Completing in time

[norris9]

Would it be correct to say that most of the disgruntlements from Postmen are because of the disagreements with management in relation to what can be delivered within your work time. Surely this can all be officially timed and written in stone up on a board somewhere....

Get 2 managers to go out and do a walk over a week with a Postie and CWU representative shadowing them. Let's see how they do, sticking to the rules, taking their break(s) etc, and see when they get back to the depot. Then calculate the approximate amount of deliveries that can be made in that time. Then you can decide what the maximum combination of post and parcels can be taken out in order to complete in time, instead of Posties and management having daily debates/arguments about it...

Then come up with a list of limits for that particular walk:

1. A total maximum amount of parcels over shoe box size you have to take out. Anything over you can refuse to take with you.

2. A maximum total weight of your York with all parcels and bags of post. Anything over you can refuse to take with you.

For example:

Say for walk 101 the max total weight limit is 100KG and the max amount of parcels is 20. You would be expected to deliver this amount in time. You would not be given lapsing if you hit the maximums. The only times you are given lapsing is to top your load up to 100KG.


I am pretty sure that the walk I did the other day would have to be reduced if management were fair, we never completed in time and we took no breaks. I'd love to see 2 managers go out and do that round in time.... no chance. After having their break and doing everything by the book, I am sure they'd finish 45mins to 90mins late.

[jack~jack]

The only fault with your idea is, it makes total sense.

[hero22]

why did you not take a break ?

[redneck]

PDA Actuals tell nearly all, but the problem then is getting managers to use the evidence fairly across a whole office to ensure early starters/finishers do a proper days work and if a duty goes over that the deliverer is not accused of being slow for taking breaks, delivering to neighbours, proper equipment etc.

[scoobydo79]

As already asked why are You not taking Your breaks?

[aiden01]

Would it be correct to say that most of the disgruntlements from Postmen are because of the disagreements with management in relation to what can be delivered within your work time. Surely this can all be officially timed and written in stone up on a board somewhere....

Get 2 managers to go out and do a walk over a week with a Postie and CWU representative shadowing them. Let's see how they do, sticking to the rules, taking their break(s) etc, and see when they get back to the depot. Then calculate the approximate amount of deliveries that can be made in that time. Then you can decide what the maximum combination of post and parcels can be taken out in order to complete in time, instead of Posties and management having daily debates/arguments about it...

Then come up with a list of limits for that particular walk:

1. A total maximum amount of parcels over shoe box size you have to take out. Anything over you can refuse to take with you.

2. A maximum total weight of your York with all parcels and bags of post. Anything over you can refuse to take with you.

For example:

Say for walk 101 the max total weight limit is 100KG and the max amount of parcels is 20. You would be expected to deliver this amount in time. You would not be given lapsing if you hit the maximums. The only times you are given lapsing is to top your load up to 100KG.


I am pretty sure that the walk I did the other day would have to be reduced if management were fair, we never completed in time and we took no breaks. I'd love to see 2 managers go out and do that round in time.... no chance. After having their break and doing everything by the book, I am sure they'd finish 45mins to 90mins late.

Why ask questions if your not taking your breaks..

[Brandy]

The only fault with your idea is, it makes total sense.

Exactly,but the problem is managers have got no common sense!

[south London postie]

Managers aren't paid to have common sense, they are paid to clear the office.

You have to stand up for yourselves and so does the union. The only fact that matters is, most days, the job is defined by what the internet drops in your lap, and your work load - the frame - was built before the internet became the most important factor. The frame can only now be a guide and if managers want to cling onto antiquated notions of a days work then refer then to the CEO of Royal Mail who has publicly said the business is now 'a parcel business that also delivers letters'.

More days than not now, that's exactly how it is.

[rambo1]

Great idea. Far too simple. It'll never work, not in this company. Makes me laugh when lino says, it won't take you that long today.....when they've never even done it once.

[clashcityrocker]

When you do a revision you have to do a parcel count.
The duties are planned accordingly.
So that information is available somewhere. The planner, the DOM and the union rep must all have had access to it.

[Seymour Buts]

There's too many variables, simply as with most things in this job. Are you the duty holder? You're always going to be faster. Some people are just freakishly quick posties. There's a guy who can chuck his fitting up and be posting within 45 minutes of arriving, that's crazy. Takes me (and most I'd have thought) twice that time. Taller lads are always faster for obvious reasons. Older posties are obviously gonna struggle more. The different between Tuesday and Wednesday means it's a different job virtually. What you can and can't do is always gonna be an estimate, nature of the job.

[tommyrep]

To respond too or investigate and solve any problem, you need to realise that any resolutions need acted on!
The outdoor workload problem has always been contentious, managers know it is and can be problematic.
They also know the only eventual outcome would require reducing the duty workload, after any reasonable assessment.
They never really want to test a duty, the findings are generally too hard to bear, normally an unfairly expected workload!
There lies the problem I’m afraid, the only option is resources! any added funding is frowned upon and considered a big no no with area bosses. The DOM would be told to adjust the duty and put more onto another, as the overall office traffic compared to hours available indicate it is feasible. A quick look at the signing on sheet would indicate scope to do this office wide. And the problem only snowballs, any duties with heavy workloads are aspected to be rebalanced with those of lesser achievable with a few minutes to spare. It’s a nightmare for the DOM, far to much work and would cause too much hassle to an otherwise easy life! Like other disgruntled posties currently happy with their lot? Demands for another re-pick?
They do not and will never accept a duty is not achievable within time because they are blinkered like ostriches with their heads in the sand when confronted with a problem. Trying to reason with them ? Like >>>

[norris9]

As already asked why are You not taking Your breaks?

I have had the trolley police and now the break police....

I am a part time newbie.....it would take some balls for a newbie Postie to dictate to a manager and a full time partner Postie who has been on the round for years that we WILL take a 30 minute break and that we WILL bring anything back that we don't post within our time..... I don't really have much authority or respect, yet. If I was permanently on a round and was always finishing late - then that's when I'd speak up, but when I am part time and being moved around all the time, being put with senior Posties, then I'm probably best keeping quiet.

I am probably sat down doing nothing as a passenger for 30 minutes anyway.

No postie I have been out with takes a break, they want to get the round done ASAP.

I have just noticed that workload/completing in time seems to be one of the main gripes with Posties and I am just starting a debate to see if there is a better way to do things.

This all said, I think in the poll I did on here - most Posties selected that they typically go home early. Whether that's because they are not having breaks or because they are coming in early....I don't know.

[norris9]

There's too many variables, simply as with most things in this job. Are you the duty holder? You're always going to be faster. Some people are just freakishly quick posties. There's a guy who can chuck his fitting up and be posting within 45 minutes of arriving, that's crazy. Takes me (and most I'd have thought) twice that time. Taller lads are always faster for obvious reasons. Older posties are obviously gonna struggle more. The different between Tuesday and Wednesday means it's a different job virtually. What you can and can't do is always gonna be an estimate, nature of the job.

I guess so. I guess it's all about standing up for yourself, but obviously people don't and apparently a lot of bullying goes on. Maybe having some rules/limits as to the max amount of weight of mail and amount of parcels you can take out - then it would make it a little easier to fight your corner. It's just about whether or not any max weight limits / max numbers of parcels are fairly assigned to a job, and don't end up being edited on the sly by management.

[SpacePhoenix]

No postie I have been out with takes a break, they want to get the round done ASAP.

I have just noticed that workload/completing in time seems to be one of the main gripes with Posties and I am just starting a debate to see if there is a better way to do things.

This all said, I think in the poll I did on here - most Posties selected that they typically go home early. Whether that's because they are not having breaks or because they are coming in early....I don't know.

and then they wonder why they get more added to their walks. Higher up just see them finishing early that their official finish every day and will just decided that there's scope to add more delivery points to their walk