JoinedUp/ Driver exchange

[tabact]

We've gone live now and while I've had no particular problems others have had weird hourly rates applied and breaks deducted.

[Lockardian]

Sometimes I wonder if they take any notice of the “availability” we set on our JoinedUp accounts!

I marked myself unavailable for one day last week and received three calls that day from different people at Angard asking if I could do a shift. The same thing had happened to colleagues. Yet there are days we are “available” and don’t get contacted/booked, and the shift is not filled (according to Royal Mail)!

[paulus103]

Another couple of questions.

Anybody know a way of block setting availability instead of having to enter each day individually?

I'm booked tomorrow for 6-10 but have been asked by an RM manager if I can start at 2. Any issues with getting paid for the extra hours with JoinedUp if called in direct by the MC?

In answer to your second question, our shifts are rarely the length they are originally booked for. Until the book room enters the hours (stopping and starting the clock) only the start time shows on the “timesheet” page of JoinedUp on the “planned” line. The actual hours appear on the “actual” line underneath once they have been entered. So I shouldn’t imagine any problem there - just check that shift on your timesheet or shift view page the following day to ensure the correct times have been entered - and if not speak to the book room directly.

As for updating availability, it seems we can only do it a day at a time.

My MC uses joined up I have official access to the admin side of the system as part of an RM admin team.

1. Be very careful if any manager asks you to work without it going through Angard - you will struggle to get paid. The manager will get in big trouble but there is a process for paying staff but it will take time.
2. I can't say this strongly enough make sure you sign in, added a start and finish time and make sure the times are correct - it is a real admin struggle to sort out wages for people who have not signed in. With No finish times we can normally work something out.
3. If you stay later than agreed time with Angard make sure the sign sheet has the correct time don't rely on a manager to sort this even if he promises - currently we can't amend submitted times once they are on the system - you need Angard payroll to amend in conjunction with the relevant manager and admin/bookroom team.
4. There is wiggle room if you are booked and a manager wants you to do different hours e.g. start time brought forward etc.

As with any Angard shift make sure you record hours worked / breaks deducted etc.

My views of joinedup are mixed - I am an ex-Angard so I can see both sides.
Anybody reading this please make sure you sign in :)

[Xeonus]

My MC uses joined up I have official access to the admin side of the system as part of an RM admin team.

1. Be very careful if any manager asks you to work without it going through Angard - you will struggle to get paid. The manager will get in big trouble but there is a process for paying staff but it will take time.
2. I can't say this strongly enough make sure you sign in, added a start and finish time and make sure the times are correct - it is a real admin struggle to sort out wages for people who have not signed in. With No finish times we can normally work something out.
3. If you stay later than agreed time with Angard make sure the sign sheet has the correct time don't rely on a manager to sort this even if he promises - currently we can't amend submitted times once they are on the system - you need Angard payroll to amend in conjunction with the relevant manager and admin/bookroom team.
4. There is wiggle room if you are booked and a manager wants you to do different hours e.g. start time brought forward etc.

As with any Angard shift make sure you record hours worked / breaks deducted etc.

My views of joinedup are mixed - I am an ex-Angard so I can see both sides.
Anybody reading this please make sure you sign in :)

I really appreciate this information. I always wondered what happens when the secretive agreements for shifts between managers and the favourites/family members/friends are handled when it comes to telling Angard "SURPRISE! These people had shifts that you did not provide them with. Pay them".

[paulus103]

Joined-up if it is implemented the same as in my centre should stop family members or any worker being booked directly.
There may be some managers who ask for certain people to work but Angard doesn't like that and will fight it.
With Angard however, there is always an element of laziness involved e.g. it is easier for an Angard agent to book people for several shifts in one go. Also, booking people they know won't cancel.

A mail centre might prioritise a certain shift pattern as more important than others e.g. a morning shift may be more productive than other shifts for example.
This can give that particular shift manager more clout with Angard to ask for people but any booking would be through Angard and processed using the joined-up system.

The payroll is a problem as a mail centre can't add ad hoc payments once the shift is stopped and hours inputted for payroll.
I imagine this is set up this way to ensure managers can't book directly as no way to pay Angard workers.
But any mistake in hours worked, not signed in, wrong hours inputted etc means a real delay for the individual - this I personally hate as many peoples finances are under pressure.
Not signing in means you are also relying on a manager and risking being marked as FTA - fail to attend.
With Christmas coming up it may risk that person not being paid at all as everybody will be busy.

So again I'd say to anybody please make sure you sign in, sign out, check the times are correct before you leave and any extra time beyond the agreed shift time is listed on the sheet.
If in doubt ask.

[Lockardian]

Normally we sign in but the shift manager signs us out. But I always check the times submitted on Joined Up, and contact the book room if anything is incorrect.

There have been occasions when, despite a shift showing as submitted, I haven’t been paid for it. It seems to take forever (several weeks) to eventually get paid - I don’t know if that’s due to the system being different now since JoinedUp was introduced, or because of staff shortages at Angard - or both.

[NW11851]

Some of the unscrupulous managers have managed to find a loophole in the Angard system.

They have created a fictitious skill set, let’s call it 999 for example. Then they put all their mates, family members, fellow countrymen/ladies into that skill set.

All they then have to do, particularly at weekends, is tell Angard “We need people with skill set 999” and Angard call them first.

When others query the lack of shifts, or even cancellations, Angard tell them “You don’t have the requested skill set!”

It’s corrupt but what can we do if Managers refuse to act?

[paulus103]

There is always the fundamental tension between Angard and Royal Mail - all the managers I've ever worked for want trained, hard-working and experienced agency workers.
While Angard just wants to fill shifts they don't care who works.

I wonder if the plant manager knows what goes on - he's interested in hours spent and if they were rubbish workers then he would not be happy.

I'm also surprised Angard have let them get away with it.

[Lockardian]

Paulus103 - I have an issue with JoinedUp. On Fridays, I cannot work a nightshift but I am available for other shifts, such as a back shift (1400-2200 or 1800-0200). If I mark myself as “unavailable after 0200 Saturday“, this does not show up under Friday, so I still get offered the nightshift. Even if I mark myself as “unavailable after 2200 Friday”, I still keep getting offered the nightshift. When I then decline, Angard mark me as unavailable for the entire Friday so I miss out on being offered the back shifts.

I assume this is Angard not taking any notice of availability when booking people in. Others have also been offered shifts they clearly marked themselves unavailable for. Also, Angard shouldn’t assume I’m unavailable all day just because I declined a nightshift I clearly stated I wasn’t available for! What’s the point in declaring availability when they take no notice of it?! I messaged JoinedUp to see if I was doing my part correctly, but they did not reply!

[sameer1haq]

Quick question

Is anyone else getting shifts thru email instead of the text messages and thru joined up? I’m getting emails from “On Call RM” than JoinedUp itself or are they the same thing?

Thanks

[Lockardian]

Quick question

Is anyone else getting shifts thru email instead of the text messages and thru joined up? I’m getting emails from “On Call RM” than JoinedUp itself or are they the same thing?

Thanks

Yes, I’ve been getting notified of available shifts by email on occasions, other times by text/Joined Up message. They are different things, and it’s annoying as often by the time I read the email it’s too late to apply for the shift(s).

[paulus103]

Paulus103 - I have an issue with JoinedUp. On Fridays, I cannot work a nightshift but I am available for other shifts, such as a back shift (1400-2200 or 1800-0200). If I mark myself as “unavailable after 0200 Saturday“, this does not show up under Friday, so I still get offered the nightshift. Even if I mark myself as “unavailable after 2200 Friday”, I still keep getting offered the nightshift. When I then decline, Angard mark me as unavailable for the entire Friday so I miss out on being offered the back shifts.

I assume this is Angard not taking any notice of availability when booking people in. Others have also been offered shifts they clearly marked themselves unavailable for. Also, Angard shouldn’t assume I’m unavailable all day just because I declined a nightshift I clearly stated I wasn’t available for! What’s the point in declaring availability when they take no notice of it?! I messaged JoinedUp to see if I was doing my part correctly, but they did not reply!

Id ring them up directly
Messaging joinedup is a waste of time in most cases other than confirming shifts
I myself will reply to messages if I can help but I'm told by higher ups to refer workers to Angard.

[paulus103]

Quick question

Is anyone else getting shifts thru email instead of the text messages and thru joined up? I’m getting emails from “On Call RM” than JoinedUp itself or are they the same thing?

Thanks

I think this is still Angard but the out of hours or weekend service.

[sameer1haq]

Quick question

Is anyone else getting shifts thru email instead of the text messages and thru joined up? I’m getting emails from “On Call RM” than JoinedUp itself or are they the same thing?

Thanks

I think this is still Angard but the out of hours or weekend service.

I get 1-2 texts usually, rest has been email which have been morning, afternoon and evening shifts so I don’t think it’s out of hour

[NW11851]

Quick question

Is anyone else getting shifts thru email instead of the text messages and thru joined up? I’m getting emails from “On Call RM” than JoinedUp itself or are they the same thing?

Thanks

Correct
I think this is still Angard but the out of hours or weekend service.