day take my seat away and i go very very slow simple!

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 09 Dec 2016, 21:26

templek wrote:A mate is working as a Xmas casual at Mount Pleasant doing nights. He said staff are not allowed to sit on the frames as they sort Mail. They have to stand for whole 8 hour shift, unless they have a medical reason.

Anyone know why this is? He did ask a manager but she had no idea. Is it new health & safety rules? Will it apply to the rest of Royal Mail?

it would be a shame if they got bad backs and had to miss a few days / weeks because of this, cant be good for your back standing at a frame for that long without really moving

Jpro747 · Post by **Jpro747** » 09 Dec 2016, 21:54

Theres a few stools on my frame, the DOM won't let us go to the toilets anymore as it takes up too much time so we have to go at our frames now

Post by **Lincox** » 09 Dec 2016, 23:05

Those large redirection bags must come in handy then.

templek · Post by **templek** » 11 Dec 2016, 04:28

He told me, the staff often end up leaning on the frames as they work, they were told not to sit on them as they sort which some started doing. Most cant wait for the break at 2am, not because of hunger but to have a sit down. As the night progresses the casuals can be seen shaking and stretching their legs. many keep taking frequent toilet breaks to sit for five minutes or more so.

The plot thickens. The permanent staff all have seats/chairs on their frames, and the manager who said she didnt know why the removed the seats, because they had them last year, uses a seat on the frame where she works! He said the Union reps dont seem interested because they are only xmas casuals. Surely Union reps have a duty to all staff and not just permanent? If they can see what is going on why dont they raise with it management? Im sure some who work at Mount Pleasant are probably reading this and must be aware? If permanent staff, as well as saturday permanents, part timers etc were treated like that, would it cause some industrial action or formal discussions with Management?

Post by **baldrick** » 11 Dec 2016, 07:27

Postie45 wrote:it would be a shame if they got bad backs and had to miss a few days / weeks because of this, cant be good for your back standing at a frame for that long without really moving

Any casual going sick would not be taken back. Even being a minute late will result in them being told they are not needed.

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 11 Dec 2016, 12:04

templek wrote:He told me, the staff often end up leaning on the frames as they work, they were told not to sit on them as they sort which some started doing. Most cant wait for the break at 2am, not because of hunger but to have a sit down. As the night progresses the casuals can be seen shaking and stretching their legs. many keep taking frequent toilet breaks to sit for five minutes or more so.

The plot thickens. The permanent staff all have seats/chairs on their frames, and the manager who said she didnt know why the removed the seats, because they had them last year, uses a seat on the frame where she works! He said the Union reps dont seem interested because they are only xmas casuals. Surely Union reps have a duty to all staff and not just permanent? If they can see what is going on why dont they raise with it management? Im sure some who work at Mount Pleasant are probably reading this and must be aware? If permanent staff, as well as saturday permanents, part timers etc were treated like that, would it cause some industrial action or formal discussions with Management?

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
Section 11.
Paragraph (3) "A suitable seat shall be provided for each person at work in the workplace whose work includes operations of a kind that the work (or a substantial part of it) can or must be done sitting".

templek · Post by **templek** » 14 Dec 2016, 09:09

Chairs and stools have now been provided for the xmas casuals, so maybe some managers at Mount Pleasant have seen this thread and acted!

Post by **wacko74** » 14 Dec 2016, 09:59

I've said it before and I'll say it again... adult size baby bouncers are what we need, the perfect solution for being able to take the weight off our legs but still be able to reach the far corners of the frame whilst sorting.