Block Bookings All Cancelled / Not Using Text Messages Now

NW11851 · Post by **NW11851** » 18 Apr 2018, 21:24

Last week, I was telephoned by someone from Angard, of whom I had never previously heard, and they wanted me to agree to s block booking for the Late Shift, 18:15 - 22:15, for the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

On Monday afternoon, I received a text cancelling my shift.
The same happened in both Tuesday and Wednesday.

What was the point of the exercise?

And why did they not use the text message system(?) on the actual days to solicit the staff actually needed each day.

It seems to have been a lot of work on their part to set it all up and then to have to cancel it each day.

I had plans for this week, which I had to postpone only find that it has all been a complete waste of my time,

nothingatthemoment · Post by **nothingatthemoment** » 18 Apr 2018, 22:53

NW11851 wrote:Last week, I was telephoned by someone from Angard, of whom I had never previously heard, and they wanted me to agree to s block booking for the Late Shift, 18:15 - 22:15, for the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

On Monday afternoon, I received a text cancelling my shift.
The same happened in both Tuesday and Wednesday.

What was the point of the exercise?

And why did they not use the text message system(?) on the actual days to solicit the staff actually needed each day.

It seems to have been a lot of work on their part to set it all up and then to have to cancel it each day.

I had plans for this week, which I had to postpone only find that it has all been a complete waste of my time,

Probably just to pi@s you off , sounds like they booked you on shifts that didn't exist in the first place.

Post by **Lockardian** » 19 Apr 2018, 04:06

They are doing this a lot lately. I had a block booking for 5 nightshifts last week. Each day I received a text cancelling the shift.

This week I have received calls from a “new starter” at Reed/Angard who booked me in for between 3 and 5 shifts for the next four weeks. I’m not holding my breath that they will go ahead. Maybe they just got her to book people in for shifts that don’t exist to give her on the job training! Nowt would surprise me....

toonlad2 · Post by **toonlad2** » 19 Apr 2018, 15:14

same at our mc with a new person giving out shifts to all angaard workers for the next 4 weeks with some ppl getting more shifts than others

i have had more cancelled shifts in the past 4 weeks than actual shifts worked does ya head in thinking you are going to be working and earning money to pay bills n stuff only to get a text saying shift cancelled do not attend

whats getting to me is how does angaard know that rm want x number of workers to work 3/4 weeks in advance when they dont know if any rm workers wish to work overtime so reducing the need for agency

i wish they would go bk to a more fair system were the daily texts were sent and if you wanted to work you responded but you knew those that did work would then go to bk of the list for the next shift ,,this way now some ppl are getting 4/5 shifts before some ppl work 1 shift if there booked in for a more favourable day and dont have as many cancellations

and we cant say things like this to angaard for fear of been blacklisted this is a fact

i love doing my job dont get me wrong but i grow frustrated and irratated over issues like this

tabact · Post by **tabact** » 22 Apr 2018, 10:10

It's RM who normally put their order for staff in early and then cancel, particularly when there are school holidays, the 'quiet period' and RM staff book time off. The work load turns out to be much lighter than expected and they cancel. It got so bad last year at the MC I work at Angard actually rang up to apologise for the number of cancelled shifts.

Post by **paulus103** » 25 Apr 2018, 13:20

I haven't been texted for about 10 days and instead am getting calls at randon times in the day from different people every time
While previously with texts I rang and spoke to the same woman

The telephone calls are caller withheld and they ring off without a message if the call is missed
My phone number hasn't been given out to anybody other than Angard and my mum :) - so it very likely to be them as my mum is currently visiting so is in the house with me

Also odd that every regular Angard I speak to is reporting less shifts offered and yet Angard are now recruiting new staff (some started this week / last week)
People were complaining they didn't have enough shifts even before the new recruitment

NW11851 · Post by **NW11851** » 28 Apr 2018, 09:41

Here’s a gem:

Received a text from Angard at 21:30 on Thursday re shifts in two werks’ time - Bank Holiday week.

Block-book 4 Lates.
No idea whether anyvwill materialise.

No pre-warning about shifts for next week, though.
Who knows what the wind will blow in?

Post by **paulus103** » 29 Apr 2018, 02:01

I had a similar phone call for the bank holiday week
I've got 4 early mornings and 1 6pm-10pm that week

I'm not holding my breath on the mornings

I was directly asked by the manager personally to work a shift next week as he wants "people that can actually do the job"
Anguard took on a new batch at my MC and having worked with them on Friday it was clear they had no clue what they were doing (and were given no training)

dancingqueen · Post by **dancingqueen** » 29 Apr 2018, 16:06

training for Angard workers does not exist.

nothingatthemoment · Post by **nothingatthemoment** » 29 Apr 2018, 22:40

dancingqueen wrote:training for Angard workers does not exist.

Yes it does , it is done by other Angard , there is barely a workplace coach left at my M.C.

NW11851 · Post by **NW11851** » 08 May 2018, 11:55

Here we go, yet again!

Two weeks ago Angard insisted in block blocking me for four late shifts this week.

Just received a text ‘Shift cancelled; do not attend.’!

And this is the day after a Bank Holiday!

Having reserved the time to meet their needs, they
should pay compensation!

dancingqueen · Post by **dancingqueen** » 08 May 2018, 18:16

Truly shocking

Let them know your thoughts:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/8YRXZCK" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 08 May 2018, 20:11

NW11851 wrote:Here we go, yet again!

Two weeks ago Angard insisted in block blocking me for four late shifts this week.

Just received a text ‘Shift cancelled; do not attend.’!

And this is the day after a Bank Holiday!

Having reserved the time to meet their needs, they
should pay compensation!

Cancelling any casuals on a Bank Holiday week is absolutly insane. Your local MC is probably looking at a failure

NW11851 · Post by **NW11851** » 08 May 2018, 23:14

Gatwick MC have lots of ‘failures’.

They seem to have ceased to care.

A colleague (permanent RM) says that the volume of letters has fallen off a cliff so they have moved loads from the IMP drum machines to parcels.
The staff wont like that!

Apparently, the Management are trying to save money by cutting down the ANGARD staff but letting Night Shift staff come in early, on phenomenal overtime rates, to bail them out.

Seems to be costing RM a fortune.