reducing hours due to bullying

Leebest112 · Post by **Leebest112** » 02 Jan 2020, 12:02

Hi there. Im a postie with a 39 hour contract.

Unfortuantly i dread coming in now really due to bullying. Not from managers but other employees.
Spoken to people about this but not much gets done.

Its a shame i love the job, Well the actual outside bit. Just wondering would it be an option to try and reduce my hours.
Come in later perhaps?
Would love to avoid all that. Almost tie up and go and just accept the lower pay.

Would it be possible to do this. Shall i say its due to bullying. Make up a family situauion etc.

Dont want to leave the job.

Thanks

Post by **hothothot** » 02 Jan 2020, 12:11

Why don't you get transfer to another office ?

chickenwittle · Post by **chickenwittle** » 02 Jan 2020, 13:34

Leebest112 wrote:Hi there. Im a postie with a 39 hour contract.

Unfortuantly i dread coming in now really due to bullying. Not from managers but other employees.
Spoken to people about this but not much gets done.

Its a shame i love the job, Well the actual outside bit. Just wondering would it be an option to try and reduce my hours.
Come in later perhaps?
Would love to avoid all that. Almost tie up and go and just accept the lower pay.

Would it be possible to do this. Shall i say its due to bullying. Make up a family situauion etc.

Dont want to leave the job.

Thanks

Why don’t you phone the bullying helpline.

scoobydo79 · Post by **scoobydo79** » 02 Jan 2020, 13:47

hothothot wrote:Why don't you get transfer to another office ?

Why should He? It needs to be reported and stopped.

Leebest112 · Post by **Leebest112** » 02 Jan 2020, 14:15

Its quite a tricky one to report. As i wouldnt say its extreme bullying. Its not really horrible.
but Its still bullying but not extreme. but what makes it worse is that its not just a few, its a lot in our office.

How can you report that against so many people. Managers think well its not bad what they said, but when you get 6 or 7 people
making small jibes daily it has an impact on you.

I did wonder about a transfer. but my attendance is bad mainly due to this.
Would that make it hard to get a transfer

sledge4882 · Post by **sledge4882** » 02 Jan 2020, 14:41

Leebest112 wrote:Its quite a tricky one to report. As i wouldnt say its extreme bullying. Its not really horrible.
but Its still bullying but not extreme. but what makes it worse is that its not just a few, its a lot in our office.

How can you report that against so many people. Managers think well its not bad what they said, but when you get 6 or 7 people
making small jibes daily it has an impact on you.

I did wonder about a transfer. but my attendance is bad mainly due to this.
Would that make it hard to get a transfer

You shouldn't have to suffer with any of this. Report it or speak to your CWU rep. I left on a 39hr contract due to managers bullying and poor working environment and went to another job and instantly regretted it!! I'm at a different depot now on a 27.30hrs contract. I wish I never left my original depot. Because I never did anything about it and there is always people around to support you. Your not alone my friend!!

Bagel25 · Post by **Bagel25** » 02 Jan 2020, 14:48

Please don’t reduce your hours because of the bullying. It won’t solve the situation as they’ll still be there.

Report or follow it up with your union rep.

Wear earphones when inside to try and block them out in the meantime

DGH · Post by **DGH** » 02 Jan 2020, 14:56

This kind of 'low level' bullying is endemic in Royal Mail. A lot of it comes from the fact that there's a lot of piss-taking and 'banter', which for many people is normal, to be expected and goes both ways. However most of those people aren't able to differentiate between those who find it acceptable and those who don't.

Managers seem to find it very hard to deal with the kind of daily sniping you experience because of the fact that most people don't mind it - and indeed revel in it.

However none of that means you should have to put up with it. If having a sensible talk with your DOM about it produces, or has produced no results, and if the CWU rep can also do or will do nothing about it, I suggest perhaps going outside. Clearly the issue is causing you stress and so consulting your GP and getting a doctor's note to the effect that the petty verbal harassment you encounter on a daily basis is causing you mental health problems should force RM to address the issue.

It's probably important to realise though that the people involved may resent you taking action. However, the other solution is, as you say, for you to move or reduce hours. Given that none of this is your fault, you should only consider reducing hours or moving offices if that is something you feel would improve your life regardless of this problem.

Good luck.

Post by **wacko74** » 02 Jan 2020, 15:07

If you can afford the pay drop then I'd definitely go down to 30 hours, I've never been subject to bullying but I can't stand all the ''hilarious'' monotonous banter, the boring repetitive chit chat, the office politics, the constant moaners, the management wannabes etc etc that all comes with the indoor work

I much prefer to just come in to everything thrown in for me, tie up and get out as quickly as possible.

Leebest112 · Post by **Leebest112** » 02 Jan 2020, 15:17

Yes im quite lucky. That i dont have much outlay really. I could survive ok on 30 hours.

Thats why im thinking it may be worth doing.

What would be a good reason to say i want to drop to 30 hours? Shall i say bullying?
Make up family matters etc.

The only thing that would make me feel bad. Is i work with a partner and hes a nice guy a good friend actually.
and of course me not coming in early same time as him. Would put extra pressure on him.

Post by **fb1969** » 02 Jan 2020, 15:29

I dropped from full time to 30 hours part time in 2018, my main reason was the stress level I was experiencing in the office. I gave "stress" as the reason to the DOM and just handed in a letter saying I wanted to change my hours. My letter didn't mention any reasons at all. I had no issues doing it and no questions were asked.

The most stressful time in the office was during the period before part timers start, and a lot was around "banter" from people making out our duty was easy etc (while they ran round theirs every day). I still do overtime and I did full time over Christmas, but I now have the choice that if I don't like it then I don't have to do it.

toonshola · Post by **toonshola** » 02 Jan 2020, 17:11

Seems this nonsense goes on in most offices unfortunately. I’m part time but even just the 30 mins I’m in the office with all the office comedians does my head in. Same awful “banter” every singe day. Saying f**k every second word as if to prove they are all macho, whilst not having the self awareness that there are women/gay people working around them while making sexist or homophobic jibes at each other. Crying to a manager if somebody is taking one less door on their lapsing than them. There really is some pathetic bully’s who run rampant in this job who Royal Mail have refused to deal with for years. All I can say is your not alone mate and I really hope you get it sorted out somehow.

Ren Hoëk · Post by **Ren Hoëk** » 02 Jan 2020, 17:36

Exactly the same in our office as well! We've had people go to other offices because they were the butt of the same old jokes day in day out all in the name of "banter". Without fail I hear the same 4/5 jokes every single day on repeat. EVERY.SINGLE.DAY! f***ing tedious. Inappropriate language, Racist, sexist, misogynistic jokes that because they are targeted at their "mates" and because they don't complain then everything is fine. Regardless that other people find it offensive. Im a straight bloke and I find the sexist and homophobic jokes offensive.

We've also got a couple who are forever sounding off about office politics out loud to themselves so the entire DO can hear. Sometimes vague and often targeted at individual people. Complaining about "Snakes" in the office, People whinging in the office, Floats not doing X, Y and Z when they themselves are even worse for it. Essentially gas lighting to cover their own inadequacies. They are the biggest hypocrites in the office.

Unfortunately, Management seem ill prepared to deal with it. Either from lack of will or because they don't know how. As someone else has said, Careful about how you go about complaining as you will paint a big red target on your back but if you feel bold enough to take it on then do and do it thoroughly! Keep a diary of everything, discreetly take it to your manager and only them. If anything gets out about it, note that in the diary also. If nothing gets done about it then take it out of the office and keep taking it higher.

Do not let them win! You are not alone.

crabstoes · Post by **crabstoes** » 02 Jan 2020, 17:41

i reckon RM will be happy to let you drop hours. ive been here over 20 years and got fed up of modern (lazy) posties moaning about the job every morning. recently asked to reduce my hours or i jack it in. result . now on 32 hours start later dont have to listen to it. good luck

Leebest112 · Post by **Leebest112** » 02 Jan 2020, 17:51

Ok thanks for the reponses.

I think reducing to 30 hours will be best for me.

What would be the best way to do this. Did wonder whether to come up with someones ill i have to look after them etc.

Or just be honest and say ive had enough so i want to reduce my hours