As it gets busier, don't get bullied

[Creditshampoo]

I've seen recently many posts from newer OPGs that they were not aware of being entitled to things such as having a paid meal relief, and what to do in the event management try and make them feel bad for wanting to finish on time so I thought I'd set the record straight a bit.

Lets get this straight -

1 - Overloading OPGs with work, which is impossible to deliver in the amount of time given is bullying.
2 - Sitting and timing members for long periods of time whilst they're prepping their frames is bullying.
3 - Comparing OPGs performance to other OPGS who aren't doing the job properly, such as coming in early and not taking breaks is bullying.
4 - Saying the OPGs call rate is far too low to cut off. There is no agreed minimum call rate, all overtime is voluntary.

Employers have a duty under the Health and Safety at work act 1974 to ensure the health, safety and welfare of staff, this includes being stressed.

I've found a great PDF about this, and the poster is attached to this thread in PDF form for anyone who wishes to print it out.

Take notes with the events along with times and witnesses, if it comes to having to lodge a bullying and harassment complaint this would be very handy to have to help you fight this all too common bullying culture in which can often be described as toxic.

Where managers don't follow procedure, put a Grievance in immediately. If they make it personal seek help from your rep and put in a bullying complaint.

If anyone has any other things to add, I'll happily add them into this post.

[JKSmudge]

Also, we are consistently receiving reports that where overtime is worked managers are not paying members for that work. This is not unlawful and contrary to the agreements that we have with the business. Please ensure you report all incidents of non-payment of overtime to your CWU union rep

Can you please clarify the highlighted section? Thanks

[Creditshampoo]

Also, we are consistently receiving reports that where overtime is worked managers are not paying members for that work. This is not unlawful and contrary to the agreements that we have with the business. Please ensure you report all incidents of non-payment of overtime to your CWU union rep

Can you please clarify the highlighted section? Thanks

I guess it’s about staff going over their time and management refusing to pay, most likely a local issue somewhere.
Just realised you meant the not unlawful part. The word not clearly isn’t needed

[JKSmudge]

Cheers, thought so :D

[Brandy]

Also, we are consistently receiving reports that where overtime is worked managers are not paying members for that work. This is not unlawful and contrary to the agreements that we have with the business. Please ensure you report all incidents of non-payment of overtime to your CWU union rep

Can you please clarify the highlighted section? Thanks

I guess it’s about staff going over their time and management refusing to pay, most likely a local issue somewhere.
Just realised you meant the not unlawful part. The word not clearly isn’t needed

Whenever I used to say I was going over and could you put me on the overtime list please I always used to say please all I got was WHY!! Even though there was a lot of mail I was made to feel useless. Are the managers thick or what? They used to put some peoples name on the list to pay overtime but only their favourites others got cast aside or told they were not up to the job and never got paid.Surely this is unlawful? Will RM ever realise how to motivate their staff is to treat them fairly and with respect,not to treat them like s...
I just cannot get my head round why RM managers have to use bullying tactics,do they honestly think they get the best out of their workforce by treating their employees in such an appalling way.A HAPPY WORKFORCE IS AN PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE.

[Lincox]

Sadly Brandy, Royal Mail do not include People Management in their training of Managers. These people are thrown in to the job, just as delivery staff are now thrown in to the job without training, and they are held to account by their senior managers. Their only remit is to get all work done at any cost and without doubt they are given their instructions on how to achieve this from above. It is an utter disgrace and in my opinion is nearly as bad as the sex scandal that is going on, the way staff are being treated by the despicable management.

[Jpro747]

Management need to realise that the workload varies from day to day, it's the nature of the job. So if we think we're going over then so be it - we're the ones doing you a favour by working over our time so we should be paid for it, end of.

[Brandy]

Management need to realise that the workload varies from day to day, it's the nature of the job. So if we think we're going over then so be it - we're the ones doing you a favour by working over our time so we should be paid for it, end of.

The trouble is they dont want to realise the workload varies each day.They lie so much about the figures,in the end you dont know what is true and what isnt.

[BarnsleyLackey]

Management need to realise that the workload varies from day to day, it's the nature of the job. So if we think we're going over then so be it - we're the ones doing you a favour by working over our time so we should be paid for it, end of.

The trouble is they dont want to realise the workload varies each day.They lie so much about the figures,in the end you dont know what is true and what isnt.

Best to not believe anything they say. Even when they resort to bringing out the printouts. Go by your eye.

[Creditshampoo]

Oh I love them bringing out the traffic figures.
“Yea I don’t care to be honest”

[Brandy]

Sadly Brandy, Royal Mail do not include People Management in their training of Managers. These people are thrown in to the job, just as delivery staff are now thrown in to the job without training, and they are held to account by their senior managers. Their only remit is to get all work done at any cost and without doubt they are given their instructions on how to achieve this from above. It is an utter disgrace and in my opinion is nearly as bad as the sex scandal that is going on, the way staff are being treated by the despicable management.

Perhaps one day sooner rather than later RM management will be held to account for their terrible treatment of their staff.

[toomuchcoke]

Also, we are consistently receiving reports that where overtime is worked managers are not paying members for that work. This is not unlawful and contrary to the agreements that we have with the business. Please ensure you report all incidents of non-payment of overtime to your CWU union rep

Can you please clarify the highlighted section? Thanks

I guess it’s about staff going over their time and management refusing to pay, most likely a local issue somewhere.
Just realised you meant the not unlawful part. The word not clearly isn’t needed

There's also the variation where the manager agrees the OT and then, after the OPG in question has gone out on delivery, changes their mind "because IWLT says you should've got out earlier than you did" and reduces the amount of OT they're going to pay but doesn't bother informing the OPG in question who only finds out when their payslip arrives the following week!

[DGH]

What we need to start doing is standing up for colleagues who are being harassed about this kind of thing. We all need to, not just leave it to (often disinterested) union reps or to the people who are being so persecuted (who are often junior staff). If you hear a manager say something that isn't correct (like using the worktool to determine whether a walk is deliverable) then challenge them. It's hard and nobody likes confrontation but if you don't, sadly you're complicit.

[Brandy]

Also, we are consistently receiving reports that where overtime is worked managers are not paying members for that work. This is not unlawful and contrary to the agreements that we have with the business. Please ensure you report all incidents of non-payment of overtime to your CWU union rep

Can you please clarify the highlighted section? Thanks

I guess it’s about staff going over their time and management refusing to pay, most likely a local issue somewhere.
Just realised you meant the not unlawful part. The word not clearly isn’t needed

There's also the variation where the manager agrees the OT and then, after the OPG in question has gone out on delivery, changes their mind "because IWLT says you should've got out earlier than you did" and reduces the amount of OT they're going to pay but doesn't bother informing the OPG in question who only finds out when their payslip arrives the following week!

That often used to happen,surely that is fraud,think they used to alter the OT to pay less so that it looked better for them and increased their bonus.Sheer greed again

[BarnsleyLackey]

Sadly Brandy, Royal Mail do not include People Management in their training of Managers. These people are thrown in to the job, just as delivery staff are now thrown in to the job without training, and they are held to account by their senior managers. Their only remit is to get all work done at any cost and without doubt they are given their instructions on how to achieve this from above. It is an utter disgrace and in my opinion is nearly as bad as the sex scandal that is going on, the way staff are being treated by the despicable management.

The sex scandal is small fry in RM terms. We've had a cheeky chappy dismissed, and re-instated. All tied up with a nice bow - He won't be back here again.
Clearly RM value their managers' passion for pushing their workforce to breaking point, and are willing to turn a blind eye to any and all behaviours.
I really cannot wait to read the results of the punch-up that happened down south.