Wilful delay of mail

[Danmor80]

Hi, a college has been suspended over wilful delay of mail. Two items where found in his open collection bag that he says he can not account for. The two items had stamps on (that had not been cancelled) , they could well have been posted in one of the 5 boxes he empties , in his large town walk.
However it has come to light that a postman (who has a personal dislike with him) was going through the open collection bags with the two managers when they found the 2 items.
Is this not correct procedure? Should the postman have not been anywhere near the investigation? Have brought it up with the local union rep but he hasn’t got any idea if it was procedurely incorrect or not.
Thanks

[Acca Dacca]

Its only wilful delay if he knew the items were there

This sounds like a mistake which is not wilful

[postman2014]

They have to prove the bag was empty before he filled it. Could of been put in there by someone else by mistake ect...... so many scenarios. He will be fine if you have a decent rep

[Dexydog]

Wilful delay of 2 letters??
Don't make me F888king laugh, when walks are left in fittings for days on end.
You couldn't make it up.

[Jb1969]

Wilful delay of the mail requires a conscious decision to leave the mail in the bag.
Can the manager prove this, I think not.
ANY rep should be able to squash this within 1min.
Nothing more than the usual bullying by a manager with no more than a fruit basket for a brain!!

[POSTMAN]

National Conduct Procedure Agreement 2015

Delay to mail
Delay to mail can be treated as:
• Unintentional delay
• Unexcused delay
• Intentional delay

Unintentional delay
Royal Mail Group recognises that genuine
mistakes and misunderstandings do occur and
it is not our intention that such cases should
be dealt with under the Conduct Policy beyond
informal discussions for the isolated instance.

Unexcused delay
Various actions can cause mail to be delayed,
for example carelessness or negligence
leading to loss or delay of customers’ mail, or
breach or disregard of a standard or guideline.
Such instances are to be distinguished from
intentional delay (see below), although they
may also be treated as misconduct and dealt
with under the Conduct Policy, outcomes may
range from an informal discussion to dismissal.

Intentional delay
Intentional delay of mail is classed as
gross misconduct which, if proven, could
lead to dismissal. The test to determine
whether actions may be considered as
intentional delay, is whether the action
taken by the employee was knowingly
deliberate, with an intention to delay mail.
Where proven, such breaches of conduct
can lead to dismissal, even for a first offence;
indeed intentional delay is a criminal
offence and can result in prosecution.

[Coffee lover]

There be no one left to our place if they sacked everyone for wilful delay day lol, Our manager knows it goes on and clearly doesn’t care either as long as the track parcel I done that’s all that counts

[Postie45]

The irony that theyd automatically go after someone for wilful delay for 2 letters (and i assume first offense?) after how backed up with letters and parcels some offices still are, joke of a company - this is why you dont get goodwill from your workers anymore.

[toonshola]

Feel so sorry for the postie on the end of this, so unfair. Our office is a free for all at the moment, do the tracked and specials and all other items can be dumped here there and everywhere for days on end. Shambles of a company.

[yubin282]

Meanwhile people are returning from self-isolating to find 11 days of mail that hasn't been delivered. God bless RM.

[daveyeff]

is it not willful delay when a manager says ''leave in some of your mail today, cos i can't pay you for going over, do it tomorrow''?

[Woody Guthrie]

is it not willful delay when a manager says ''leave in some of your mail today, cos i can't pay you for going over, do it tomorrow''?

No.
As long as they report it.