Career break

Mick100 · Post by **Mick100** » 12 Jun 2019, 20:58

Does anyone know can you take a years career break and get another job over 25 years working as postman absolutely hate going to work now thinking maybe try something else but if things don't go to plan still have job to fall back on still have mortgage and bills to pay I'm afraid

Post by **rambo1** » 12 Jun 2019, 21:22

Mick100 wrote:Does anyone know can you take a years career break and get another job over 25 years working as postman absolutely hate going to work now thinking maybe try something else but if things don't go to plan still have job to fall back on still have mortgage and bills to pay I'm afraid

Mate of mine set up his own business and his client base was getting a bit much so asked for a career break, just incase his business went it's up. It didn't so he didn't come back to royal mail. So yes, don't see why you shouldn't get another job while on a career break. It's not as if royal mail are paying you, all they're doing is saying they guarantee you a job ( not necessarily the duty you're on now) , after your break.

Gasman11 · Post by **Gasman11** » 12 Jun 2019, 21:34

If you're looking to go into a PAYE job you'll need to hand a P45 to your new employer and you won't have one as you're still technically under employ by Royal Mail.

Route1 · Post by **Route1** » 13 Jun 2019, 02:52

Cant use a career break to start another job / business. Thats not what its for. But if you dont tell them, they wont know.

Post by **stodgy88** » 13 Jun 2019, 04:24

IM having trouble with arthritis ,which is a massive problem in the winter,are RM likely to let me take a few months off say NOV to MARCH obviously unpaid ?

Post by **wacko74** » 13 Jun 2019, 05:49

stodgy88 wrote:IM having trouble with arthritis ,which is a massive problem in the winter,are RM likely to let me take a few months off say NOV to MARCH obviously unpaid ?

I doubt it and if they did it would only be a one off as you can usually only take one career break, so highly unlikely you'd get to take every winter off (as appealing as that sounds!)

Also don't forget although you retain your seniority following a career break (minus your career break length) you've got no guarantees to coming back to the duty you may have previously held, so could find yourself a bottom of the pile leave reserve until the next resign.

Post by **stodgy88** » 13 Jun 2019, 06:29

Thanks kick that idea into to then.

FirstPost · Post by **FirstPost** » 13 Jun 2019, 06:42

is it a straight forward process to fill out paperwork for this? any known problems from management trying to block it?

Post by **wacko74** » 13 Jun 2019, 08:11

FirstPost wrote:is it a straight forward process to fill out paperwork for this? any known problems from management trying to block it?

When I took one about 5 years ago there was no formal procedure or official paperwork to fill in to request one, just something I had to do off my own back.

Lots of hassle and the usual incompetence/intransigence that you encounter when dealing with RM... Nobody would take responsibility for dealing with my request, DOM said it was up to Area Manager, Area Manager said it was up to HR, HR said it was up to DOM... And so on and so on.

Your DOM probably will try to block it, either because they just can't be arsed dealing with it or they don't want the hassle of temporarily replacing you.

It was only when I threatened to put in a grievance and take it higher that I got one granted, (in fact if I remember correctly I might have emailed Moya about it and it was only after doing that that it got sorted)