Shifts

[sameer1haq]

I currently work for Angard and Christmas is approaching, first time working at Christmas with Angard, was a casual last year. Just a question for agency workers, do you still receive reasonable shifts, because as more Christmas casuals have been recruited and used in Christmas, I’m thinking that we as agency workers won’t get much hours due to the fact Christmas casuals will be there at the time.

[NW11851]

In previous years we advised Angard of when we woukd be available and shifts were allocated en masse.

Last year was dreadful at my MC. Angard did not pre-book any shifts. The much cheaper, but inefficient RM Casual got unlimited shifts and we had to fill in any gaps.

I suppose it’s going to be the same this time round with the added drawback that Angard have been hiring 25+ new casuals each week.

It won’t be good.......

[tabact]

Last year was poor and I only got 15 x 4 hour shifts in total off Angard for November & December. Luckily direct calls from managers meant I worked virtually every day from mid November. This year it's all via JoinedUp so not overly optimistic but there is the covid effect so currently getting plenty of shifts but virtually all of them are last minute bookings. I'm a bit dubious about what we will get once the RM Christmas staff start as all the managers I've spoken to have been very vague or 'don't know' when asked about using Angard staff. Quite honestly if the place is going to be jammed full of extra people do I really want to be there.

[sameer1haq]

We’ll see what happens then, hopefully decent shifts but I’m thinking as they’ve hired extra casuals they’ll use the agency.

When do casual actually start though

[tabact]

When do casual actually start though

We had 30 or so Christmas casuals start yesterday on the night shift.

[paulus103]

The mail volume is currently setting records for non-Christmas pressure in several parts of the country

[tabact]

Got told last night RM Christmas staff starting next week and Angard only to be used to fill in for the no shows. They do it every year.

[paulus103]

Got told last night RM Christmas staff starting next week and Angard only to be used to fill in for the no shows. They do it every year.

Sorry to hear this :(

Not all offices do this - last year we didn't

I can only say with my experience that Angard is incompetent in confirming the available numbers of Anagard.
I know for a fact that shift managers would prefer trained Angard rather than Christmas casuals.

I also know at my mail centre that we have booked Angard for 6-week blocks and are asking people to commit to mon-fri a week at a time in advance.

Our region had its busiest day ever this week

[sameer1haq]

As Christmas is next Friday, what does this mean for agency staff? Do they still work on mon-thurs, and do they usually work Boxing Day too as this is my first year with Angard so I don’t really know what happens haha. I know it’s open Boxing Day but I heard it’s usually Royal Mail staff working on the Saturday

Thanks

[Lockardian]

I imagine they will manage with Royal Mail volunteers on Boxing Day. There is a limited “Saturday collection” in the afternoon and possibly a First Class dispatch.

Sunday 27th is a normal working day so there will be an inward sort of 1C mail posted on Christmas Eve/Boxing Day and 2C mail from 23rd (and before!). I’m working the night of 28th as there will be deliveries on 29th, and mail will still be arriving from the network and Amazon etc. With the current backlogs who knows?

Angard staff are also working New Years Day nightshift this year as January 2nd is normal deliveries except in Scotland. I imagine Royal Mail will be playing catch up all over the holidays.

[paulus103]

I went around my office asking people to work 26th / 27th

Nobody has decided officially about Monday but I'd place a big bet on agency staff working it

There will be a full night shift starting at midnight on the monday

[SpacePhoenix]

I’m working the night of 28th as there will be deliveries on 29th, and mail will still be arriving from the network and Amazon etc. With the current backlogs who knows?

I doubt anything that you send to the DOs on the Tuesday morning will get touched by them as they'll already have more than they can deliver from previous days