I have handed in my resignation - here is why

[Blaine]

I'm in a similar situation, though my contract is permanent. For just over 3 years now I've worked 55-60 hours a week despite being on a 27.5 hour contact. Like you, I really need stability from a full time contract so I can move out and buy a house. It absolutely boils my piss I get lower bonuses, less than half pay when I go on holiday or sick leave (only 3 weeks in 3 years, but adds up to a loss of £3000 to my pocket during my employment). Royal mail treat the people that help them out the most like crap, and the same old piss takers who leave more than most people or even in our case, come in 2 hours late every day and finish the same time as everyone else, with no loss of pay, citing safety concerns (too many people in the building) still get the most benefits.

Can I offer some advice though? Wait it out a bit, don't leave yet. I know there is no stability for you right now, but at least having a job and an income that is good for the bank balance is better than having no job and regretting it later (it may be good to think other companies will reward you better, but in reality most will only say they will but won't). You have a decent pay rate and you can choose your hours, if you just need to take things easy for a while, work your hours, tell it straight to your manager and explain the situation, no more overtime for a few weeks. Make it clear the sole reason is the lack of a permanent contract and you're happy to do overtime again once the contact changes and you're mentally in a better state. Never let them stress you out or pressure you.

I know I'd be significantly worse off if I changed jobs, I'm in an "unskilled" job earning a lot more than teachers and nurses. I know given enough time, things will change. Just have to play at politics in the meantime, speak to reps, discuss withdrawing resignation for better contract etc. Take care of yourself most of all, your overtime when you do it is for you, and not your line manager or anyone else.

[Munchboii]

2.5 years
when i started it took 8 years before being made ft

I think you miss the point, 8 years to be on a permanent contract?

I am currently on a temporary contract which they extend every 3 months. I was living my entire life in 3 month blocks. I can't do that any longer to bad for my health.

Did you get any backup from CWU to become permanent?

The CWU and industrial relations formerly looked into the situation in regards to temporary contracts in our specific case. The findings were that because the business has a "valid" reason (duty revision) that there is legally nothing the CWU or industrial relations can do. In conclusion they found that while morally what they are doing to the temp staff in my office is morally wrong, legally they are allowed to do it.

The situation is that 4 people retired which means 4 full time jobs would be available. However this gave the business an opportunity to fiddle these jobs into part time positions by using clock in /out devices to monitor every duties finish time.

Most duties were finishing 30-60 minutes early everyday so what they wish to do make the other full time rounds longer to then have 4 part time rounds. But what they do not understand is that each postie knows their round inside out so in effect it is a perk of the job to be allowed to finish early in a way??!!

Therefore the upper management justify their big salaries and save £££. However covid19 extended the revision due to changing mail volumes and parcels through the roof. So it has been months of ongoing revision since October 2019.

Sad really

[SpacePhoenix]

Most duties were finishing 30-60 minutes early everyday so what they wish to do make the other full time rounds longer to then have 4 part time rounds. But what they do not understand is that each postie knows their round inside out so in effect it is a perk of the job to be allowed to finish early in a way??!!

If most duties are finishing 30-60s early then making all rounds longer was inevitable. Higher up will take the hours out of the office, the DOM probably doesn't have any say in that.

Job and finish was axed many years ago with the Pay & Mod agreement.

[Munchboii]

Most duties were finishing 30-60 minutes early everyday so what they wish to do make the other full time rounds longer to then have 4 part time rounds. But what they do not understand is that each postie knows their round inside out so in effect it is a perk of the job to be allowed to finish early in a way??!!

Job and finish was axed many years ago with the Pay & Mod agreement.

Not in my area

[Coffee lover]

Most duties were finishing 30-60 minutes early everyday so what they wish to do make the other full time rounds longer to then have 4 part time rounds. But what they do not understand is that each postie knows their round inside out so in effect it is a perk of the job to be allowed to finish early in a way??!!

If most duties are finishing 30-60s early then making all rounds longer was inevitable. Higher up will take the hours out of the office, the DOM probably doesn't have any say in that.

Job and finish was axed many years ago with the Pay & Mod agreement.

It’s not been axed at all my office and a nearby office I thought I was finishing regularly one and two hours early the managers don’t care job and finish still exist big-time

[HTPostman]

Munchboii if I can offer you any advice/support to help you think things through please feel free to PM me. My reasons for leaving were a bit different to yours but I too decided to leave. After a number of years doing other work I returned with a slightly different attitude that made things work so much better for me.

[SpacePhoenix]

Most duties were finishing 30-60 minutes early everyday so what they wish to do make the other full time rounds longer to then have 4 part time rounds. But what they do not understand is that each postie knows their round inside out so in effect it is a perk of the job to be allowed to finish early in a way??!!

If most duties are finishing 30-60s early then making all rounds longer was inevitable. Higher up will take the hours out of the office, the DOM probably doesn't have any say in that.

Job and finish was axed many years ago with the Pay & Mod agreement.

It’s not been axed at all my office and a nearby office I thought I was finishing regularly one and two hours early the managers don’t care job and finish still exist big-time

Sounds like at some point higher-up will take a s**tload of hours out of your office, possibly removing whole walks

[NWpostie]

There may be greater work opportunities with the introduction of parcel deliveries on Sundays, I would hang fire and see how that works out into full time jobs.

[Tman]

I'd hang fire on leaving anyway. Hardly the best time to be searching for a job.

[Dorset Plodder]

I think we've all been where you are at some stage, this job can really mess with your head! Half the time it's more a Mental thing than a Physical thing.

Lots of good advice .... perhaps you just need a break .... (although at one time I couldn't afford to have two weeks off together or I couldn't pay my rent due to my crap PT contract)!

I know we all need the money but perhaps just working your contracted hours for a while might prove a point to the DOM, and give you a break. Worst case scenario: You could Leave ... do something different ..... and if it doesn't work out re-apply for a job with RM. You haven't built up a massive ammount of Seniority to worry about, and there may be other jobs better suited to you. Good Luck whatever you do.

[Munchboii]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I really appreciate the kind words and advice however my decision is set in stone and I am definitely leaving the job.

I have decided to go to University starting in September and I have a few offers already. If there's one thing this job has taught me is that you have to have qualifications or skills to succeed in todays job market, otherwise you will be stuck on 0 hours / temp contracts for years. I wish this could have been hammered into me at school to try harder. Oh well onwards and upwards for me now.

I am very upset that it came to this as I would have loved to carry out a career as a postman. I do not think I will ever work in a place again with the same laughter and jokes as this place. The people make this job and they are phenomenal. I hope you all do well and I pray that conditions do not get any worse than they currently are. God bless you all.

P.s if there are any temp or 0 hours newbies in your office. Try to give them words of encouragement or compliment their work ethic. It may not seem much to you but they will remember your kind words and encouragement for a long time. It will make their month.

Goodbye for now.

[Chris19]

Munchboii you have made a decision that is right for you. No one at your age can be on a temporary contract longterm. I've stayed because I became complacent but you have plenty of time ahead of you to get a better job. Good luck at university.

[amhopkins1]

During School I did not really know what I wanted to do. However I always saw the Post Office/Royal Mail as a good career prospect with secure employment and high job satisfaction.

I joined this company aged 20 years old on a temporary contract to cover long term sickness. I was thrilled at this opportunity and I loved every second of every day at work. The people were so helpful and we just used to laugh and make jokes while on the sort. And then I'd be over the moon out on delivery in the sun rocking my shorts.

However all good things must come to an end and the postie who I was covering on long term sickness came back. No hard feelings but I was gutted I must admit to lose my position. Thankfully however I was offered another temporary contract at the Sorting office 20 miles away which I readily accepted.

This was a great experience and I gained the opportunity to become an airside driver and attempted many duties including airport, rural, walk, dropbags, accelerated business mail and late collections.

After around 1.5 years service i became very experienced in postal matters from all the duties and roles I carried out. I was regularly working 60 hours a week on overtime which was very good for my bank balance.

18 months ago, I moved back to my first DO due to a retirement, a position which I still hold today. However I am still temporary on a temporary contract.

My local DO has been undergoing a disastrous mail revision which is at least 16 months behind schedule due to covid 19 and other factors. Upper Mails management have been ruthless and quite frankly heartless by deciding to not make positions permanent until the revision is finished.

I am not the only one - there are about 5 of us on temporary contracts covering for people who retired nearly 18 months ago.

My mood in the last 3 months has been terrible and the Manager has noticed who called me in to say my attitude isn't good. Well you wonder why...

I poured my heart and soul into the job with the hopes that my hard work would pay off eventually. I suppose this is a test of how long is a man prepared to work to 100% effort before his morale begins to slip? I worked over my time, I ran around on rurals, I worked very unsocial hours and said yes to every overtime request. I worked mothering Sunday for 3 years on the trot delivering flowers. All with the hopes of a job.

Well I believe i have the answer to how long a man can chase a carrot on a stick.. the answer is 2.5 years.

I have had enough. How I have been treated is starting to actually make me depressed and if I carry on any longer I will be forced to go sick. I just can't take it any more. The fact I have not been made permanent position means I cannot move on with my personal life or move out of my parents home. The manager insists that I am a hard working postman who carries out his duties with enthusiasm and professionalism. I physically and mentally cannot do anymore to keep myself motivated or happy to work with this company.

As a result of all of this I decided to hand in my notice and I will leave the job at the end of my notice period. I do not blame my direct line manager because I know his hands were tied from above.

I hope this company and my local HR department will see my departure as a warning sign that they need to treat employees better. Otherwise they will lose quality employees.

I am a young, fit and determined young man in his early 20s who was fully willing to carry out a 40+ year career in this job. However I have realised my worth and that I can do better elsewhere. In a company which will actually reward my loyalty correctly. I feel unrewarded and underappreciated in this job.

I will greatly miss the people more than anything. I wish things could have been different however I am so demoralised due to treatment by management that I felt I had no choice but to resign.

Sometimes I bang my head off the wall and wish I was born another 30 years earlier to start this job in the 1990s. The good old days as the oldies in my office like to say... it is sad when you have to think like this to justify working at Royal Mail!!!

I feel like the job is dying a death and wish everyone the best for the future...

I'm in a similar position, worked for the company for 2 & half years and I'm starting to look at other potential options. The management is absolutely shocking, Covid has just highlighted this - there hasn't been any social distancing in our office since the pandemic began! Just out of interest what kind of areas are you looking to go in to?

[blueboy37]

17 years, still not full-time. Our shop steward makes Thatcher look like Che Guevara.

[Wolf91]

17 years, still not full-time. Our shop steward makes Thatcher look like Che Guevara.

Seriously? Do you work in a large office?