ADVICE FOR NEW POSTIES

Post by **GoingPostal86** » 18 Nov 2018, 11:05

I keep getting turfed out on van shares with partners who refuse to take breaks and rush about worrying about bringing mail back incase the person on the duty the next day gives off stink.

What is the official rule on breaks on van shares? Do you have to agree on one together because thats impossible with headcases I'm on with lol

leolion855 · Post by **leolion855** » 18 Nov 2018, 11:47

GoingPostal86 wrote:I keep getting turfed out on van shares with partners who refuse to take breaks and rush about worrying about bringing mail back incase the person on the duty the next day gives off stink.

What is the official rule on breaks on van shares? Do you have to agree on one together because thats impossible with headcases I'm on with lol

you can always take yours on your own and make the driver wait ( or deliver some oversized) you wont be very popular tho..

Post by **GoingPostal86** » 18 Nov 2018, 12:25

leolion855 wrote:
GoingPostal86 wrote:I keep getting turfed out on van shares with partners who refuse to take breaks and rush about worrying about bringing mail back incase the person on the duty the next day gives off stink.

What is the official rule on breaks on van shares? Do you have to agree on one together because thats impossible with headcases I'm on with lol
you can always take yours on your own and make the driver wait ( or deliver some oversized) you wont be very popular tho..

I get on well with them, it's always good banter.

It's not a case of not liking who I work with or anything like that but they seem to be in this mindset of have to clear up or they'll get in trouble.

I get put out with full timers but I'm part time.

The duty we do is probably 12-14 miles. Can't understand why anyone wouldnt stop for a breather.

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 18 Nov 2018, 12:28

GoingPostal86 wrote:I keep getting turfed out on van shares with partners who refuse to take breaks and rush about worrying about bringing mail back incase the person on the duty the next day gives off stink.

What is the official rule on breaks on van shares? Do you have to agree on one together because thats impossible with headcases I'm on with lol

It's a really difficult situation and I don't see any solutions to these kind of problems in the near future. I think it boils down to a lot of walks either being too short or long for the duty hours given. There are so many variables such as faster or slower posties, talking or not talking to customers, huge variations in amounts of mail per DO and/or walks etc etc etc.
What could and should be done is fixing issues such as making sure breaks are taken, posties coming in early and doing work unpaid, RM not paying for overtime or all work completed, walks being delivered 'properly' etc. Both the union and RM are still utterly ineffective in fixing these issues and instead ponce around with ideas like the SWW which don't work and make the existing problems worse.

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 19 Nov 2018, 19:00

GoingPostal86 wrote:I keep getting turfed out on van shares with partners who refuse to take breaks and rush about worrying about bringing mail back incase the person on the duty the next day gives off stink.

What is the official rule on breaks on van shares? Do you have to agree on one together because thats impossible with headcases I'm on with lol

the rule is youre entitled to the break, if the other person doesnt want a break then they forfeit their input in when it should be taken.

staywarmstayfree · Post by **staywarmstayfree** » 10 Nov 2019, 00:26

After my first week in the job:

THIEVE ALL THE RED BAGS YOU CAN. Keep them in your car and guard them with your life, they're vital tools for the job and will be nicked from under your nose while you're sorting your frame.

If you've got loads of parcels, just take the grey sack they come in out with you. Saves space in the van.

DON'T PANIC.

Find your union rep.

Get to know the customers on your round; they depend on you and (on my walk at least) they appreciate you.

Take plasters. Bled all over the mail on my first round, (fortunately it was Halloween) letterboxes can be sharp as f**k

Take a handful of dog treats. Throw one at a barking dog, they won't see you as much of a threat next time (big up Roger the pug at no. 57)

Just enjoy it. You'd miss the rain if it disappeared, you're being relatively well paid for the industry, and there's folk out there scraping other people's s**t off toilets for half your wage.

BE POSITIVE

Post by **newpostyco13** » 04 Sep 2020, 16:08

HI

I sent home ill in my first week now i have a meerting with managers on monday am i doomed???

heapsy · Post by **heapsy** » 04 Sep 2020, 20:07

newpostyco13 wrote:HI

I sent home ill in my first week now i have a meerting with managers on monday am i doomed???

Doubt it. It's probably what they call a "back to work" interview. Fact finder to see how you are and if there's any underlying issues.

ViperF · Post by **ViperF** » 15 Nov 2020, 07:59

Don’t do it, look for another job.

Draculavet · Post by **Draculavet** » 19 Nov 2020, 18:43

1. Always put some overtime on the time sheet, even if it is only 10-15 minutes, BEFORE you leave for deliveries. You never know what might slow you down. If you went over with more than 10 min, or didn't go over at all that is ok. They will put the right amount of time. If you never booked overtime, you will be working those 10, 15, 45... min for free.
2. Always have a sandwich or a snack in your bag. You might find they put you on a different duty for the day with no shops around.
3. Before preparing your bundles and bags for a duty you have never done, ask someone who has done it, how to bundle up, where are the toilets (important, ladies:))), is there any codes for doors of care homes or flats. Make a note of where the end of the first half is on the frame, so when you get there, you know how much time you have left.
4. A "D" letter on the frame usually means unfriendly dog, try and remember the road and the house number.

Draculavet · Post by **Draculavet** » 19 Nov 2020, 19:04

postiemids wrote: ↑
11 Jul 2010, 21:17
Hi im a new postie been in job 3 weeks been on walk with loads of flats and i couldnt gain acess and bought 2 bundles of mail back and ive put no acess on the letters bit worried ill been done for wilfuull delay

Before you leave the DO always ask someone who has done the walk or a manager, if noone else knows: Any codes for doors of care homes or apartment buildings? Any keys for gaining access.
Once you are there, if no key and no code, try and ring the flats on ground floor, explain you are new. People will let you in. Ideally ring someone if you have mail for them and just say:"Hi, RM, I have a letter for you, but cannot get in.
Don't try top floor, as a lot of times people need to actually come downstairs to the front door to open and they are not happy...ask me how I know :)))

Draculavet · Post by **Draculavet** » 19 Nov 2020, 19:07

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER:
Never stick your fingers through the letter box!
Some dogs remain quiet.
Use the RM peg or a pen to push the mail through.

Draculavet · Post by **Draculavet** » 19 Nov 2020, 20:08

DaisyDoodles wrote: ↑
29 May 2018, 18:49
Any advice on how I can speed up? Day 5 of being a Postie and the first time I was out on doing all five loops by my myself.

It seems I slowed my full time buddy down massively as they're used to finishing two hours early. Apparently I made them over an hour late. Not sure how as my hours are 8.40 to 13.40 on a Tuesday and we left the DO at 8.40 and were back at 13.55 and I thought I did OK considering.

I seem to have trouble holding the bundles of mail whilst sorting through and zapping anything that looks like a QR code or a bar code. Add that to trying to remember where every house is, steps and hills, leaflets and 739s and you can see why I'm not as fast as they are. I just felt a bit demoralised today especially when they left after getting back without so much as a 'see you tomorrow'.

Any tips will be appreciated...I'm not going to let this beat me.

You will get faster, I promise!
It took me a few months, but it is best to be careful and not make mistakes.
We have all been there, all of us! Just some people tend to forget where they started.
Pay attention to the numbers on the doors, watch where you are going, don't walk and read, and keep your fingers out of the letter boxes. If you stay long enough on the same duty, you will be able to see a change in a couple of weeks!

PostmanBitesDog · Post by **PostmanBitesDog** » 19 Nov 2020, 20:28

Draculavet wrote: ↑
19 Nov 2020, 20:08

DaisyDoodles wrote: ↑
29 May 2018, 18:49
Any advice on how I can speed up?
You will get faster, I promise!

Hopefully DaisyDoodles is up to speed now considering her post was from 29 May 2018.

Grumpyoldmailman · Post by **Grumpyoldmailman** » 19 Nov 2020, 22:08

Draculavet wrote: ↑
19 Nov 2020, 18:43
1. Always put some overtime on the time sheet, even if it is only 10-15 minutes, BEFORE you leave for deliveries. You never know what might slow you down. If you went over with more than 10 min, or didn't go over at all that is ok.

So your booking extended overtime before you leave the office? Ours is booked the next morning, you would be in the DOMS office at ours if you tried to claim even the way you are saying.

ROYALMAILCHAT