Lapsing

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 14 Aug 2017, 19:31

It really does boil down to the standard of Manager. If you've got a Good One you'll probably loose him....If you've got a Bloody Idiot then you're stuck with him for life.

We've had a fairly rapid turnover of DOMs, for various reasons, at one stage we just had Temporary DOMs turning up ever now and then. One time No Manager for a fortnight, and then three different ones on three consecutive days!

Latest one...Brilliant...and I'll take my hat to him.

I use the Over Running Procedure, Leave Lapsing if I haven't got the time ... No Problem...No Bullying. He pays overtime without Bullshitting, if it's a Genuine Mistake... It's paid the following week.Even Managed to get the Leave sorted out (for about the first time in 4 years)!

He's even started to deal with the "Old Mafia", sending them back out when they come back early and reminding them that they work for Royal Mail, not the other way around. First time I've seen a Manger effectively deal with the usual Gobshites in WTLL. Needless to say he's being moved on, against his will I'll hasten to add.

But at least we've had a glimpse of what a Good Manger can achieve and it's been really stress free being allowed to get on with the job as it should be done.

Alexei · Post by **Alexei** » 14 Aug 2017, 19:45

Dorset Plodder wrote:It really does boil down to the standard of Manager. If you've got a Good One you'll probably loose him....If you've got a Bloody Idiot then you're stuck with him for life.

We've had a fairly rapid turnover of DOMs, for various reasons, at one stage we just had Temporary DOMs turning up ever now and then. One time No Manager for a fortnight, and then three different ones on three consecutive days!

Latest one...Brilliant...and I'll take my hat to him. I use the Over Running Procedure, Leave Lapsing if I haven't got the time ... No Problem...No Bullying. He pays overtime without Bullshitting, if it's a Genuine Mistake... It's paid the following week.Even Managed to get the Leave sorted out (for about the first time in 4 years)!

He's even started to deal with the "Old Mafia", sending them back out when they come back early and reminding them that they work for Royal Mail, not the other way around. First time I've seen a Manger effectively deal with the usual Gobshites in WTLL. Needless to say he's being moved on, against his will I'll hasten to add. But at least we've had a glimpse of what a Good Manger can achieve and it's been really stress free being allowed to get on with the job as it should be done.

How unfortunate that he's getting moved on. Why are we likely to lose a good manager? I think we all know the qualities on the OPG side that makes a good manager, but I would imagine they are under severe pressure from DSM's, so a good manager for OPG's, may not represent a well functioning unit on the DSM's balance sheet.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 21 Aug 2017, 19:15

Think you've hit the nail on the head Alexei. A "Good" Manager for us Posties isn't necessarily a "Good" Manager for Royal Mail. I'm sure they'd prefer one that cut the overtime to the bone and argued about every minute he has to pay out?

maisymoo04 · Post by **maisymoo04** » 01 Oct 2017, 20:18

don't cry plodder your like the rest of us now bud

Post by **Brandy** » 01 Oct 2017, 22:30

The trouble with RM is they dont want managers with man management skills,who treat their workers with respect,they want managers who are bullies and lie to their staff,what a disgrace they are!!!!

bmccoll · Post by **bmccoll** » 01 Oct 2017, 23:00

Brandy wrote:The trouble with RM is they dont want managers with man management skills,who treat their workers with respect,they want managers who are bullies and lie to their staff,what a disgrace they are!!!!

Agreed. Inspectors at our office are generally good guys under increasing pressure from above. They are instructed to lapse ever more walks and if they can't, have to justify it. They get paid a bit more than regular posties but I wouldn't have their job for all the tea in China.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 02 Oct 2017, 15:55

DGH wrote:
But while a substantial (and it is quite substantial) minority of delivery officers are not honest about when they can and cannot lapse, while most managers will not back their honest staff and will not challenge those routinely lying about their capabilities but will happily pressure many who are truthful, while the whole of the RM way of working is essentially dysfunctional, it's not going to happen.

I agree with your thoughts DGH. I used to work in an organisation that would "Genuinely" try and solve problems. Both Management & Workforce were on the same side... trying to solve the problem. Yes we were honest about the problems and everyone did their best to solve them. This is the kind of model we need in Royal Mail .... BUT I know it'll never happen. As you mention this Company is dysfunctional!

They way Management Bonuses are worked out is part of the problem. Some Managers seem hell bent on getting as much as they can by savings, bullying Posties to lapse and do overtime, hassling people to return from sick early anything and everything they can do to squeeze a bit more bonus!

This doesn't encourage them to tell the truth if it effects their bonus, or makes them look bad.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 02 Oct 2017, 16:09

maisymoo04 wrote:don't cry plodder your like the rest of us now bud

At least we've had crap Managers before Maisymoo, so we know what to expect.

Ironically sometimes it's easier to have a Crap manager as you don't feel obliged to help him out, or do him a favour. With a Crap manager it's just "NO Thank You I don't want any overtime" from day one.

It's very hard to run a Delivery Office if there's no Good Will from the Posties so I don't know why some DOMs try it on in their early days? Perhaps they're seeing what they can get away with?

Plod · Post by **Plod** » 02 Oct 2017, 23:15

postslippete wrote:This is not how you expect a 1st class company to be run with managers trying to bully and coerce staff in taking the work.

Most posties don't want the hassle of it all and its about time the CWU started to get a grip on Royal Mail's practices. But they never do. They leave it all for the individual postie to sort out. Its almost like we pay them subs and they are there but they are not there if you know what I mean??

On point one the problem is RM are NOT a 1st class company they just think they are. Constantly giving it the big one about best terms and conditions in the industry then comparing the job of a postman with 1200+ items comprising letters, parcels, leaflets, Tracked, Signed For, SD and oversize with a van driver with 86 items to deliver. Not really quite the same is it?!!!

Despite the RM bull, the facts are quite different if you are really interested in the truth... they don't offer the best terms or conditions or have the highest pay. Plenty of driving jobs pay less of course but Yodel and Hermes are hardly good comparisons because there are other delivery jobs that pay more than RM and that is a FACT.

On point 2 this is essentially the problem and it depends how good the CWU are in your office. At mine they are awful and that is why around 20+ have left the union in the last few years. On a national level the CWU do a good job but at badly run units like the one where I work, management pretty much do as they please whereas in other offices they' wouldn't stand for it because they have well drilled reps who take no crap.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 03 Oct 2017, 07:08

Plod wrote:On point 2 this is essentially the problem and it depends how good the CWU are in your office. At mine they are awful and that is why around 20+ have left the union in the last few years. On a national level the CWU do a good job but at badly run units like the one where I work, management pretty much do as they please whereas in other offices they' wouldn't stand for it because they have well drilled reps who take no crap.

You all must be happy with it otherwise why hasn't one of you put your name down to either become the rep or to replace the existing rep?

Plod · Post by **Plod** » 03 Oct 2017, 07:55

SpacePhoenix wrote:
Plod wrote:On point 2 this is essentially the problem and it depends how good the CWU are in your office. At mine they are awful and that is why around 20+ have left the union in the last few years. On a national level the CWU do a good job but at badly run units like the one where I work, management pretty much do as they please whereas in other offices they' wouldn't stand for it because they have well drilled reps who take no crap.
You all must be happy with it otherwise why hasn't one of you put your name down to either become the rep or to replace the existing rep?

We now have a new rep so we will see if the situation improves. The problem is most folks dont want the union job for various reasons.The last 3 have been unable to stop management pretty much doing what they want. It's not a question of being happy with working in a badly run unit, it's a question of individual's being able to do little about it when the CWU are not challenging RM on issues they should be.

I wouldn't run my business the way our office is. Nobody expects the place to be perfect and anyone with any sense knows neither the CWU or RM have a magic wand to fix everything but there's got to be a better way than daily chaos, majority part time staff and uneven and unfair workloads.

peshwaarinaan · Post by **peshwaarinaan** » 06 Oct 2017, 14:54

I'm on a part-time round next week with another part-timer. Am I right in thinking we can refuse to do the lapsing? We will both be going over as it is.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 06 Oct 2017, 15:51

peshwaarinaan wrote:I'm on a part-time round next week with another part-timer. Am I right in thinking we can refuse to do the lapsing? We will both be going over as it is.

The only thing you truly have control over in this business is.... your contracted hours. Therefore if you're meant to finish at 14.00 (don't forget that includes taking your allotted Meal Relief) then you can't be made to work beyond that time.

Simply tell your Manager that you need to finish at your allotted time. Don't say, "I'm NOT Lapsing I haven't got the time", just ask him how he wants to deal with it? He may very well say take the lapsing but leave some of the duty you're covering, he may say leave some packets, but at the end of the day it's his job to solve the problem and tell you what to do.

He will inevitably try and give you some BS such as, "Well take it all with you and see how you go it's not too heavy today".

At this stage I would suggest telling him you will be phoning him say 30 mins before your duty ends and telling him how much duty you've got left to deliver, and again asking him what he's going to do about it? Sometimes it just feels like a childish game that they like to play..... but that doesn't mean you've got to join in with them! Good Luck.

peshwaarinaan · Post by **peshwaarinaan** » 06 Oct 2017, 17:14

Dorset Plodder wrote:
peshwaarinaan wrote:I'm on a part-time round next week with another part-timer. Am I right in thinking we can refuse to do the lapsing? We will both be going over as it is.
The only thing you truly have control over in this business is.... your contracted hours. Therefore if you're meant to finish at 14.00 (don't forget that includes taking your allotted Meal Relief) then you can't be made to work beyond that time.

Simply tell your Manager that you need to finish at your allotted time. Don't say, "I'm NOT Lapsing I haven't got the time", just ask him how he wants to deal with it? He may very well say take the lapsing but leave some of the duty you're covering, he may say leave some packets, but at the end of the day it's job to solve the problem and tell you what to do.

He will inevitably try and give you some BS such as, "Well take it all with you and see how you go it's not too heavy today". At this stage I would suggest telling him you will be phoning him say 30 mins before your duty ends and telling him how much duty you've got left to deliver, and again asking him what he's going to do about it? Sometimes it just feels like a childish game that they like to play..... but that doesn't mean you've got to join in with them! Good Luck.

Thank you! I will be strong!!!!