Expected Level Of Flexibility

crimson king · Post by **crimson king** » 21 Nov 2018, 10:48

Startingover wrote:
lcook282 wrote:flexibility - just bend over and take it up the .....
Not with my back!

Just close your eyes and think of Rico Back...

Post by **hothothot** » 21 Nov 2018, 12:30

Flexibility ! What a load of bollocks , just management bullshiting you over the over running procedure. Stand firm , don't go over your time or claim docket for every minute over.

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 21 Nov 2018, 14:46

"expected level of flexibility" means nothing without context, and this is why HR was trying to wriggle free from answering.
This is just another bullying tactic, and this time, sadly from HR which is f***ing depressing, at least before we`ve only seen it localised.

Facts are no ones getting disciplined for refusing to work OT, the language in the contract is there so it can be used as a bullying tactic like we`re seeing how its being used here. If a manager did decide to discipline someone for not working OT because of "expected flexibility" the union would have a field day with it and it would probably end up being removed from contracts.

NewPostieUK · Post by **NewPostieUK** » 21 Nov 2018, 17:55

Exactly, Postie45.

Words and phrases like flexibility and reasonable amount of overtime are too vague to mean anything.

I'n my previous job, my contract stated that I was expected to work a reasonable amount of overtime. I turned it down virtually every day, as we were expected to work another 4 hours, meaning 12 hour + shifts. Too much for me.

A supervisor started handing out warnings. I loved it when he got to me. I explained I was fulfilling my contract completely. 'How can you when you never work any overtime?'

"I am more than willing to work an hour every single day, that's more than reasonable. 12 hour shifts aren't reasonable. Give me a warning and I'll see you in court. "

He backed down.

postmanzach · Post by **postmanzach** » 22 Nov 2018, 13:47

There is the 30minute flexibility thing in the agreement, anyone explain that? Nobody in my office knows

jd9442 · Post by **jd9442** » 22 Nov 2018, 13:58

postmanzach wrote:There is the 30minute flexibility thing in the agreement, anyone explain that? Nobody in my office knows

Someone recently posted that RM can vary your hours of attendance by up to 30 mins

Post by **blue1873** » 22 Nov 2018, 14:00

lcook282 wrote:flexibility - just bend over and take it up the .....

Auchtermuchty

crazyshrew · Post by **crazyshrew** » 22 Nov 2018, 14:20

postmanzach wrote:There is the 30minute flexibility thing in the agreement, anyone explain that? Nobody in my office knows

This is about being flexible in case of unexpected stuff occuring resulting in a delay to the mail, like the lorry breaking down en route to the DO in the morning.
What it means is the manager can ASK for people to dig deep and stay on for an 30 extra minutes today and in return those who agree get those 30minues back later in the same week.

It is in no way any sort of overtime, still 38 hours just a bit taken from one day and given to another.

In reality it never happens because management know there is never 30 minutes spare in the week to give back so easier for them to just bully people in to working overtime

paul1231 · Post by **paul1231** » 22 Nov 2018, 21:11

How can you be expected to be flexible when its basically they want you to go an hour or 2 over most days at christmas to complete but yet they forget the bit where they treated you like s**t the rest of the year funny enough (its always walk round and ask how much overtime today never Can or are you able to do any today

). Also how many times have they been flexible with us when needing to finish a little early one day or getting a lieu day

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 22 Nov 2018, 23:32

Flexibility is often referred to in terms of finishing earlier on a Tuesday, largely due to MCs delivering less mail to DOs on that day, and then using that saved time to offset excess work done on Wednesday or Thursday as a result of holding the mail back on the Tuesday.
There is this other thing called 'flexing' in RM as well where I think work is done unpaid and then you get time off at a later date.
Personally I don't agree with either of these policies. We posties have a lot to do still and to my mind every walk needs a full time postie being paid full time hours to complete the job and not have mail and parcels pilling up undelivered. It is time for the union to fess up and end the culture of unpaid work within RM.

Post by **CPTNemoUK** » 23 Nov 2018, 09:58

I'm flexible for them. If they want to move me to another walk fine, I'll move to has many walks has they like. But I'm still finishing on time. And the more they mess about less get delivered. Fine by me

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 23 Nov 2018, 15:05

paul1231 wrote: (its always walk round and ask how much overtime today never Can or are you able to do any today :crazy: ).

right ! its always expected even if you continue to cut off they think TODAYS the day that you`ll want to work over.

crimson king · Post by **crimson king** » 23 Nov 2018, 18:06

paul1231 wrote:How can you be expected to be flexible when its basically they want you to go an hour or 2 over most days at christmas to complete but yet they forget the bit where they treated you like s**t the rest of the year funny enough (its always walk round and ask how much overtime today never Can or are you able to do any today ). Also how many times have they been flexible with us when needing to finish a little early one day or getting a lieu day

This is a good post, especially regarding the flexibility issue on the other foot when it comes to finishing earlier or booking single days off. Most posties in our DO won't ask for a single day off anymore- it's easier just to go sick rather than ask, be declined and then look a bit obvious if you call in sick.

And the overtime thing- you are so right.

If they were to start with 'would you possibly be able to go over your time today to help us out a bit,' they might get a better response. As against just assuming that everyone is feeling intimidated and harassed enough to just tug their forelocks and do it anyway.

postslippete · Post by **postslippete** » 23 Nov 2018, 19:05

I still don't understand why managers assume that most of us are happy with working past our time. In our office the only ones that seem to be more than happy working past their time are also the ones that work all their days off and get paid for coming in early.