Shifts

Lewisboy55 · Post by **Lewisboy55** » 13 Oct 2018, 20:36

Anyone been getting shifts at Cardiff recently??

tabact · Post by **tabact** » 17 Oct 2018, 11:45

If Cardiff is the same as my mail centre virtually all of the shifts available are being given to new starters. Quite a few of the experienced staff have left due to going over six weeks without a shift. I've had eight shifts in thirteen weeks (four of those in one week) from Angard, might get a text every two weeks or so and you dial straightaway to get the all shifts gone message. Talking to other people they are getting a few shifts by just ringing and asking.

nothingatthemoment · Post by **nothingatthemoment** » 17 Oct 2018, 14:06

It's the same in most Mail Centre's new starts cost less = more profit for Angard and less cost for RM .

Post by **jmcg** » 22 Oct 2018, 01:48

At Home Counties north only the long term favourites get any shifts....many others get next to nothing....

Post by **paulus103** » 05 Nov 2018, 14:42

Tricky one really - I have worked as an Angard casual for nearly a year now.

I have been working mostly full-time hours since about Aug - having previously done 2-3 shifts a week e.g. 12 hour - 18 hours per week.
I am now working 30 ish.

During the first few months, I tried to work in as many different areas as possible and be as flexible as possible e.g. worked in most areas across the centre and for most managers.
I am relatively fit and not blowing my own trumpet as such work harder than most Angard and Royal Mail staff - the shifts I get now have been earnt.

I totally understand the view that people see me as a "favourite" but with the other regular Angard staff I work with there is normally a reason e.g. good/fast/reliable sorters, understand certain areas most staff don't, reliable / will cover shifts at short notice, will stay longer if required, will work with Royal Mail staff without problem (ignore the crap that gets directed our way) etc.

I am under no illusion however that me working these hours could end at any point e.g. change in managers/plant manager, Angard policy change / clamp down etc.
I am also conscious that I have to operate and behave at a higher standard than Royal mail Staff as managers will simply axe regular staff with little or no warning - they want no hassle from Angard staff as they get so much from RM staff.

Managers in busy shifts don't want untrained Anagard staff as they are really only porters - they want people who can perform various different tasks quickly and require no or little overview e.g. just get on with it without instruction. New Angard staff tends to work the shifts I don't e.g. Evenings or nights - Evenings( as they do TSO) or nights (as insufficient people want to work them).

My start time for an early Mon-thurs is 4-5am most days and finish at 2pm - the latest being 6am start
Fri I may not work and sometimes if hours are over budget for a period there may be cuts across all days bar Tues
Sat I'd work 12 hours
Sunday (infrequently do this shift) another 12 hours

dancingqueen · Post by **dancingqueen** » 05 Nov 2018, 22:02

What a hilarious post paulus103. Billy big balls you are. What a Sycophant. One has to ask why aren't you in overall charge of the mail centre you work at ?

Post by **paulus103** » 05 Nov 2018, 22:25

Not my intention - I was just trying to help other Angard staff get more hours. Sycophant? = no there is no brown nosing from me - those managers I don't work for.
I just try and work hard and be as flexible as possible and do the task I'm asked to do as well and as quick as I can - the regulars I work with do the same and outwork most staff in the building.
I can't speak for other mail centres.

Post by **Navalron** » 06 Nov 2018, 08:29

paulus103 wrote:Not my intention - I was just trying to help other Angard staff get more hours. Sycophant? = no there is no brown nosing from me - those managers I don't work for.
I just try and work hard and be as flexible as possible and do the task I'm asked to do as well and as quick as I can - the regulars I work with do the same and outwork most staff in the building.
I can't speak for other mail centres other than the two I've worked regularly for.

There's nothing wrong in being a good worker. But just remember your only a number to them and they will ditch you in a heartbeat. And he's you do come over sounding a bit pompous, sorry that's just the impression you give.

pleb · Post by **pleb** » 08 Nov 2018, 10:33

dancingqueen wrote:What a hilarious post paulus103. Billy big balls you are. What a Sycophant. One has to ask why aren't you in overall charge of the mail centre you work at ?

Dont worry, he probably WILL be a manager soon, after completeing 5 mins training.

nothingatthemoment · Post by **nothingatthemoment** » 08 Nov 2018, 19:46

Paulus- have to agree with Navalron you come across as a bit arrogant.
There are plenty of hard working , well trained angard that struggle to get 1 shift per week never mind 30 hrs.
You must be at one of the few Mail Centers that actually reward hard workers , instead of the usual a@se kissers and relatives of staff/managers.

ang_3853 · Post by **ang_3853** » 21 Nov 2018, 18:09

paulus103, you don't come across as arrogant or anything like the such. The people telling you so are butthurt, & too low energy to perform up to the standard to get picked favourably.

Failureisnotanoption · Post by **Failureisnotanoption** » 22 Nov 2018, 08:47

his post does come across like that. But you are entitled to your opinion all well making your way at the mail but don’t come across like your something special Angard and RM will drop you like a bad habit when they have need too you and the other one are just numbers .

Post by **Navalron** » 22 Nov 2018, 19:37

paulus103, you don't come across as arrogant or anything like the such. The people telling you so are butthurt, & too low energy to perform up to the standard to get picked favourably.

WHATEVER. you will learn the hard way.

cosi1259 · Post by **cosi1259** » 04 Dec 2018, 02:08

cardiff what a joke worked there 5 years as temp no problems till they start cutting costs , the last 6 months before i left had 4 shifts lost awr rate and had to be revetted just so i can start on minimum wage . well if they think im going to do what i did before for minimum wage jog on , some night shifts i have been on loading bay then heavy and large then push and pull loaded yorkies from all areas to loading bay and even loading small machines up with letters from the large sorter and when thats done normally end up having to help clear the back log of sorting before morning shift comes in so that lorries could be loaded . i always earned my money and they knew if i was on a shift i would work flat out , granted for a few years i was on awr rate and i worked hard to get it . i must admit i miss the job there where a few great guys there but politics took over and some managers had there favorites which according to rm they where not allowed to have but it still went on . good job if you get to awr rate , 1 year earned 9.5k last year of working earned 1.3k angard did not help matters as they are totally useless . my advice unless things have changed for the better , which looking at various posts has definatley not happened stay on the dole its less hassle . i would love to go back tomorrow but since i left things are even worse

Fonzanooi · Post by **Fonzanooi** » 05 Dec 2018, 13:59

In response to your comments regarding shifts I have had all mine cancelled this week along with several colleagues. It seems that the Royal Mail do not know what hours they are working. Myself and several colleagues were booked to work 2200-0600 for the next three weeks which we found rather strange considering Royal Mail hours are 2230-0630 except Mondays when they start an hour later. I emailed Angard to query the hours but they said that was what was requested. Last week we received an email from Angard saying that the shifts booked were still valid but had been put on hold (sounded ominous). Having chatted to other colleagues that booked shifts later they were booked for 2230-0630. It seems that the 2200-0600 shift will not happen, therefore those booke previously on that s**t should have been transfered to the 2230-0630 ahead of those booked later!. We all know that will never happen.
Furthermore with regard to Christmas casuals Angard tell you not to apply as you will be given priority over them, what a load of b———s. As other people have said christmas casuals cost a lot less (true) but the lack of experience and job knowledge surely doesnt make it worth while. 70-80 yorks of mail left at end of shift, customers pay a lot of money to get there goods delivered on time if only they new the truth!!.
At our site they even have someone on the door checking for christmas casuals sneaking out for too many breaks or in some cases skiving off for a couple of hours or more ripping off there employers, some of them are so slow at the job next christmas will be here before they finish sorting those presents. Think somebody at the top getting paid too much money needs to get a grip and get rid of the free loaders and give the real workers some hours.
Anyway enough for now, hope you all get some shifts and can at least afford a box of mince pies and if your really lucky get enough shifts for that big fat turkey!!