Terrified of working at RM

[Plobobble]

Hello gang!

I got a job offer to start as a postie in 2 weeks time and I don't want to go anymore. I thought it was the job I wanted.

Basically I have read too many posts on here and too many reviews on Indeed, and I normally wouldn't pay any attention to em but there's just so many, you know?

On the job ad it says I am 25 hours, sorting my own mail and covering other people's leave and from what I've read on here especially, that sounds like I am going to get thoroughly shafted.
The job ad also says something about being flexible and working outside of my hours - I applied for the times advertised for a reason and maybe I should have brought this up at interview but I was just so keen to be offered a job I agreed to anything he suggested re: flexibility

Not sure what to do really, I have cried every day day since they offered me it. I simply think I'll be making a huge mistake to work there. My partner thinks I'm an idiot for reading these things but I think there has to be an element of truth in them because why are there so many crap reviews?

I have one more job in the pipeline, and can apply for others, but if I didn't take this then I'd have to sign on temporarily

[Woody Guthrie]

1. It's not an easy job.

2. It's not a job with a rigid clock, it's more workload driven so some amount of flexibility is required but once you're through the first few weeks most of the time you'll be finishing on or around your time.
If it's a very rigid timetable you need in your life it can be done but you'll need to be thick skinned and sharp witted.

3. It's not as bad as it sounds on here. We're venting.

[Dorset Plodder]

Welcome to RMC Plobobble.
Somethings to bear in mind. There's over 1000 Delivery Offices (DOs) all around the country ..... There's over 100,000 people employed by Royal Mail (RM) ....... There's thousands of Delivery Office managers (DOMs). The posts you read on here are a cross section across the whole business.

Give it a chance and see how it goes, you're obviously keen to get a job. You are now equipped with the necessary knowledge to avoid being shafted. And if you need further advice you know where to get it. Most posters normally only come to RMC when they've got a problem, so you're getting a slewed view of the situation. Notice how many posters say, "I've worked for Royal Mail for 20 years and now I've got a problem" Something must have been OK for the last 20 years?

Every DO is different, from Massive DOs with hundreds of staff to small country DOs with only a dozen staff. You get lots of different types of Posties. Some are very keen to help you out and work as a Team and TBH some are just ignorant anti-social bastards that should get a job as a nightwatchmen in a warehouse all on their own! Same goes for DOMs. There are actually some decent DOMs out there who try and do the job properly, there's unfortunately a lot of lazy incompetent assholes who don't. The thing is you don't know what sort of mix you're going to get until you give it a go.

If you're really not sure if it's the right job for you set yourself a target, say a month or two, and keep applying for other jobs in the meantime. I hope you get a half decent DO with some helpful Posties. Remember the most important lessons are DO NOT WORK FOR FREE & You ONLY have to work the hours you're contracted for, Over Time IS NOT COMPULSORY.

Good Luck and don't forget to let us know how it goes.

[twoloops]

If you have the chance of a different job Plobobble I would advise you to take it, being a part timer for Royal Mail is no fun, you will be paired up with different full timers that no one else wants to work with, on walks that are unachievable & your manager will expect you to stay out & finish the walk while the full timer goes home, when you try & claim the overtime the 6 months probation carrot gets dangled, these 20 year postie plodder speaks of are full time on regular walks, they do not have a clue

[POSTMAN]

Try it, it's money after all.
See how you get on and keep us informed.
Good luck Plob.

[gimba]

Correct, loads of people moan, and have done for years .. they stay remain an employee though

I've been here for three years, yeah it can be tough, but I have a finish time, I would honestly like to have this as my final career job, I'm 32 and if my body allows it, I'd go on until I retire, when you're out the office you are almost your own boss

[TopperGas]

Give it a try and see how you get on, just make it clear from day 1 you are doing only prepared to work fixed hours. Assuming there's no a ready supply of candidates to take your place then the manager will most likely be only to willing to have you working your fixed hours.

We've had 4 new starters at my DO, including me, in the last couple of years and none of us have left yet so it can't be that bad!

[norris9]

Just try it. No point in going off people's experiences when you may be entering a nice depot with easy rounds...

It isn't that bad in my experience... but there is always a concern with every Postie that somewhere down the road you will end up with a manager harassing you regularly which will make your life miserable and you will leave....

which happens and is part of the reason why do many people leave or don't even join because they hear the stories....

Royal Mail recruitment is terrible...they cannot get the staff. I am sure if they made it an enjoyable place to work where they trusted us to deliver what we can in our times - then they'd keep their staff and won't have so many vacancies.

[ConeHater]

Please don’t give up before you start, like all folk we like to have a good ol’ moan about work and, after leaving the echo-chamber of our offices and boring our partners at home, this is where we turn next. I’ve been in job for 25ish years and when you hear the senior folk of 40+ years moaning you’d think that it’s the worst job they’d ever had, but it’s the only job they’ve ever had and they know little of the big scary world out there ! No one is manacled to their workplace, they can leave any time but choose not to. If after a month or so you decide it’s not for you then you can make the decision to move on, something that the majority of the institutionalised workforce could never do, what’s the worst that could happen, at least you’d’ve had a go ! Good Luck.

[Wolf91]

To be fair, I thought the same before I started. It wasn’t like people were saying. I have a good office though. Good people (mainly), good DOM, finished early most days compared to what times people say they finish on here, everyone has their own van.
Like anything though there can Be bad days if you get messed around, but good days too. Take the rough with the smooth

[Bearcat@76]

Hi all, hope you can help so I received a call from RM recruitment confirming that I had the job as a postie with driving 30hr contract. I was over the moon when they told me, they gave me my start date which was last Tuesday received an email to be at depot for 06:00, turned up nobody there apart from early starts and RM HGV driver unloading, he said that there was no management in yet fortunately there was a postie that was in early who was a workplace coach showed me around and apologised, he was really nice. Later on I was introduced to another workplace coach who seemed okay but started to come across as if the training duty was an inconvenience to him. He started to show me how to file letters in the frame but very briefly, I had a hello how are you we will have a chat at some point from one of the managers and that was it for the day. So we eventually went out on of the loops and was shown how to deliver post and how to use a PDA, went on a second loop and I was onmy own delivering letters which I enjoyed. The second day I was basically on my own I was told to come in for 8:00 am I arrived and found that half the frame had been completed, apparently Wednesday's are really busy so could that be the reason. Had that chat with management about 20 mins into my shift all appears fine they said you will make loads of mistakes but stick at it you will do well. So we went out on delivery I was issued with a PDA and parcels and off I went, so it was a day of a bit of rain and sun which was great. I have seen from other posts on here I need to stick at it which is fair enough, but I cannot help the feeling that something is not right and I don't want to go back. Its not been a pleasant experience so far my workplace coach is acting like training me is an inconvenience leaving me on the frame ofter for ten fifteen mins and sometimes I get short answers when asking questions. I'm back in tomorrow and I'm dreading it I'm only new to the job and except making mistakes is part of the process but I want to be taught correctly so I don't make so many. Hope you can help

[2yearpostie]

Hi all, hope you can help so I received a call from RM recruitment confirming that I had the job as a postie with driving 30hr contract. I was over the moon when they told me, they gave me my start date which was last Tuesday received an email to be at depot for 06:00, turned up nobody there apart from early starts and RM HGV driver unloading, he said that there was no management in yet fortunately there was a postie that was in early who was a workplace coach showed me around and apologised, he was really nice. Later on I was introduced to another workplace coach who seemed okay but started to come across as if the training duty was an inconvenience to him. He started to show me how to file letters in the frame but very briefly, I had a hello how are you we will have a chat at some point from one of the managers and that was it for the day. So we eventually went out on of the loops and was shown how to deliver post and how to use a PDA, went on a second loop and I was onmy own delivering letters which I enjoyed. The second day I was basically on my own I was told to come in for 8:00 am I arrived and found that half the frame had been completed, apparently Wednesday's are really busy so could that be the reason. Had that chat with management about 20 mins into my shift all appears fine they said you will make loads of mistakes but stick at it you will do well. So we went out on delivery I was issued with a PDA and parcels and off I went, so it was a day of a bit of rain and sun which was great. I have seen from other posts on here I need to stick at it which is fair enough, but I cannot help the feeling that something is not right and I don't want to go back. Its not been a pleasant experience so far my workplace coach is acting like training me is an inconvenience leaving me on the frame ofter for ten fifteen mins and sometimes I get short answers when asking questions. I'm back in tomorrow and I'm dreading it I'm only new to the job and except making mistakes is part of the process but I want to be taught correctly so I don't make so many. Hope you can help

Thats the standard of training at RM, just carry on and the management will chat with you if you do something really wrong. Prep best you can, post the letters but never ever leave a parcel on a door step or in/near a bin ( p739 red card if no reply and take back to office). you will be fine.

[Bearcat@76]

Thanks for that, should I ask for a different workplace coach or would that ruffle a few feathers

[2yearpostie]

Thanks for that, should I ask for a different workplace coach or would that ruffle a few feathers

Be tactful, but your best option is just asking the expirenced posties around you for advice.

[Bearcat@76]

Will do thank you