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THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
britwrit
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 967
Joined: 22 Apr 2007, 15:12

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by britwrit »

ranger1 wrote:What royal mail directors cannot see.. if the entire work force walked out.... for say 2 weeks...

The business would collapse....

They think because they pay you.. they own you as robots.... they think your life belongs to them...

I cannot think why in the 21 st century... they think backwards....

Exactly. Institutional memory on how to do the job is what keeps this business - down on the ground, on a day to day level - running.

But wow, sounds great that the OP got out. It shows that if you can do this job well, there are better jobs out that you can get.
robbertwhitton
Posts: 1132
Joined: 30 Aug 2010, 19:06
Gender: Male

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by robbertwhitton »

Really doesn't need a lot more saying doesn't it,not a rant or a rave,just simply stating the facts,far removed from fiction,a very well put letter,some my well challenge your wording but many will relate to it all,I am in my 36 year now and it's a mind field of red tape and penny pinching number crunching with quality of service sadly at times lacking,I wish you well my friend.
mrpostiepat
Posts: 16
Joined: 13 Aug 2013, 23:14
Gender: Male

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by mrpostiepat »

This is probably the best post I have ever read on here. I can relate to every bit and I can only see it getting worse in the coming months. As others have already stated, this used to be a decent job but not anymore. Sick of going into work every morning to be given an unmanageable workload and having an arguement with my lino as to why I can't complete. Best of luck in the new job :thumbup
Brandy
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 729
Joined: 12 Sep 2011, 21:03
Gender: Female

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by Brandy »

Theghost wrote:I Left Royal Mail 6 weeks ago :dance After 20 + years service i made probably the hardest decision of my life.
I loved the job but the last few years it has been a drag,I kept my head down,Did my job and worked until my time.

The arguments of why did i need to leave mail stopped,I got into the habit of saying to them "What do you want me to do,Leave it in or bring it back"
I never gave them the option of anything else and if they questioned me i told them quite simply they were welcome to come out,But this is what needs to stay in.

It depressed me seeing managers bully others on a daily basis,Basically calling hardworking people liars because they could not complete the poorly planned round on time,Women reduced to tears by them because they had children to pick up from school,There is nothing worse than knowing you wont be able to complete only for a manager to say you can,Treated like children and no respect,Yet they always ask for it from us,Its a two way thing.

The battles to get time off,Holidays constantly turned down,Aching body,Sore feet,Lack of sleep thinking about going into work! The same cry babys in the office crying about the same old trivial things,The working for free early starters,Scan this,Scan that,The weather! Too wet,Too hot,Or too cold,Not knowing who my partner was from one day to the next,D2D I always hated doing those bastards 5 or 6 a week,But its ok they take no time.................
An office FULL of unhappy postmen,The job had turned into a depression for me.

After doing my new job for some time,Without going into too much detail,It is the total opposite,A place full of happy people and not one person complaining about the management,Just praise.
Realistic workloads,Appreciative managers who dont mind people having a chat and a laugh as long as the work is complete.
Monday-Friday 37.5 hour week.
The saying a happy workplace is a productive one is spot on and im loving every minute,I feel like i have my Mojo back.

It has made me realise how hard Royal mail workers work,The bosses are whipping willing horses and no doubt plenty will bolt in the coming months/years,SHAME ON YOU ROYAL MAIL,YOU ARE A DISGRACE!

When i tell the people i now work with the things being a postman entails,I dont think they quite believe me,It is a hard hard job,All the times i said to myself there must be something better out there has been born true,To anyone not sure of making the jump,Do not hesitate,I have worked with some fantastic people over the years and Royal mail do not deserve 90% of them.

I wish all of you the best,Do not let them grind you down,They hire your Labour for 39 hours per week,Or whatever you work,It does not entitle them to treat you like dirt and speak to you like crap and expect you to flog yourself for an extra 2,3 or 4 hours after your time.
Solidarity is a must over the coming months and years,Stick with your Union and stand strong together and should the dreaded strikes come,I shall be visiting my old Comrades with some goodies and Moral support.

I have nothing but respect for you all and always will. :wave
I totally totally agree with everything you say,I left recently after 19 years service,and it was a hard decision to make,but I had had enough of the bullying managers.They had no man management skills at all and RM should be ashamed at the way the posties are treated.I was made to hate the job I loved.
Whenever I tell people how I was treated by management they find it unbelieveable,comments like I thought RM was a good firm to work for,I say it used to be,not anymore.Royal Mail are a disgrace. You posties are a great bunch of hard working people and its about time RM appreciated you,but I dont suppose they ever will. Just stick together,and all the best. :wave
Smir
Posts: 124
Joined: 31 Aug 2016, 16:48
Gender: Male

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by Smir »

Nice to see you happy in a new job, what industry was it you went into? if you don't mind me asking :)
Ricardo44
Posts: 164
Joined: 15 Dec 2013, 20:34
Gender: Male

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by Ricardo44 »

Agree with everything in your post..and the other comments on here about working for RM now.

Good luck with your new job.. :wave
Bella2013
Posts: 11
Joined: 29 Nov 2015, 21:50
Gender: Female

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by Bella2013 »

Good on you. I've been checking job sites recently. I'm only on a 20hr contract and I'm sick to death of all the hassle I get if I try and leave anything on days when I need to pick my kids up. I get threatened with all sorts, taken into the DOM's office, then saying 'we're going to have to look into this' etc even though I work over nearly every day when I can. I've only been here a few years don't know how people have stuck it out for 40+!!! It's such a shame because I do actually enjoy the job.
MRSCOOP
Posts: 16
Joined: 08 Oct 2015, 18:10
Gender: Male

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by MRSCOOP »

A great post from The Ghost
Walk in the Rain and Walk in the Sun....
OnAFlyer
Posts: 1938
Joined: 16 Aug 2009, 14:24
Gender: Male

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by OnAFlyer »

Bella2013 wrote:Good on you. I've been checking job sites recently. I'm only on a 20hr contract and I'm sick to death of all the hassle I get if I try and leave anything on days when I need to pick my kids up. I get threatened with all sorts, taken into the DOM's office, then saying 'we're going to have to look into this' etc even though I work over nearly every day when I can. I've only been here a few years don't know how people have stuck it out for 40+!!! It's such a shame because I do actually enjoy the job.
It's not like that in every office, it depends on your manager(s). I never work over unless it's 15-20 minutes I've miscalculated when I've cut off, and we regularly cut off 4-6 bags.

Bullying is rife when it comes to managers trying to get people to take stuff, that much is obvious. But as long as your work rate is up to scratch there isn't a thing they can do.
Brandy
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 729
Joined: 12 Sep 2011, 21:03
Gender: Female

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by Brandy »

mrpostiepat wrote:This is probably the best post I have ever read on here. I can relate to every bit and I can only see it getting worse in the coming months. As others have already stated, this used to be a decent job but not anymore. Sick of going into work every morning to be given an unmanageable workload and having an arguement with my lino as to why I can't complete. Best of luck in the new job :thumbup
I totally agree with you It is possibly the best post I have ever read on this site,just saying exactly as it is. :Applause
loverman shabba
Posts: 238
Joined: 11 Jul 2013, 15:15
Gender: Male

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by loverman shabba »

i hope to be getting out in the next few months too. after 14 years i think i have served my time/life sentence. last 5 or 6 years have just been a drag getting worse year after year. i do have a job in mind which would be more hours but plenty more money but if that doesn't happen id gladly work somewhere for less money to get away from the shocking atmosphere in my office. clueless management, too many lazy feckers/con men
yubin282
Posts: 994
Joined: 25 Jul 2014, 19:18
Gender: Male

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by yubin282 »

loverman shabba wrote:i hope to be getting out in the next few months too. after 14 years i think i have served my time/life sentence. last 5 or 6 years have just been a drag getting worse year after year. i do have a job in mind which would be more hours but plenty more money but if that doesn't happen id gladly work somewhere for less money to get away from the shocking atmosphere in my office. clueless management, too many lazy feckers/con men
totally agree, I'm the same almost 13 years service applied for 2 jobs last week a bit less money but i want out NOW
bustedflush
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 1493
Joined: 16 Feb 2013, 11:19
Gender: Male

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by bustedflush »

Good luck to the OP - it takes a while to get used to not being an OPG, having Saturdays off, not getting up early etc. You may have mild PTSD you aren't aware of now. I have flashbacks to bad rounds and bad days when I was stressed by being moved or a stupid amount to do although 2/3 of the time it was OK. Even now, 9 months later I still get the odd negative thought and cast my mind back to a particularly hideous round or day I had there and have to remind myself I won't ever have to go through it again.

People may laugh or mock this, but the OP said himself he couldn't sleep sometimes due to dreading work the next day, so he was undoubtedly stressed to quite an extent. You leave and get a mental form of what a diver would call 'the bends' - basically it's the sudden 'de-stressing' as you've gone from one extreme to the other overnight and your psyche can't keep up and instantly forget those habits, routines and negative emotions you've had for 20 years. Concentrating on your new position will distract you somewhat, but it may come back and bite occasionally in moments when you are alone or in a contemplative frame of mind.

Some of you with purple names may be able to relate to the above, but to posters still in the job, especially those being bullied, overworked or stressed you may be surprised at the after effects when you've left! It's not like pulling a bad tooth out and the pain is instantly over, as you may or may not discover.

Sounds like the OP has found something he enjoys, and you can't put a price on that! :thumbup
Postie45
Posts: 2160
Joined: 21 Aug 2012, 23:05
Gender: Male

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by Postie45 »

i hope to be leaving over the next 6-12 months too. Being treated like scum when informing them you wont be able to get to the extra work theyve put on for you when you know youve put a good shift in that day and finishing on time, sure some people in the business take the piss but the managers want to tar all with same brush.
Theghost
EX ROYAL MAIL
Posts: 417
Joined: 17 Mar 2009, 16:44
Gender: Male

THERE IS LIFE AFTER ROYAL MAIL

Post by Theghost »

I never actually said a thank you to all those who replied,So a belated Thank you.
A short update,I am still loving the new job,Looking forward to the working day again is a great feeling.
I watch with a close eye on all matters Royal Mail,Hard not to after being in the job for over half my life,I would like to wish you the best with the possibility of upcoming industrial action,Stand strong and you are with very very good reason to strike,I find their offer insulting and degrading to you all,Shame on them and their greed.
Striking is never a nice option but sometimes it is the only option,To those of you thinking of voting no,You are worth so much more,Good luck!