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Just curious - delivery or processing?

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
paulus103
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 216
Joined: 19 Jan 2018, 01:55
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Just curious - delivery or processing?

Post by paulus103 »

Just curious :)

Always wondered what is harder - being in delivery or processing?

I've no experience of delivery as only been in processing in some form.

Managers moving to processing from delivery always say delivery is much harder and processing has it easy :)
Celtic warrior
Posts: 101
Joined: 10 Dec 2013, 16:23
Gender: Male

Re: Just curious - delivery or processing?

Post by Celtic warrior »

I've done both so have a reasonable idea.
Both have their good points and bad points so each individual will have their own preference.

Delivery has early starts mostly guaranteed with the addition of being not under constant scrutiny when out on the street but have to endure all weather conditions but more importantly on the negative side having to argue with managers about achievable workloads / finishing time almost on a daily basis and the constant wear and tear on the joints / body.

Processing has an easier toll on the body but you have to endure constant monitoring, having to ask to go to toilet (Sorry they say inform them your going to toilet for H+S reasons), worse shift patterns until you have the chance of a reasonable duty.
It still has a toll on the body / joints due to standing all day in the one spot (with the occasional chance to move when clearing a full York or tray)

The list goes on but the processing is slightly better on the body but delivery is better on the wellbeing / mindset for the individual but.......

I preferred delivery even though some will say it's more work and harder on the body.

If it's your manager talking about themselves, then a processing manager has it made as they don't do much except do as the shift manager tells them. They aren't allowed to make decisions themselves so like us simply follow instructions for the man above but for better pay.
enzio1272
Posts: 88
Joined: 24 Apr 2018, 16:24
Gender: Male

Re: Just curious - delivery or processing?

Post by enzio1272 »

I have done both and would say processing is better long term.
The delivery spans are to long now and the weather really does take its toll on you if I could go back would have stayed on processing.
But that said I’m sure working in processing is harder now then when I did it years ago.
I guess a lot depends on your age, fitness and how many years till you retire
mags999
Posts: 372
Joined: 25 Jun 2016, 11:05
Gender: Male

Re: Just curious - delivery or processing?

Post by mags999 »

the answer is delivery you rarely find anyone transfering from mail centers to deliveries subject now closed :Very Happy :Very Happy
1617mel
Posts: 172
Joined: 11 Oct 2017, 15:13
Gender: Male

Re: Just curious - delivery or processing?

Post by 1617mel »

You forgot the hazards on delivery, mad dogs, all the conditions walking in, snow on ice , heat wave , the abnoxious face to face moments with mad out off their head people, massive over unmanageable workloads Dailly, that's just the start who is kidding who here! :Boo hoo!
1617mel
Posts: 172
Joined: 11 Oct 2017, 15:13
Gender: Male

Re: Just curious - delivery or processing?

Post by 1617mel »

You forgot the hazards on delivery, mad dogs, all the conditions walking in, snow on ice , heat wave , the abnoxious face to face moments with mad out off their head people, massive over unmanageable workloads Dailly, that's just the start who is kidding who here! :Boo hoo!
Woody Guthrie
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Joined: 29 Sep 2018, 20:47
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Re: Just curious - delivery or processing?

Post by Woody Guthrie »

I've also worked in both functions.
Obviously delivery is more physically demanding.
I would also say it's more mentally demanding and requires a greater deal of concentration.

Although workrate is loosely monitored in a mailcentre in most roles you are not individually responsible for a set amount of workload and a mistake is seldom traceable back to you, add in the extra stress from driving, the dangers and risks and it's really a no brainer.

The only downside in a mailcentre is that you have to constantly listen to managers pretending to manage for an entire shift.
Only dead fish follow the current
SpacePhoenix
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
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Joined: 12 Nov 2008, 17:03
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Re: Just curious - delivery or processing?

Post by SpacePhoenix »

Woody Guthrie wrote:
10 Jun 2022, 18:49
Although workrate is loosely monitored in a mailcentre in most roles you are not individually responsible for a set amount of workload and a mistake is seldom traceable back to you,
Overall workrate in each work area is monitored. The line managers have to account for every hour that they use. Each hour they have to count the amount of work to hand.

Mistakes are tracable back to an individual to a point for Tracked by who was logged into the PDA used to scan an item.

Staff in deliveries might moan a lot about their jobs but in the long term they've got way better job security than we have in MCs, as more and more automation gets brought in over time in MCs
deltaforce
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Joined: 01 Jan 2009, 15:29
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Re: Just curious - delivery or processing?

Post by deltaforce »

I found in delivery you are chasing the clock and Processing very monotonous and time goes slow but each to their own. When we had dedicated collections , they were generally good duties untill scanners made their appearance and big brother had their eyes on you.
SpacePhoenix
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
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Joined: 12 Nov 2008, 17:03
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Re: Just curious - delivery or processing?

Post by SpacePhoenix »

deltaforce wrote:
11 Jun 2022, 09:18
I found in delivery you are chasing the clock and Processing very monotonous and time goes slow but each to their own. When we had dedicated collections , they were generally good duties untill scanners made their appearance and big brother had their eyes on you.
In a MC you have fixed deadlines, when the lorries leave to take the mail to the next office.

The mech is the best section to be on in a MC, the time really flies by, especially on a CSS
denhamhoop
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
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Joined: 07 Oct 2010, 19:53
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Re: Just curious - delivery or processing?

Post by denhamhoop »

Distribution by a country mile they still work for the Old Post Office where they make time every day and by and large are still their own boss.
aiden01
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Re: Just curious - delivery or processing?

Post by aiden01 »

denhamhoop wrote:
12 Jun 2022, 18:59
Distribution by a country mile they still work for the Old Post Office where they make time every day and by and large are still their own boss.
Its delivery or processing not distribution???