Would you go for a 4 day cover or 5 day on a duty you like?

[mags999]

how the hell are yous doin a revision under the current circumstances as if nothing is going on

[postiewhite]

how the hell are yous doin a revision under the current circumstances as if nothing is going on

Its not a revision. Its just a load of duties that have been overdue to be advertised. I shouldn't have said repick lol

[postiewhite]

Just to resurface this thread. The 4 day cover duty was offered to me with a Wed/Thu off so ive accepted it. I immediately wondered if I had done the right thing giving up a 5 day duty which I like with one rolling day off.
For those that have not commented on this thread would you take a 4 day cover over a 5 day duty both over 30hrs? Basically does an extra day off on a 4 day cover outweigh a 5 day decent duty?

[Woody Guthrie]

It's a no brainer which will be even more of a no brainer the longer you're on it. Wednesday + Thursday are the two worst days of the week.

Christmas will be a blast for a start, you'll have a full week off.

[postiewhite]

It's a no brainer which will be even more of a no brainer the longer you're on it. Wednesday + Thursday are the two worst days of the week.

Christmas will be a blast for a start, you'll have a full week off.

I think they are starting it now after xmas. Loads of duties went up this month which is a bad time for people to learn new duties but I see what you mean with the first point. Yeah I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing. I know its a good idea dropping a day but ot comes with sacrifices I guess and probably needed reassurances :-)

[heapsy]

Tricky one. We had 3 on 3 off for some part time staff. They were removed over time due to extra costs. There's only one bloke on the 3 on 3 off now, as all the others left over time. Many years ago we had the option of more walks, when it was 6 day working, or some 5 day duties, as we have now. We opted for the 5 day duties. Two reasons for that, 1 the extra duties could have been removed. 2 as our union rep at the time pointed out, "six day working is no good for anyone", as he put it. This obviously, was expanded over time. One of the issues of course, is the length of attendance. Does that make it harder, and if so, is it worth it? How old are you, are longer days possible, or too much to ask? Or will the extra day help in that respect, assuming you don't work them? 1 in 4 Saturdays were blocked from coming in to our office due to this, however, managers didn't like the idea of messing with the duty rostas, which seemed the more likely issue. A few points to debate and ponder, hope I've helped.

[postiewhite]

Im 48 now and have been with RM for 7 years. In my old office we had 4 day covers with a mon and tue off so it was basically a 3 day weekend. Most of the cover people worked an extra day if they wanted to giving them 38hrs from 30hrs. I have always worked 5 days since I started and often envied the 4 day people as they would never give up that cover.
I have since moved offices and the 5 day duty im on is nice but I have been shifted around to another duty occasionally too. This 4 day option recently came up and I went for it because this option may never come up again as eventually I think they will abolish the 4 day 30hr contract. The downside is 4 different duties a week and no saturday's. The latter im not that bothered about because I actually always preferred a wednesday off as it broke the week up nicely.
I think ive got my head around the fact that I probably wouldnt mind too much working an hour over a day doing it this way but I will always a little apprehensive giving up a stable duty.

[HTPostman]

I’ve just changed my contract, now on a 4 day week with Wednesday and Thursday off (plus Sundays off too). It’s made a huge difference, I can now plan appointments, I’m never working more than 2 days in a row, plenty time for rest and recovery. I like to have mini breaks away, much cheaper going away Tuesday night and Wednesday night.

Also I no longer need to mess about trying to catch a lino on a morning to take down my OT, wondering if it’s paid correctly etc, I’ve gone from PT 5 days a week to FT 4 days a week.

What’s more with average holiday pay, there’s no incentive for me to do an extra half hour a few times a week as I won’t get paid for it when on holiday (unless I do 8 hours minimum a month). So it’s just easier to work to my time. Easy decision all round.

However it doesn’t seem very popular in our office. I assume it’s down to financial reasons.

[Foxel]

I’ve just changed my contract, now on a 4 day week with Wednesday and Thursday off (plus Sundays off too). It’s made a huge difference, I can now plan appointments, I’m never working more than 2 days in a row, plenty time for rest and recovery. I like to have mini breaks away, much cheaper going away Tuesday night and Wednesday night.

Also I no longer need to mess about trying to catch a lino on a morning to take down my OT, wondering if it’s paid correctly etc, I’ve gone from PT 5 days a week to FT 4 days a week.

What’s more with average holiday pay, there’s no incentive for me to do an extra half hour a few times a week as I won’t get paid for it when on holiday (unless I do 8 hours minimum a month). So it’s just easier to work to my time. Easy decision all round.

However it doesn’t seem very popular in our office. I assume it’s down to financial reasons.

Wed, Thu & Sat off... now that's the dream.

[SpacePhoenix]

I’ve just changed my contract, now on a 4 day week with Wednesday and Thursday off (plus Sundays off too). It’s made a huge difference, I can now plan appointments, I’m never working more than 2 days in a row, plenty time for rest and recovery. I like to have mini breaks away, much cheaper going away Tuesday night and Wednesday night.

Also I no longer need to mess about trying to catch a lino on a morning to take down my OT, wondering if it’s paid correctly etc, I’ve gone from PT 5 days a week to FT 4 days a week.

What’s more with average holiday pay, there’s no incentive for me to do an extra half hour a few times a week as I won’t get paid for it when on holiday (unless I do 8 hours minimum a month). So it’s just easier to work to my time. Easy decision all round.

However it doesn’t seem very popular in our office. I assume it’s down to financial reasons.

Wed, Thu & Sat off... now that's the dream.

Sounds like it could possibly be a job share

[HTPostman]

I’ve just changed my contract, now on a 4 day week with Wednesday and Thursday off (plus Sundays off too). It’s made a huge difference, I can now plan appointments, I’m never working more than 2 days in a row, plenty time for rest and recovery. I like to have mini breaks away, much cheaper going away Tuesday night and Wednesday night.

Also I no longer need to mess about trying to catch a lino on a morning to take down my OT, wondering if it’s paid correctly etc, I’ve gone from PT 5 days a week to FT 4 days a week.

What’s more with average holiday pay, there’s no incentive for me to do an extra half hour a few times a week as I won’t get paid for it when on holiday (unless I do 8 hours minimum a month). So it’s just easier to work to my time. Easy decision all round.

However it doesn’t seem very popular in our office. I assume it’s down to financial reasons.

Wed, Thu & Sat off... now that's the dream.

Sounds like it could possibly be a job share

Nope. Don’t know where Saturday off comes from.....I get Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday off. Definitely not a job share.

[postslippete]

Four day week all the way!!

Its got to be the way forward. The indoor work won't need staff on overtime doing IPS and you would get an extra day off to recover from those aching limbs

And for those who want the extra docket they can still work an extra day and still get 2 days off

There would also be more fixed duties for posties


Win-Win

[postiewhite]

Ive been doing 4 days since January, I get Wed and Thursday off which is the two busiest days of the week. I do feel like a reserve though when im in as I could be shoved anywhere and I do work every saturday but my motto is "tomorrow is always your last day at work until time off". Iam in early now, 6.45am on a 30hr contract but these two days off comes around quick.
We are having a full revision this month and they are keeping the structure the same so ill stay on this if I can. When we had a small repick in January the 4 day duties were the last to be snapped up which is odd.
I do miss the consistency of having the same duty though and miss a saturday off but you have to weigh up I get 52 extra days off a year and only missing out on 8-9 Saturday (on a 1 in 6)

[60091]

4 day great as i do 4 day rural hybrid !!,delivery and collections since 2013 with 1/3 sat off Fri,sat,sun,Mon,Tues!! With wed/thur on sec week!!

[xPandabear1992x]

I'd take the 4 day cover any day.

I like being in new places every now and then.