Time to move on?

[Postieee]

Hey everyone,

Just looking for some advice.

I started with Royal Mail in July 2021. When I showed up to the office I applied for on my first day, I was moved to another office. I worked there for about 6 weeks, and then was sent to “cover” my current office, and subsequently got moved there permanently - wasn’t what I wanted but just got on with it.
I really enjoy the job, albeit tough at times, especially at Christmas/New Year, but expected this and worked all my days off, and any over time that was asked of me.
As things have calmed down now (after the “pressure”) and everyone seems to be getting back to some kind of normality, I feel like I am constantly messed about. I’m still put out on duties with double mail constantly, ones I don’t know and have no time to learn as I will only be told on the morning I go in. I’m happy to look up maps etc. the day before a new duty, but never given the chance, which results in me finishing late and feeling completely inadequate. It’s really starting to affect me outside of work and I’m torn as I do really like the job and have always wanted to work for Royal Mail, but feel I’m at breaking point. On one hand I feel like if I battle through, I’ll eventually know the duties which will make it easier, but I’m not sure my physical or mental health can last until that time.
I think typing this out has really answered my question for me, but just wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom? Muddle through or just start looking for something else? Does it get better when you at least know where you’re going?

[Dayman!]

If you accommodate moving around etc by looking up maps and such then you'll continue to be taken advantage of. Make a point of only working you hours and if you need to bring mail back at your stopping time, so be it. If the duty isn't being completed then they might think twice about shifting you around so much.

Ultimately you probably do know the answer already. From personal experience my mental and physical health improved immeasurably after leaving.

[postman2014]

The only people they put on double mail duties are the ones that don't kick up a fuss and do it. I've seen it for years. If your duty is meant to have a partner make sure you go out with him!! Trust me he will kick off about taking your double mail duty with him. And please just work to your time short term so they can find some other victim. They won't put you on a failed walk if your going to fail it yourself! I know it stressful going to the boss in the morning saying you ain't going to complete ect.. but a good manager will know this anyway. Just say you got some commitments for the next couple of months and you have to return to the office at your finish time. Seen people in your situation follow this advice and now they don't get mugged off as much if at all!

[TopperGas]

It's a classic catch 22 situation as assuming your on a 25 hour part time contract are you happy to just be paid for working 25 hours a week if you do just start working your hours?

If you're seriously thinking of leaving I'd speak to your manager and tell him your concerns, in the hope he'll listen to you and stop putting on rounds with double post.

[postieblueshirt]

If it had been 25 odd years ago reading this I'd say stick with it give it time etc etc as someone who has been in to long and I see how part timers are now treated I'd say get out while you can it won't get any better....sorry

[Sir Henry]

Are the feelings of inadequacy from being told you're too slow by the screws? Or is it that others get back earlier than yourself? (I hope you are not having difficulty getting paid your overtime) The earlier finishers probably have their own walk they know well and aren't saddled with double mail so you're at a disadvantage in the early finish steeplechase from the off.
Faced with double mail EVERYBODY would return late, even the seasoned pros. The fresh meat always gets the shitty end of the stick I'm afraid. Enlist the aid of your rep if you think you will have trouble telling the screws you "don't want to work overtime today thanks all the same". Any guff about you being too slow is bullshit and the screws know it so don't feel bad about knocking back overtime.

[SpacePhoenix]

The fresh meat always gets the shitty end of the stick I'm afraid.

Probably the same in most industries

[Haditup]

Best working to a set time everyday ,perhaps tell your manager you are willing to work over an hour past your finishing time and no more?
Ignore other people finishing earlier who have been on their walk for years and just focus on priorities ,specials and tracked are delivered .The rest deliver up to your set finishing time and fetch back.
Make sure your manager knows you will be not completing delivery prior.

[Cazlew]

Not been with RM much longer than you and it sounds familiar.
Being part time and moved around duties/offices with next to no notice has made me change the way I regard the job. So now I like to keep it as simple as they treat me.
I look at it like this.

RM are providing more than enough work to cover 6hours labour per day.
I can choose how much or little I want to do.

(Don't pay any attention to what others are doing. Everyone is out for themselves and just want to get finished ASAP. You will never finish early and f you do they leave more for you to prep or do... So It just adds to the overtime you may or may not choose to take)

[greengiant]

The fresh meat always gets the shitty end of the stick I'm afraid.

Probably the same in most industries

More accurate "The fresh meat and quiet ones always get the shitty end of the stick".

[Clappedoutpostie]

The fresh meat always gets the shitty end of the stick I'm afraid.

Probably the same in most industries

Probably but elsewhere they would get support and encouragement.

[mattandbenny]

Nobody can make you work late. Follow correct procedure and cut off every day. Doesnt matter what office i was at, what triple mail duty they put me on, i would always ensure i am back 5 mins early ready to leave on time, no matter how much i left or brought back.

[TopperGas]

Nobody can make you work late. Follow correct procedure and cut off every day. Doesnt matter what office i was at, what triple mail duty they put me on, i would always ensure i am back 5 mins early ready to leave on time, no matter how much i left or brought back.

That's OK if you're content just to work 25 hours a week, if you're not a f/ter or have another job, the rest of us need o/t to pay the bills, there's not many posties in my DO content to just work 25 hours a week.

[smok3y666]

I think there's a point in this job where you go past giving a f**k. I mean myself, I'm FT and float around the office and don't mind going on different walks as I get bored. But I'd say for the first 12-18 months I was getting pissed off with being messed about but then something just clicks and you no longer care. I mean I don't go in the office thinking "f**k it, i'm not getting round today" I just go in now with the attitude that i'll do the best I can can in the time I've got. Maybe i'll work over although that's very rare or i'll just make the best of a bad situation and work the fitting best I can. Where else you going get paid nearly £13/hr for pushing paper through a hole?

One thing I used to do on a duty that I didn't know and still sometimes do is find someone that has done it before and ask them the best way pick it up, make the manager aware before I go out I may or may not get round and may or may not work over to complete and then go out. As long as you give the managers no excuse to pull you up on anything then there's nothing to really worry about.

[mattandbenny]

Nobody can make you work late. Follow correct procedure and cut off every day. Doesnt matter what office i was at, what triple mail duty they put me on, i would always ensure i am back 5 mins early ready to leave on time, no matter how much i left or brought back.

That's OK if you're content just to work 25 hours a week, if you're not a f/ter or have another job, the rest of us need o/t to pay the bills, there's not many posties in my DO content to just work 25 hours a week.

If thats the case then surely you are happy when you get put on a walk with double mail and you can work over and claim overtime for it