ADVICE FOR NEW POSTIES

[PostmanBitesDog]

1. Always put some overtime on the time sheet, even if it is only 10-15 minutes, BEFORE you leave for deliveries. You never know what might slow you down. If you went over with more than 10 min, or didn't go over at all that is ok.

So your booking extended overtime before you leave the office? Ours is booked the next morning, you would be in the DOMS office at ours if you tried to claim even the way you are saying.

I believe what Draculavet meant was adding in an estimated overtime period on top of the standard time. We do this in our office in the morning before going out - but not on the sign-in timesheet. We do it on a separate form. Then the next morning that previous estimated overtime is either confirmed or revised before it's signed off by the DLM.

[yellowbelly]

1. Always put some overtime on the time sheet, even if it is only 10-15 minutes, BEFORE you leave for deliveries. You never know what might slow you down. If you went over with more than 10 min, or didn't go over at all that is ok.

So your booking extended overtime before you leave the office? Ours is booked the next morning, you would be in the DOMS office at ours if you tried to claim even the way you are saying.

I believe what Draculavet meant was adding in an estimated overtime period on top of the standard time. We do this in our office in the morning before going out - but not on the sign-in timesheet. We do it on a separate form. Then the next morning that previous estimated overtime is either confirmed or revised before it's signed off by the DLM.

Yeah, in some offices I've worked some managers won't contemplate giving any OT if you've not provided an estimate beforehand. Something to do with
passing the estimate up the command chain in the morning. If I go to one of those offices I always put at least 30 mins down.

[Draculavet]

This is how it is done in our office, interesting!
I guess then the best advice would be: Make sure to ask how to book overtime, where and when to put it and keep personal records of it.

[PostieSteps]

Advice for new posties. As hard as it is, do not let this job get to you. RM management will make you doubt your own sanity at times and the sheer unrelenting volume of parcels may demoralise you.

Just remember that it’s only a job, you’re only getting paid £300/week or thereabouts.

Do not stress! It really isn’t worth it.

[xPandabear1992x]

Don't let callers' office staff browbeat you when they can't find a dibbed item.

You've done your duty well (hopefully), so should they.

[WalkerX]

New postie as a reserve on a 25 hour contract. I`ve never worked in a industry where there is overtime before, so I`m struggling to get my head `round it. Can anyone tell me what I can claim overtime for please? Thanks.

[Rael, the IAK]

Assuming that your 25 hours is split into 5 hours per day, anything over those 5 hours each day. And don't forget to take your meal relief.

[WalkerX]

Assuming that your 25 hours is split into 5 hours per day, anything over those 5 hours each day. And don't forget to take your meal relief.

Thanks.
I always take my meal relief.
Is there a payment for prepping as well??.

[POSTMAN]

New postie as a reserve on a 25 hour contract. I`ve never worked in a industry where there is overtime before, so I`m struggling to get my head `round it. Can anyone tell me what I can claim overtime for please? Thanks.

Tell us your start/finish time and what 'they tell you' you should do in those hrs.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Assuming that your 25 hours is split into 5 hours per day, anything over those 5 hours each day. And don't forget to take your meal relief.

Thanks.
I always take my meal relief.
Is there a payment for prepping as well??.

Not specifically no. You are contracted for a certain amount of hours, you do anything job releated within those hours that you are asked to.

After those the work is voluntary, but if you have agreement from the manager you should be paid overtime. Check out the Overunning Deliveries procedure in downloads for the correct process if you have to much work to do within your paid hours.

[WalkerX]

OK.
Thanks for your help.

[neil2k]

Hi all, first post here so be gentle.

I have been taken on part time (20 hours over 5 days) and yesterday completed my induction.
The job was advertised as 2pm-6pm which suits me fine. I received a call from my manager yesterday saying take today off and be in for 8am Wednesday to go out with someone for a 4-6 hour walk (same hours for Thursday and Friday). He then said I would be completing the walk solo on the Saturday! Is this in any way normal? My first day tomorrow and he’s not going to be in the office either…
I’m starting to get a bit nervous about all this now. He mentioned overtime so I guess anything I do daily over 4 hours is overtime? Sorry for the daft questions but I’ve not even received a contract of employment as yet.

[yellowbelly]

Hi all, first post here so be gentle.

I have been taken on part time (20 hours over 5 days) and yesterday completed my induction.
The job was advertised as 2pm-6pm which suits me fine. I received a call from my manager yesterday saying take today off and be in for 8am Wednesday to go out with someone for a 4-6 hour walk (same hours for Thursday and Friday). He then said I would be completing the walk solo on the Saturday! Is this in any way normal? My first day tomorrow and he’s not going to be in the office either…
I’m starting to get a bit nervous about all this now. He mentioned overtime so I guess anything I do daily over 4 hours is overtime? Sorry for the daft questions but I’ve not even received a contract of employment as yet.

Welcome to the world of Royal Mail (mis)management. As usual they've blindsided a new recruit - I wouldn't imagine there are
any walks that are 4 hours unless ALL the preparation of the walk is done for you and you basically turn up and go straight
out the door to deliver or the role was supposed to be a parcels only delivery or collections duty and they've decided to
'use' you as a 'normal' postie.

If you're happy to do a full day's work for the overtime then carry on. However if you
absolutely only want to work your four hours then you'll have to speak to the manager.

Yes, anything over your daily four hours is overtime - make sure you claim it. Also your break entitlement increases the
more hours you work - so for your contracted 4 hours you're entitled to a 20 minute break - this is part of your 4 hours
so you 'only' work 3hrs 40mins. If you work 5 - 7 hours you're entitled to 30 minutes and it increases the more hours you work.

This is mentioned (plus other useful info) in the document in the link below that the CWU produced a couple of years ago:

viewtopic.php?=36&t=91057&p=851826&hili ... ry+members

[neil2k]

Hi all, first post here so be gentle.

I have been taken on part time (20 hours over 5 days) and yesterday completed my induction.
The job was advertised as 2pm-6pm which suits me fine. I received a call from my manager yesterday saying take today off and be in for 8am Wednesday to go out with someone for a 4-6 hour walk (same hours for Thursday and Friday). He then said I would be completing the walk solo on the Saturday! Is this in any way normal? My first day tomorrow and he’s not going to be in the office either…
I’m starting to get a bit nervous about all this now. He mentioned overtime so I guess anything I do daily over 4 hours is overtime? Sorry for the daft questions but I’ve not even received a contract of employment as yet.

Welcome to the world of Royal Mail (mis)management. As usual they've blindsided a new recruit - I wouldn't imagine there are
any walks that are 4 hours unless ALL the preparation of the walk is done for you and you basically turn up and go straight
out the door to deliver or the role was supposed to be a parcels only delivery or collections duty and they've decided to
'use' you as a 'normal' postie.

If you're happy to do a full day's work for the overtime then carry on. However if you
absolutely only want to work your four hours then you'll have to speak to the manager.

Yes, anything over your daily four hours is overtime - make sure you claim it. Also your break entitlement increases the
more hours you work - so for your contracted 4 hours you're entitled to a 20 minute break - this is part of your 4 hours
so you 'only' work 3hrs 40mins. If you work 5 - 7 hours you're entitled to 30 minutes and it increases the more hours you work.

This is mentioned (plus other useful info) in the document in the link below that the CWU produced a couple of years ago:

viewtopic.php?=36&t=91057&p=851826&hili ... ry+members

Thanks for the advice, not the best of starts really is it.
I genuinely don’t mind doing a little extra but the difference here seems huge and not what I signed up for.

[hawkeye622]

Don't sweat it. Just go in and see how it goes and if it ends up more than you're willing to do, have a yarn with a manager. They employ us all on smaller contracts now then EXPECT us to work full time plus. Great job, pathetic company