Refuse to go out on delivery

janty · Post by **janty** » 13 Apr 2020, 21:52

I was wondering if we can refuse to go out on delivery. As parcels increase so does our contact with the public. I have already encountered 3 people who have said that they have Covid 19. I informed my manger who told me t stand back from them. Though when someone open the door to you the environment from instance de is sucked outward toward us. Standard by back makes no real difference. I’ve also been heating the air ntention of putting Perspex glass in vans as to resume van shares. Seriously!!!!!

Post by **Munchboii** » 13 Apr 2020, 23:20

janty wrote:I was wondering if we can refuse to go out on delivery. As parcels increase so does our contact with the public. I have already encountered 3 people who have said that they have Covid 19. I informed my manger who told me t stand back from them. Though when someone open the door to you the environment from instance de is sucked outward toward us. Standard by back makes no real difference. I’ve also been heating the air ntention of putting Perspex glass in vans as to resume van shares. Seriously!!!!!

Sounds like a good way to get a disciplinary penalty. I dont think you can just refuse to work unless you or a close family member recieved a letter from the NHs telling you to self isolate for 12 weeks.

If you dont turn up because you dont want to work then I dont think Royal Mail have to pay you so just think about that before you decide to call it quits.

Just remember there are now and soon to be thousands if not millions of people losing their jobs because of this who would gladly step over your dead body to work at Royal Mail!!

LouBarlow · Post by **LouBarlow** » 14 Apr 2020, 05:08

Being out on delivery is the safest place you can be (besides home) unless you are delivering in a congested city.

antcpfc · Post by **antcpfc** » 14 Apr 2020, 07:22

janty wrote:I was wondering if we can refuse to go out on delivery. As parcels increase so does our contact with the public. I have already encountered 3 people who have said that they have Covid 19. I informed my manger who told me t stand back from them. Though when someone open the door to you the environment from instance de is sucked outward toward us. Standard by back makes no real difference. I’ve also been heating the air ntention of putting Perspex glass in vans as to resume van shares. Seriously!!!!!

When I knock on the door I am at least ten foot away before they open it, sometimes a lot more.Yes you may have to retrieve the parcel if nobody is in but that is a rarity.

Chelseablue · Post by **Chelseablue** » 14 Apr 2020, 11:37

Nice considerate thoughtful reply munch . Theres also 1000s of people losing there lives too, so hes every right to be worried about his health .

grchpo · Post by **grchpo** » 14 Apr 2020, 15:21

Knock, retreat to gate/ end of path, wait for them to open door, quick Thanks & off you go. That's as safe as you can get.

Coffeeaddict · Post by **Coffeeaddict** » 14 Apr 2020, 16:53

janty wrote:I was wondering if we can refuse to go out on delivery. As parcels increase so does our contact with the public. I have already encountered 3 people who have said that they have Covid 19. I informed my manger who told me t stand back from them. Though when someone open the door to you the environment from instance de is sucked outward toward us. Standard by back makes no real difference. I’ve also been heating the air ntention of putting Perspex glass in vans as to resume van shares. Seriously!!!!!

I have refused to go in the delivery office as I feel as though that is the most dangerous place to be. I still offered to go on delivery without going in the office, but now I am on unpaid leave as they were not willing to compromise. Therefore the same will probably happen to you.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 14 Apr 2020, 20:18

Coffeeaddict wrote:
janty wrote:I was wondering if we can refuse to go out on delivery. As parcels increase so does our contact with the public. I have already encountered 3 people who have said that they have Covid 19. I informed my manger who told me t stand back from them. Though when someone open the door to you the environment from instance de is sucked outward toward us. Standard by back makes no real difference. I’ve also been heating the air ntention of putting Perspex glass in vans as to resume van shares. Seriously!!!!!
I have refused to go in the delivery office as I feel as though that is the most dangerous place to be. I still offered to go on delivery without going in the office, but now I am on unpaid leave as they were not willing to compromise. Therefore the same will probably happen to you.

Have you tried asking to vary your start time? We've got some staff that now come in at 0900 instead of 0630. By the time they come in nearly everyone else has gone out on Delivery.

Just ask your DOM, I'm sure he'd rather have another Postie able to work, than sat at home ..... and you'll still get paid (even if you finish later).

redneck · Post by **redneck** » 14 Apr 2020, 20:40

It's a nightmare scenario for those who care about being infected/infecting others. a lot of Royal Mail staff don't, and management are tasked to carry on business as usual. You go to the door, the door opens as you drop the parcel and customer just acts like normal stood right in front of you, having a laugh. We should not be delivering non essential items, only Government and medical stuff. Also we should have had a complete two week shutdown. It's all about staying competitive with Amazon, Yodel, Hermes as far as Rico and co are concerned

Coffeeaddict · Post by **Coffeeaddict** » 15 Apr 2020, 03:25

Dorset Plodder wrote:
Coffeeaddict wrote:
janty wrote:I was wondering if we can refuse to go out on delivery. As parcels increase so does our contact with the public. I have already encountered 3 people who have said that they have Covid 19. I informed my manger who told me t stand back from them. Though when someone open the door to you the environment from instance de is sucked outward toward us. Standard by back makes no real difference. I’ve also been heating the air ntention of putting Perspex glass in vans as to resume van shares. Seriously!!!!!
I have refused to go in the delivery office as I feel as though that is the most dangerous place to be. I still offered to go on delivery without going in the office, but now I am on unpaid leave as they were not willing to compromise. Therefore the same will probably happen to you.
Have you tried asking to vary your start time? We've got some staff that now come in at 0900 instead of 0630. By the time they come in nearly everyone else has gone out on Delivery. Just ask your DOM, I'm sure he'd rather have another Postie able to work, than sat at home ..... and you'll still get paid (even if you finish later).

I asked them if I could just go out on delivery and despite four other people in the office being able to meet the driver from their house and get bags of mail dropped off (because they can’t drive), when I’ve asked they said who will prep the mail. So now I’m on unpaid leave it’s really unfair.

LouBarlow · Post by **LouBarlow** » 15 Apr 2020, 05:16

Coffeeaddict wrote:
Dorset Plodder wrote:
Coffeeaddict wrote:
janty wrote:I was wondering if we can refuse to go out on delivery. As parcels increase so does our contact with the public. I have already encountered 3 people who have said that they have Covid 19. I informed my manger who told me t stand back from them. Though when someone open the door to you the environment from instance de is sucked outward toward us. Standard by back makes no real difference. I’ve also been heating the air ntention of putting Perspex glass in vans as to resume van shares. Seriously!!!!!
I have refused to go in the delivery office as I feel as though that is the most dangerous place to be. I still offered to go on delivery without going in the office, but now I am on unpaid leave as they were not willing to compromise. Therefore the same will probably happen to you.
Have you tried asking to vary your start time? We've got some staff that now come in at 0900 instead of 0630. By the time they come in nearly everyone else has gone out on Delivery. Just ask your DOM, I'm sure he'd rather have another Postie able to work, than sat at home ..... and you'll still get paid (even if you finish later).

I asked them if I could just go out on delivery and despite four other people in the office being able to meet the driver from their house and get bags of mail dropped off (because they can’t drive), when I’ve asked they said who will prep the mail. So now I’m on unpaid leave it’s really unfair.

Why not just come in later and prep your mail as you would normally? There will likely be a handful of people about so minimal danger. I can't see why you would expect to be paid a full wage if refusing to come into the office to be honest. Not sure any manager would agree to that, especially when the rest of your colleagues are managing it.

paul1231 · Post by **paul1231** » 15 Apr 2020, 05:54

LouBarlow wrote:
Coffeeaddict wrote:
Dorset Plodder wrote:
Coffeeaddict wrote:
janty wrote:I was wondering if we can refuse to go out on delivery. As parcels increase so does our contact with the public. I have already encountered 3 people who have said that they have Covid 19. I informed my manger who told me t stand back from them. Though when someone open the door to you the environment from instance de is sucked outward toward us. Standard by back makes no real difference. I’ve also been heating the air ntention of putting Perspex glass in vans as to resume van shares. Seriously!!!!!
I have refused to go in the delivery office as I feel as though that is the most dangerous place to be. I still offered to go on delivery without going in the office, but now I am on unpaid leave as they were not willing to compromise. Therefore the same will probably happen to you.
Have you tried asking to vary your start time? We've got some staff that now come in at 0900 instead of 0630. By the time they come in nearly everyone else has gone out on Delivery. Just ask your DOM, I'm sure he'd rather have another Postie able to work, than sat at home ..... and you'll still get paid (even if you finish later).

I asked them if I could just go out on delivery and despite four other people in the office being able to meet the driver from their house and get bags of mail dropped off (because they can’t drive), when I’ve asked they said who will prep the mail. So now I’m on unpaid leave it’s really unfair.
Why not just come in later and prep your mail as you would normally? There will likely be a handful of people about so minimal danger. I can't see why you would expect to be paid a full wage if refusing to come into the office to be honest. Not sure any manager would agree to that, especially when the rest of your colleagues are managing it.

I know different people react differently to situations but your right theres a few at my office doing it and meeting the drivers about half 9 on delivery but some of us are in at half 6 to 7 sort of time prepping and often on shorter contracts then them but they are still receiving full pay which doesn't seem fair. But surely unpaid leaves unfair if your willing to do that? Even if your just doing 25hours of delivery a week they could at least just temporarily pay you 25hours a week instead of 38 lets say if that is the hours your on then at least your getting some kind of income rather then nothing! Maybe try asking if you can do this?

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 15 Apr 2020, 18:53

LouBarlow wrote:
Why not just come in later and prep your mail as you would normally? There will likely be a handful of people about so minimal danger. I can't see why you would expect to be paid a full wage if refusing to come into the office to be honest. Not sure any manager would agree to that, especially when the rest of your colleagues are managing it.

This is what I was suggesting. If your Duty involves prepping your own Walk you can't really expect someone else to pick up the slack, and prep it for you. I can understand your DOMs resistance in this instance. However if your Duty is Delivery Only one then I can't see the problem

We have several staff who just turn up later and carry on their Duty as usual... it's not a problem.

delboy1969 · Post by **delboy1969** » 17 Apr 2020, 08:34

I've been going in from 11 till around 5 and it's working for me, office much quieter and I feel safe. I like going in and all the mail and parcels are ready to be prepped.

norris9 · Post by **norris9** » 23 Apr 2020, 17:39

delboy1969 wrote:I've been going in from 11 till around 5 and it's working for me, office much quieter and I feel safe. I like going in and all the mail and parcels are ready to be prepped.

ready to be prepped?

So you are on a 30 hour contract? How much of your round is prepped when you get into your depot in the morning?

or should I ask... to what point should a 30 hours a week Postie expect their round to be prepped up to when they get in? Is there a written handbook somewhere which states this or do managers / posties have different ideas of this in each depot across the country?