LTB 501/20 - ROYAL MAIL RE INTRODUCTION OF VAN SHARE POLICY - SICK PAY WHILST VOLUNTARY VAN SHARING

Post by **POSTMAN** » 14 Oct 2020, 18:55

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LTB 501/20 – ROYAL MAIL RE INTRODUCTION OF VAN SHARE POLICY – SICK PAY WHILST VOLUNTARY VAN SHARING
No. 501/2020

14th October 2020

TO: ALL BRANCHES WITH POSTAL MEMBERS

Dear Colleagues,

RE: ROYAL MAIL RE INTRODUCTION OF VAN SHARE POLICY – SICK PAY WHILST VOLUNTARY VAN SHARING

Further to LTB 489/20 dated 6th October 2020 in relation to the above and due to a

number of enquiries into both departments, the purpose of this Letter to Branches is to

inform members of the current situation with regard to sick pay whilst carrying out van

sharing.

As Branches and members will know, Royal Mail has taken the decision to arbitrarily

reintroduce van sharing on a voluntary basis for individuals from Monday of this week.

Whilst fully recognising the operational difficulties the single person only vehicle policy

has led to since its introduction during the National Lockdown period, it has without

doubt played a significant part in ensuring our member’s safety. Therefore, as the

number of confirmed Covid-19 cases along with the numbers of local & regional

lockdowns currently increases right throughout the UK, the CWU were not and are not

in a position to agree to or support the change to the previous single vehicle policy, as

it is simply the wrong time. In our view this could potentially increase the risk to

members of exposure to the virus.

Information issued by Government today included the following advice “It is difficult to

socially distance during car journeys. You should avoid sharing a car with someone from

outside your household or your support bubble unless you can practice social

distancing.”

Having heard directly from the company that they were reintroducing van sharing, albeit

on a voluntary basis, at a meeting on Friday 9th October 2020, we requested from senior

Royal Mail management that they commit to paying full sick pay to any member who

volunteers to van share, in the event they have to self-isolate. Despite the meeting

being attended by 5 directors / senior managers, they would not give the commitment

and guarantee we sought. We have asked Royal Mail to publish a communication stating

full sick pay will be paid in the circumstances where a member who volunteers to van

share has to self-isolate and also clearly stipulate any circumstances where sick pay will

not be paid.

This is important as a few weeks ago, Royal Mail sent a communication to their

managers which included the following “… We know most of our people continue to

follow the guidelines and behave in a responsible way. This is why Royal Mail

has adopted a supportive approach for employees who are required to selfisolate

due to Covid-19 by applying our normal sick pay policy. In most cases

this provides support above the statutory sick pay recommended by

government.

However, providing enhanced sick pay is dependent on the absence not being

caused by or aggravated by the employee. Where, in the reasonable view of

the company, there is evidence of an employee’s disregard for public health

guidance which then leads to them needing to self-isolate, Royal Mail Sick Pay

will not be paid….”

Clearly we want to ensure, despite our advice to the contrary, any individual who does

volunteer to van share will not fall into the category of “being caused or aggravated

by”, which is why we have requested Royal Mail make it clear full sick pay will be paid

and to be also clear, just as importantly, when sick pay will not be paid. This will allow

individuals to make an informed decision as to whether they want to van share or not.

At the meeting last Friday, we were informed we will have confirmation and the

communication will be published by Monday 12th October 2020. Neither has happened,

therefore we wanted to let you know the latest position and we will be writing to Royal

Mail calling on them to issue a communication stating full sick pay will be paid to anyone

who volunteers to van share, plus any absence of self isolation will not count towards

the attendance agreement.

We will also be requesting extra measures are put in place to ensure Fleet members

are also protected and ensure measures are put in place for you to enforce your legal

right to see and read the safe systems of work and risk assessment to ensure you fully

understand what you need to do, and what PPE you should be wearing should you agree

to van share.

Although feedback from branches is showing that volunteer numbers overall are low,

for absolute clarity our advice remains that members should not volunteer to van share,

as we believe given the current situation with the crisis that this is the wrong time to

go back to sharing vehicles. This advice does not change, even if we were to receive

the assurances as above in relation to sick pay at this current moment in time.

We will be writing to Royal Mail and will keep you updated on any progress.

All enquiries regarding the content of this LTB should be addressed to the PTCS

Department, quoting reference 401. Email address: khay@cwu.org and Outdoor

Department quoting reference 600. Email address: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org.

Yours sincerely,

Carl Maden – Acting Assistant Secretary

Mark Baulch – Assistant Secretary

Cucumber · Post by **Cucumber** » 14 Oct 2020, 19:00

Shocking, but not surprised TBH.

daveyeff · Post by **daveyeff** » 14 Oct 2020, 19:10

aye, their attitude is an absolute disgrace.

Acca Dacca · Post by **Acca Dacca** » 14 Oct 2020, 19:12

While good intentions, the union shouldnt be fighting for those who take the unnecessary risks and go against government and CWU advice to NOT VAN SHARE

Why give them incentives?

It'd be in everyone elses interests if Royal Mail didnt pay them sick pay and included it in their sick record - as it IS a risk they are choosing to take, shouldnt be taking and maybe it would stop them taking it.

Why make it easier?

They put the rest of us at increased risk

Cucumber · Post by **Cucumber** » 14 Oct 2020, 19:13

I wonder how many people will maybe now reconsider.

This number: 0

Post by **POSTMAN** » 14 Oct 2020, 20:14

This is the LTB of the news rant here...
https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... 72&t=97859" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 16 Oct 2020, 17:00

https://www.myroyalmail.com/news/2020/1 ... n-guidance" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If your shared van partner has tested positive for coronavirus, what should you do?

All colleagues with coronavirus symptoms (a high temperature, a new continuous cough, and/or a loss or change to your taste or smell) should self-isolate immediately and seek a test.

If you shared a van with a colleague who has now tested positive for coronavirus, consider when you last shared a van with them. If you shared a van and had close contact during the two days before they developed symptoms and self-isolated, then you should self-isolate for 14 days from the last date of close contact with the confirmed case (you are very likely to be contacted by NHS Test & Trace).

Your manager will record your absence on PSP as ‘SCU070 Coronavirus – self-isolation’ and normal Royal Mail sick pay policy will apply. You should not take a test if you don’t have symptoms as this could generate a false negative test result and you may then go on to develop symptoms in the following days.

Any other shared van duty or rest day cover duty members, who help to form a shared van ‘pod’ with the confirmed case individual, are not required to self-isolate unless they are contacted by Test & Trace and should take extra care, particularly with social distancing and hand hygiene. Should they develop symptoms, they must self-isolate immediately and arrange a test.

As a reminder, van sharing is voluntary for our employees and we have ensured a number of measures are in place to minimise any risk of infection whilst sharing a van, including face coverings, the use of hand sanitiser and cleaning of common van touchpoints. Colleagues with any concerns should speak to their line manager for more information.

Anyone who develops symptoms of coronavirus should self-isolate and request a test immediately. You can access up-to-date guidance on what steps to take while self-isolating on the NHS websiteOpens in a new window. Colleagues should fully comply with instructions provided by the NHS and keep their line manager informed.

16 Oct 2020

2nd post PDF in the Global Announcement...
https://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communi ... 71&t=94715" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 17 Oct 2020, 20:36

One you should not be van sharing it is not socially distanced and how a wet flimsy mask will help you, If anyone in RM thinks they have contracted the virus they should contact managers by phone and NEVER visit the office till fully recovered of the virus.

postslippete · Post by **postslippete** » 18 Oct 2020, 16:33

POSTMAN wrote:

However, providing enhanced sick pay is dependent on the absence not being caused by or aggravated by the employee. Where, in the reasonable view of the company, there is evidence of an employee’s disregard for public health guidance which then leads to them needing to self-isolate, Royal Mail Sick Pay will not be paid….”

So there could be two of you in a van but one of you decides or forgets not to put on their facemask but then one of you gets the virus and has to isolate and i suppose that would mean the other person would have to isolate as well. But the company won't pay sick pay to either of you if they have a "witness" that has seen one of you not wearing a mask.

How mad would that be?

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 18 Oct 2020, 17:40

postslippete wrote:
POSTMAN wrote:

However, providing enhanced sick pay is dependent on the absence not being caused by or aggravated by the employee. Where, in the reasonable view of the company, there is evidence of an employee’s disregard for public health guidance which then leads to them needing to self-isolate, Royal Mail Sick Pay will not be paid….”

So there could be two of you in a van but one of you decides or forgets not to put on their facemask but then one of you gets the virus and has to isolate and i suppose that would mean the other person would have to isolate as well. But the company won't pay sick pay to either of you if they have a "witness" that has seen one of you not wearing a mask.

How mad would that be?

And who could police that? It would be another unsubstantiated accusation by a manager just to unlawfully refuse payment of said staff.