Newbie starting this week...

South_London_Postie · Post by **South_London_Postie** » 08 Dec 2017, 02:23

Come to think of it, it was about 5 or 6 before I was out delivering alone. 5 minutes that is !!

whosBenj · Post by **whosBenj** » 08 Dec 2017, 16:34

Well, it certainly was 'guff' about being eased in, I was out delivering within the first hour...

The guy I'm with is great though and it actually couldn't have been much easier *today* + other than my feet feeling a little worn I'm feeling amazing! (Let's hope I'll feel the same in the morning). Don't worry, I'm under no illusion, I know it'll get tougher, especially when I'm out on my own, but I'm shadowing him again tomorrow, so will just reinforce all I've learnt today. Have written plenty of notes too.

Slightly concerned I've not received my contract yet and didn't actually meet any management today, so I guess I'll ask about that tomorrow.

Any ideas when I'll have a driving assessment?

Seymour Buts · Post by **Seymour Buts** » 08 Dec 2017, 20:30

Driving assessment depends, in our office I've known it be within a matter of days or in my case it was a month. It depends what management plan to do with you after your easing in I guess. In my case I was paired with experianced posties for a few months so they didn't need me driving right away, the policy seems to have changed in our officrme though. Newbies lately have been given a single duty to do for a while so they can go at their own pace without the pressure of keeping up with their partner (the best way imo) so they've done the test in their first week.

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 08 Dec 2017, 21:21

whosBenj wrote:and didn't actually meet any management today, so I guess I'll ask about that tomorrow.

haha typical, basically its "oh youre here, go do this" especially at this time of year, welcome to RM ! :)

Xr4 · Post by **Xr4** » 08 Dec 2017, 22:11

It was about a year before I started driving, was mainly put on hct rounds

whosBenj · Post by **whosBenj** » 11 Dec 2017, 18:24

Xr4 wrote:It was about a year before I started driving, was mainly put on hct rounds

Thanks for the info!

-

Been out 3 days with my coach, think I'm in the DO tomorrow, unless they decide to put me out on my own, who knows...

May be a silly question, but I was wondering what happens pay wise when you finish earlier than expected? My hours are 9-2, but have logged off between 13:10 & 13:40 during the 3 days. So do you get paid your contracted hours or just the time you've been working?

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 11 Dec 2017, 18:42

Contracted

joewyan · Post by **joewyan** » 13 Dec 2017, 22:45

whosBenj wrote:
Xr4 wrote:It was about a year before I started driving, was mainly put on hct rounds
Thanks for the info!

-

Been out 3 days with my coach, think I'm in the DO tomorrow, unless they decide to put me out on my own, who knows...

May be a silly question, but I was wondering what happens pay wise when you finish earlier than expected? My hours are 9-2, but have logged off between 13:10 & 13:40 during the 3 days. So do you get paid your contracted hours or just the time you've been working?

You get paid your contracted hours but once you are settled they are likely to find you work up to your hours if you are finishing early depending what your office is like of course.

whosBenj · Post by **whosBenj** » 14 Dec 2017, 19:42

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:Contracted

joewyan wrote: You get paid your contracted hours but once you are settled they are likely to find you work up to your hours if you are finishing early depending what your office is like of course.

Thanks guys. I take it if you finish early 4 out of 5 days (in terms of contracted hours [5 hours] per day), but you go over 1 out of the 5 days then your hours are all calculated together before anything can be classed as overtime, right? <<< Hopefully that makes sense...

I've had a nice first week settling in, just been shadowing my workplace coach out on his route. Day off today, same as my coach, so shall see what tomorrow brings! Met my CWU rep yesterday, seems a top bloke & he's getting all us newbies together for a meeting in the new year.

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 14 Dec 2017, 19:43

whosBenj wrote:
Thanks guys. I take it if you finish early 4 out of 5 days (in terms of contracted hours [5 hours] per day), but you go over 1 out of the 5 days then your hours are all calculated together before anything can be classed as overtime, right? <<< Hopefully that makes sense...

No, each day is treated individually. So finish 30 mins early one day and 30 mins late the next you *can* book the 30 mins on the day you go over.

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 14 Dec 2017, 23:05

Postie45 wrote:
whosBenj wrote:
Thanks guys. I take it if you finish early 4 out of 5 days (in terms of contracted hours [5 hours] per day), but you go over 1 out of the 5 days then your hours are all calculated together before anything can be classed as overtime, right? <<< Hopefully that makes sense...
No, each day is treated individually. So finish 30 mins early one day and 30 mins late the next you *can* book the 30 mins on the day you go over.

Sadly RM appear to be slowly changing their mind on that one. Although it's often one sided so if you go over one day they make a reference to another day when you might have got back earlier. Getting back earlier is a fairly rare occurrence nowadays. It's actually quite pleasing to even finish on time with room for break time.

whosBenj · Post by **whosBenj** » 15 Dec 2017, 18:37

Postie45 wrote: No, each day is treated individually. So finish 30 mins early one day and 30 mins late the next you *can* book the 30 mins on the day you go over.

Is 'booking' different than just logging when you sign in & out or does that cover it? + Obviously noting it down for myself.

Celgar wrote: Sadly RM appear to be slowly changing their mind on that one. Although it's often one sided so if you go over one day they make a reference to another day when you might have got back earlier. Getting back earlier is a fairly rare occurrence nowadays. It's actually quite pleasing to even finish on time with room for break time.

I guess it makes sense in a way. I'm sure I'll find out sooner rather than late how it is in my DO.

Sent out on my own today to complete half a route, took me 3 hours, although it's full of flats, a million stairs and hills beyond hills. Been asked to come in an hour earlier tomorrow (to bundle up I guess), and then I'll be doing the other half of the route which is mostly downhill, but plenty of flats & stairs again. Either way, it was enjoyable, and I didn't have a PDA, so had to hand-write when delivering a packet, which probably added on a fair bit of time alongside struggling to find the correct addresses/building sometimes! Doing the whole route Monday.

crimson king · Post by **crimson king** » 15 Dec 2017, 19:52

I can't imagine much worse than not having a PDA on your duty....if I had to hand write everything I think I'd have a breakdown

Post by **CPTNemoUK** » 15 Dec 2017, 20:38

crimson king wrote:I can't imagine much worse than not having a PDA on your duty....if I had to hand write everything I think I'd have a breakdown

Even worse when it's pissing it down. One day I have up and took pictures on my phone

unless it needed signing then wrote them down.

whosBenj · Post by **whosBenj** » 20 Dec 2017, 19:37

Fortunately the lack of PDA was only for one day - fingers crossed it never decides to die when out! I've been on the full walk since Monday (apparently one of the harder/longer ones), but took well over an hour off my time on Tues, and with double the amount today I completed it in the same time as yesterday so feeling accomplished. And if people actually wanted their packets it'd save god knows how long

.

Both the two managers I'm aware of have both shown me the overtime sheet and put down my hours over my contracted (I'm keeping track of it too), so it's nice to know they won't be harassing me about that. Been starting @ 7:00 rather than 9:00 and can start @ 6:20 if I want as well.

Probably going to have to cutoff on Saturday, because I'm going home for Christmas. How busy are you guys predicting it to be on the 23rd or is it just a wild guess/anything can happen?

But anyway, almost 2 weeks in and I'm really enjoying it, other than the achey feet for a couple of hours when I get back!