Swapping walks

paulf0203 · Post by **paulf0203** » 27 Nov 2017, 14:06

Can two colleagues in an office just decide to swap walks, or is there a process to follow?

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 27 Nov 2017, 14:24

I believe you probably should do something "Officially", but in the Real World of Posties does it make a difference? Provided you both deliver each others duty I can't see a problem.

We all talk about "Signing for Duties" but I don't think I've ever actually signed on a piece of paper for any duty I've delivered. Needless to say it'll all be fine until something goes wrong and then they'll use it as a shitty stick to beat you with. I would have thought all the DOM was interested in was getting both duties delivered.

geordieboy123 · Post by **geordieboy123** » 27 Nov 2017, 14:41

Dorset Plodder wrote:I believe you probably should do something "Officially", but in the Real World of Posties does it make a difference? Provided you both deliver each others duty I can't see a problem.

We all talk about "Signing for Duties" but I don't think I've ever actually signed on a piece of paper for any duty I've delivered. Needless to say it'll all be fine until something goes wrong and then they'll use it as a shitty stick to beat you with. I would have thought all the DOM was interested in was getting both duties delivered.

If someone wants to give up their walk should it not be advertised rather than them come to a private arrangement with one of their mates?

crazyshrew · Post by **crazyshrew** » 27 Nov 2017, 14:50

How big a gap is there between the two?
If for example postie A had enough seniority to have had their pick of the walks and postie B is 20 or so places below them, there will be pleanty of peed off posties in the middle who have been bypassed for a particular walk.

Unless there is an equality act issue involved or some other very special circumstance at play, if the posties don't want the walks they are on they should give them up and play seniority roulette like the rest of the office

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 27 Nov 2017, 14:54

geordieboy123 wrote:
If someone wants to give up their walk should it not be advertised rather than them come to a private arrangement with one of their mates?

I see where you're coming from, and perhaps there's something in rules & regulations that says so. However like I say in the Real World ...... I suppose in theory if both duties are equal and they want to swap, there's actually no chance that one of those duties would become available. If one duty was FT and the other PT then maybe. The only time we have duties advertised is when someone actually leaves, and then they often try and slip one of the "Chosen Few" onto an easy duty.

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 27 Nov 2017, 15:15

Dorset Plodder wrote:
geordieboy123 wrote:
If someone wants to give up their walk should it not be advertised rather than them come to a private arrangement with one of their mates?
I see where you're coming from, and perhaps there's something in rules & regulations that says so. However like I say in the Real World ...... I suppose in theory if both duties are equal and they want to swap, there's actually no chance that one of those duties would become available. If one duty was FT and the other PT then maybe. The only time we have duties advertised is when someone actually leaves, and then they often try and slip one of the "Chosen Few" onto an easy duty.

"in theory if both duties are equal"

but in theory ALL duties are equal.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 27 Nov 2017, 15:20

Lounge Lizard wrote:
"in theory if both duties are equal" but in theory ALL duties are equal.

Ha Ha Yeah.... "But some duties are more equal than others"!

Post by **Lounge Lizard** » 27 Nov 2017, 15:55

Dorset Plodder wrote:
Lounge Lizard wrote:
"in theory if both duties are equal" but in theory ALL duties are equal.
Ha Ha Yeah.... "But some duties are more equal than others"!

Yes indeed.

lala · Post by **lala** » 27 Nov 2017, 16:52

I would think it would need to be an official thing.

Imagine a postie with an "easy" walk is about to leave the business.

He swaps with his mate who has a crap walk.

He then leaves after a week on a crap walk leaving his mate laughing.

Does that seem right?

postslippete · Post by **postslippete** » 27 Nov 2017, 17:05

Only when they leave should the duty be officially advertised. However, I know of a few occasions where this hasn't happened with the boss fobbing others off with the fact that they have "special requirements" based on the Equality Act and they cannot disclose such information about it.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 27 Nov 2017, 19:38

postslippete wrote:Only when they leave should the duty be officially advertised. However, I know of a few occasions where this hasn't happened with the boss fobbing others off with the fact that they have "special requirements" based on the Equality Act and they cannot disclose such information about it.

Even if you suspect its fobbing off the manager is correct about not being able to disclose information about it. If he did so it would break 2 laws simultaneously.

geordieboy123 · Post by **geordieboy123** » 27 Nov 2017, 21:42

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:
postslippete wrote:Only when they leave should the duty be officially advertised. However, I know of a few occasions where this hasn't happened with the boss fobbing others off with the fact that they have "special requirements" based on the Equality Act and they cannot disclose such information about it.
Even if you suspect its fobbing off the manager is correct about not being able to disclose information about it. If he did so it would break 2 laws simultaneously.

Is it right then teebs that they can just swap duties?

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 28 Nov 2017, 16:38

Operationally on a given day yes.

Over an extended period without Union input and with no good reason - No.

However, they can, again with Union being informed, change duties to meet legal requirements. This includes, but isn't limited to "Reasonable Adjustments" for DA compliance or even Drivers being banned from driving because of legal infringements.

In both the above cases people can be moved from and to different duties, hopefully with their agreement. However, those people couldn't and indeed shouldn't know the reasons why.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 28 Nov 2017, 18:03

TrueBlueTerrier wrote: Even if you suspect its fobbing off the manager is correct about not being able to disclose information about it. If he did so it would break 2 laws simultaneously.

I hear what you're saying here about disclosing confidential information. I suppose we just have to believe the DOM, because DOMs would never lie just to make their own lives easier, or to favour cronies would they?

Surely this info should be verified by someone neutral? We had a particularly lazy PHG who because he did a lot of the DOMs paperwork & reports for him was just allowed to sit around the office all day doing very little. When someone phoned in sick the DOM wanted to lapse another duty so we all said, "Why can't Bill take the walk out"? (names have been changed to protect the guilty) "Because he has a Medical condition that prevents him doing Delivery" replied the DOM. Cut a long story short.... Turns out he had a "bad" knee. We nearly pissed ourselves laughing

As we all stood about with Aching Shoulders, Bad Backs, Gammy Knees, Gout, Planters etc.

I do appreciate some people do have genuine problems that need accommodating, but as always it's dishonest Managers that undermine the trust within the business.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 28 Nov 2017, 18:15

The rep, as long as he is accredited, is the "neutral" in this case, and I believe (but correct me if I am wrong) is allowed access to certain information in cases such as this, but again there are checks and balances and legal obligations and penalties in place if the rep divulges protected information.