Later starts

[JKSmudge]

Winter - delivering in the dark & summer delivering during the hottest/sunniest hours - oh and we need to have constant imporvements in performance to get even the smallest of pay rises... They really are taking the p*ss

[parforthewalk]

The idea of later start times in starting to sound a lot more appealing.

Currently on long/shorts starting at 6:30 and finishing 14:00/15:00

Finding myself with the huge increase of workload over the past 5 years feeling fatigued due to lack of sleep and physical exertion.

The only issue I would have is picking the kiddy up after school at 15:40 but the idea of giving up a couple hours of my afternoon to get a full night's sleep and not worry about getting to bed by 10 would be nice

I can see where you are coming from and can sympathise having young kids myself. Unfortunately the problem with posties at Royal Mail is that every time any kind of change is proposed it is met with resistance and cynicism. How can anyone say it would be a bad thing to have later starts if we don't at least give it a try? Too many posties are stuck in the past and still have the job and finish mentality. If we move to being a 8am-4pm operation or even 9am-5pm operation then so what if it means we are better placed as a business to capture the next day delivery market?

Change is never easy but let us open our minds to the possibility that just maybe we can do things a better way.

The trouble is RM have not thought this through properly, i.e logistics of being later out in the day especially in the dark days of winter, extra traffic congestion. Both will add extra time & more than you think.

Have RM also considered the extra H&S issues involved i.e. walking the streets with a trolley in unlit areas (dodgy estates) especially if you are female?

What about dogs out in gardens when it's dark or out on the streets?

Security of mails & van when RM vehicle is parked up & left on dark or poorly lit areas?

Were is the business customer in all of this, as it's likely that some businesses will be shut by the time you get to them?

When you seriously really start looking at the issues that later start throws up, it's a pretty much a step backwards IMHO.

[Ozzvaldo]

I can't wait to deliver schools mail at 4pm. Lol

My partner delivered a school's mail at five past three this afternoon. This is what happens when you have 5 hour delivery spans and don't put your first letter in until 10.35am. There are numerous businesses, including a solicitors office, scattered right across our delivery area. Somebody, somewhere is always going to be dissatisfied.

[Bigbaddaddy11]

delivering in the dark cold wet in the winter. not for me thanks.

good point.......
trips n falls be out the roof! haaaaaaaaaa

[eastie]

Delivering parcels at 5pm, some people don't answer the door after dark

[cpsteve]

People do free work before their start time now they will not change they will work even longer for free .

[Clared]

I use to work 9.00 -5.30 in retail & I hated going home in the dark in the winter months, suppose its ok now but in the winter months massive Health n Safety issues. Falls, safety etc

[aiden01]

delivering in the dark cold wet in the winter. not for me thanks.

I didn't mind delivering in the dark cold wet in the winter from 6am but I won't be delivering in the dark cold wet in the winter up to 6pm .

Correct. In the very early dark morning you owned the street along with perhaps the milkman! In the dark in the winter late afternoon, the low life and his wife is out there!

My wife is always out late

[Stammerking]

Moved on to a Hybrid duty about 4 months ago and am really enjoying it up at 7.30am with my wife and daughter breakfast together wife goes to work early so she can finish early. I start at 9.40am most people are out of the office vehicle parked up not surrounded by other vans. Dont start a minute early prep d2ds as you should do no putting them inside each over. Lapsing giving back on 4 out of the 2 days break taken 40 mins then a collection duty. I am more chilled not bothered about OT and I refuse to work my days off. No issue with my lapsing as its guaranteed the running muppets will be made to take it out

[ernieshoe]

delivering in the dark cold wet in the winter. not for me thanks.

good point.......
trips n falls be out the roof! haaaaaaaaaa

But people on here didn't seem to mind delivering in the dark in the early mornings of winter though eh.
No H + S issues there then........

Simple fact is RM need to capture the Next Day Delivery and changes have to be made.

Letters are declining year on year.

You can't have the good old days back. They are gone.
There's seems a point blank refusal to accept change.
There used to be thousands and thousands of milkman rattling around in the morning. They've gone.
The traditional postman is going the same way.














No H

[ernieshoe]

I use to work 9.00 -5.30 in retail & I hated going home in the dark in the winter months, suppose its ok now but in the winter months massive Health n Safety issues. Falls, safety etc

But we all used to be delivering in the pitch black early winter mornings. Not a soul out in the streets if you had an accident to help.

What's the difference.

Millions and millions of people have to come home from work in the dark.

You can't be wrapped up in cotton wool all your life.
Jesus you're meant to all be adults not 7 year olds !

[osgoody1970]

if letters are declining year on year, should there not be any left, tell a lie often enough, people start to think it's the truth!!!

[ernieshoe]

if letters are declining year on year, should there not be any left, tell a lie often enough, people start to think it's the truth!!!

Of course they are.
Less people send greetings cards - they use social media to send birthday wishes etc.
Less and less people recieve bank statements, credit card statements, mobile phone bills, utility bills - invoices for work carried out is paid for and done on line.
Who pays bills by posting a cheque nowadays - very few people.
Remember all the Sky Mages - gone - online versions.
Hundreds of magazines have gone out of business or moved to online versions.
Trading on ebay is almost all paypal - who pays for an ebay item / amazon item by writing a cheque.
My house move - all the interactions were done on line - my solicitor sent only a final approval by mail - years ago it would have been almost all by paper mail.
Just had 3 contractors do work on my house - all 3 sent invoices by email and I paid by direct bank transfer - no posting at all.
Holiday paid online - E Tickets received via email
Holiday Insurance the same.

Care to disagree with the above.

This will only continue.

Hence decline = less and less year on year.
There will come a time very soon when councils will send council tax bills online.

I think it is more a case of burying your hands in the sand.

Royal Mail need to act now and go for and smash the Next Day delivery market - that is where jobs will be saved.
To do it they need a flexible workforce and union.

[Interested-seeker]

if letters are declining year on year, should there not be any left, tell a lie often enough, people start to think it's the truth!!!

Of course they are.
Less people send greetings cards - they use social media to send birthday wishes etc.
Less and less people recieve bank statements, credit card statements, mobile phone bills, utility bills - invoices for work carried out is paid for and done on line.
Who pays bills by posting a cheque nowadays - very few people.
Remember all the Sky Mages - gone - online versions.
Hundreds of magazines have gone out of business or moved to online versions.
Trading on ebay is almost all paypal - who pays for an ebay item / amazon item by writing a cheque.
My house move - all the interactions were done on line - my solicitor sent only a final approval by mail - years ago it would have been almost all by paper mail.
Just had 3 contractors do work on my house - all 3 sent invoices by email and I paid by direct bank transfer - no posting at all.
Holiday paid online - E Tickets received via email
Holiday Insurance the same.

Care to disagree with the above.

This will only continue.

Hence decline = less and less year on year.
There will come a time very soon when councils will send council tax bills online.

I think it is more a case of burying your hands in the sand.

Royal Mail need to act now and go for and smash the Next Day delivery market - that is where jobs will be saved.
To do it they need a flexible workforce and union.

This is so true. Now I'm sad .

[ernieshoe]

if letters are declining year on year, should there not be any left, tell a lie often enough, people start to think it's the truth!!!

Of course they are.
Less people send greetings cards - they use social media to send birthday wishes etc.
Less and less people recieve bank statements, credit card statements, mobile phone bills, utility bills - invoices for work carried out is paid for and done on line.
Who pays bills by posting a cheque nowadays - very few people.
Remember all the Sky Mages - gone - online versions.
Hundreds of magazines have gone out of business or moved to online versions.
Trading on ebay is almost all paypal - who pays for an ebay item / amazon item by writing a cheque.
My house move - all the interactions were done on line - my solicitor sent only a final approval by mail - years ago it would have been almost all by paper mail.
Just had 3 contractors do work on my house - all 3 sent invoices by email and I paid by direct bank transfer - no posting at all.
Holiday paid online - E Tickets received via email
Holiday Insurance the same.

Care to disagree with the above.

This will only continue.

Hence decline = less and less year on year.
There will come a time very soon when councils will send council tax bills online.

I think it is more a case of burying your hands in the sand.

Royal Mail need to act now and go for and smash the Next Day delivery market - that is where jobs will be saved.
To do it they need a flexible workforce and union.

This is so true. Now I'm sad .

On the positive side though Interested Seeker more and more people are buying things online.
Royal Mail carry 50% of all packets.
With a shift in start times to capture the ever increasing Next Day Delivery and pricing the 2kg upwards parcels more competitively the business can still grow and keep everybody in a job.
If Hermes and some of the other cheap jack delivery services are made to pay their workforce legally Royal Mail should be in a position to take them out of the market.
The van shares are very much a step in the right direction.
This Summer Royal Mail are dropping their prices for 2k - 5Kg parcels so plans seem to be a foot