Absolute horror show!

DannyAgar91 · Post by **DannyAgar91** » 22 Feb 2019, 18:14

If you’re on the waiting list or waiting for a start date, take my advice, stay where you are or look for something else, I’ve lasted all of a week at Royal Mail and have returned to my previous job, luckily enough my job was still available and my previous employer was very understanding.

Worst organisation I’ve ever experienced from a so called big company. I started to questions everything when I went in a week before my induction to see if I could get my payroll number to order uniform and sort tax codes out, the fact they didn’t know who I was or that I was starting there the following week says it all.

I had the induction on Monday the guy running it was an oldish guy, what he said most the day I couldn’t tell you he had a thick Geordie accent and I couldn’t understand a word he spoke, all I remember is he’d been on Britain’s got talent a number of times, his act was horrendous by the way, no idea why you’d show anyone that. I just thought that was a one off and was looking forward to starting at my DO the next day. Tuesday morning I arrive ready for my first day, not 2 minuets after walking in the building I’m told to follow two random guys I’d never met before into a van, neither of them speaking a word to me, when were all finally in the van the driver asks my name in a very unfriendly manner, he then went on to mention he was very hungover and ‘couldn’t be arsed’ with training anyone new that day, he was someone who’d worked there 8 years, the guy sitting next to him was still in training only 8 weeks into the job, he was more friendly and told me he’d be showing me my round for the next 3 days then he would move on, he seemed concerned that he’d have to move on and do a new round without anyone showing him where.

By the Thursday I was comfortable with the round and what I had to do, the newish guy had been nothing but helpful, the other more experienced guy had his moments of being helpful but always seemed impatient and was only ever concerned that we’d finish on time, this made me try to go as fast as I could without making any mistakes, we finished early in two of the days and about 15 minutes later in one of them which I was pretty happy with. But on my way home I realised how bad things were, I only knew the names of the the two guys I’d been working with and the assistant manager or whatever his role was, I didn’t have anyone’s information and never spent more than 5 minuets in the DO in the mornings or afternoons when finishing, no one senior seemed interested in me, the fact I was new didn’t seem to matter everyone just assumes you knew what was going on.

This is just my experience and it could be different for someone else but I expected much more from a company the size of Royal Mail!

Cliffy12 · Post by **Cliffy12** » 03 Mar 2019, 12:18

Without naming specific DO, whereabouts (roughly) were you based ?

DannyAgar91 · Post by **DannyAgar91** » 03 Mar 2019, 14:51

Cliffy12 wrote:Without naming specific DO, whereabouts (roughly) were you based ?

North East, County Durham

Post by **!LivingTheDream!** » 10 Apr 2019, 20:00

My experience was the same as stated in the above review apart from i lasted four week's & six week's on the sick urgently trying to find another job asap to which luckily I've succeeded.

It was the Dom and Dlm that were the problem for me. I got fed up in the end getting moved about everyday or expected to learn a new duty in a day or two. When i suggested why not leave me to learn a duty for a good few week's and then train me on other's once i get into the swing of thing's it was ignored. Anytime i tried to reason with them it was ignored. First ten day's consisted of induction, watching RM video's for four hour's straight by myself and then eight day's after i was on four different duties with six different postie's and struggled to settle in and remember route's, start and finish times different daily, when i said i just want to work my contracted hour's 5.5 per day or 27.5 per week this was met with i have a bad attitude and you were told at interview we need you to be flexible.

When off sick i was pestered daily with call's, text's, voicemail's, letter's from the manager's, being asked to attend a meeting even though i had a sick note from my doctor and the Dom questioned the reason given for being absent on the note, the other was at my door and a special delivery letter was even sent.

I was looking forward to starting i had high hopes but it soon became an "Absolute Horror Show" really from day one but kept going back hoping something would change but it didn't.

Be warned read the review's on here and job site's don't make the same mistake as i did by ignoring them.

Partyondude · Post by **Partyondude** » 11 Apr 2019, 03:31

Where were you working ?

gimba · Post by **gimba** » 11 Apr 2019, 07:08

I started beginning of march
And I'm loving it so far, complete opposite experience to reading that

Post by **!LivingTheDream!** » 11 Apr 2019, 08:12

North East England.

I don't want anybody to not like it after all the effort that goes in applying for it and the waiting to start which was a pain. So it is pleasing to see some one having a good experience.

For me the job i could do and didn't mind it was the organisation and different walk's everyday especially as i was doing it for 1 or 2 day's to cover a holiday when all i was asking for was give me more time put me on a van share till i know how everything work's from start to finish.

The Postie's i got along with all helpful it was just i was with someone new @ least every 2 day's & stood @ a new frame having to learn the walk & addresses.

Got to the point i was going to work thinking all the way should i turn back. But no i carried on & as soon as i got there i could see the Dom approaching me right we're putting you on this duty today & then it started again...........

twoloops · Post by **twoloops** » 12 Apr 2019, 14:39

I'm surprised RM do not follow up early quitters to find out why they quit?
It's a pity this type of post is not printed in the letters page of that Royal Mail rag they put out?

Post by **fb1969** » 12 Apr 2019, 17:55

Royal Mail don't care. They already assume most posties are lazy, so new starters that quit are just lazier.

The OP could write to: Just Say It, Freepost Royal Mail - and pass on their experience, but sadly I doubt anything would ever be done.

Wicket2017 · Post by **Wicket2017** » 14 Apr 2019, 13:26

Everyone’s experiences vary so much! I started at a DO only 6 miles away from the one Dannyagar91 was at but my experience has been so different. I’ve just gone into my third month and I’m still on the same duty I was when I started. I’ve had a couple of days on vans with other posties covering for people which I enjoyed but I mostly stay on the same walking town duty. I’m still loving the job and I’m actually looking forward to being put forward for my driver training and getting out on other routes. The other posties are great and I’ve made some good friends and have even been on my first postie social which was great fun. Some of my colleagues have told me I won’t like it as much when I’m doing different duties all the time but to be honest I’d quite like a bit of variety and being able to get to know some of them a bit better when sharing a van

Post by **!LivingTheDream!** » 14 Apr 2019, 14:19

Wicket2017,

Your experience is how it should be and what i asked to do and that was to be left alone to do one walk, one area get used to it then move on once i was settled in.

Was sick of going in and not knowing where i would be, the rota was a waste of time for me as it was either left blank, or the number duty i was on got chopped and changed.

Within 4 week's i worked alongside 20 different Postie's and 10 different duties, 9 of these duties were single duties and not van share.

Head was done in writing page's upon page's of note's and for me the end of the road.

I think the training should be the same for new starter's everywhere then after say 6 week's the ones who quit just don't like the job rather than leaving because of lack of communication, intimidation, belittling, bullying by management.

Caesar · Post by **Caesar** » 14 Apr 2019, 14:28

My experience has been pretty much like the OP in that there doesn't seem to be a lot of organisation and everybody just gets on with it.
I've been on the same walk for three weeks and should be for the next three weeks. I'm not worried about being moved around, I just don't fancy having to work in the DO for a shift.
I've really enjoyed it so far and think that the experience that I've gained through the 4 day's training and being on the same walk for a while will prepare me for when I do get moved around.

Jaysfan · Post by **Jaysfan** » 16 Apr 2019, 16:54

I was on the induction with a couple of the lads posting on here. Both good lads.
Now into my 9th week and the most i have been on one duty is three days. At the end of that last day, I was happy that I knew it well enough and that I knew the correct order to bundle up. My usual day is doing a duty I have never done, prepping a frame I don’t know which is ok when doing sequenced mail but a pain when it comes through unsequenced. Constantly asking ‘where’s this street on the frame’ .....’how do I bundle this up’? ....been moved to other DO 4 out if my 8 weeks where it’s even worse as don’t know the area. Really think the training needs a good look at. Surely as others have said it’s better to let newbies learn the job on one duty as opposed to being moved to different ones on a daily basis. Surely that would build confidence?
I really like parts if the job and the vast majority of posties and managers are really helpful. It’s just not knowing what you’re going to be doing on a daily basis that’s really frustrating as I genuinely take a pride in what I do and feel inadequate most days due to unfamiliarity. Others have said Im doing great and to stick with it as it will change when I get my own duty. That can’t come quick enough! Sick of not knowing what Im doing from one day/week to the next.

Post by **!LivingTheDream!** » 19 Apr 2019, 08:22

It would be really interesting to know how the other's from the mid February induction are doing ?!

At my DO i spoke to almost all the staff and the response was you will be waiting many year's for your own duty with a ha ha infact the first word's spoken to me on my first day were "ANOTHER LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER" whilst the DLM showed me around for five minute's then left me on my own for four hour's watching RM dvds. There was twenty or so duties up for grabs advertised @ my DO, some duties postie's were doing for year's then suddenly without warning they were moved to do something else whilst someone else got the duty.

The people who like the job @ my DO are the one's who get away with everything, no hassle, the other's especially recent starter's will tell you their looking for a new job. One postie wanted time off with a "bad back" so yet again i was moved & was told to do the round with him and learn it in one day. I don't know if i could jump fence's with a bad back !?

Scama_bug · Post by **Scama_bug** » 19 Apr 2019, 18:59

!LivingTheDream! wrote:It would be really interesting to know how the other's from the mid February induction are doing ?!

At my DO i spoke to almost all the staff and the response was you will be waiting many year's for your own duty with a ha ha infact the first word's spoken to me on my first day were "ANOTHER LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER" whilst the DLM showed me around for five minute's then left me on my own for four hour's watching RM dvds. There was twenty or so duties up for grabs advertised @ my DO, some duties postie's were doing for year's then suddenly without warning they were moved to do something else whilst someone else got the duty.

The people who like the job @ my DO are the one's who get away with everything, no hassle, the other's especially recent starter's will tell you their looking for a new job. One postie wanted time off with a "bad back" so yet again i was moved & was told to do the round with him and learn it in one day. I don't know if i could jump fence's with a bad back !?

I'm one month into the job and I love it, same situation here with people joking and giving me looks like how long I'm gonna last ,they act like they were born postman.
The way I see it is that if you do your job well maybe when a post will be vacant you might just get it, never listen to the people that it takes years to get a round or whatever. I don't mind if I'm moved around, that's what I've signed up when I applied for the job.