Bullying and harassment in delivery offices

[Mobey]

I wonder if anyone whistle blowed to a big newspaper, what would happen.

You'd like to think the union would support them...

[Celgar]

I wonder if anyone whistle blowed to a big newspaper, what would happen.

You'd like to think the union would support them...

If 'anyone' wanted to do that it would be better to contact someone like Channel Four and have your identity protected. They have secure and encrypted servers to deal with these kind of communications.
Given RM policy on talking to the media it is likely the CWU would not be in a position to back you up. So anonymously reporting any allegations or arranging for your identity not to be released would be the way to go.

[cantonkid1955]

Without any question of doubt, this is THE single most important issue going on at the moment, that effects delivery staff on a daily basis and appears to be rife throughout most of the DO's in the UK.
The intimidation directed towards individuals, who only wish to work their contracted hours, has been allowed to go on unaddressed by the Union at national level for far too long. The fact that the duty spans are often unachievable within normal time, results in pressure being put onto OPG's to complete delivery - with poor performance accusations directed towards these individuals who only wish to work contracted hours. This needs to be resolved nationally with the union and senior RM management urgently, that is the only solution. MANAGERS need to be instructed to stop this ongoing intimidation towards staff who wish to cut off at their finishing time and have suitable contingency plans in place!
Some areas seem to be worse than others but a national approach is required to stop the maverick managers out there, from imposing their own interpretation of "procedure" onto staff. Call it bullying or harassment, but I prefer to describe it as "intimidation" towards individuals who are only trying to "do the job properly". That is starting on time, having meal breaks and using the tools provided by RM to do the job safely! These people often find themselves under the most pressure and this cannot be allowed to continue without the CWU doing something at the very highest level within the HR establishment on behalf of those bullied staff !!!!

I have always questioned if staff who come into work before their official start time,,and work beyond their officlal finish time because they are being bullied into doing so are covered by employers insurance,,since they are not supposed to be on the premises before their official start time..whenever I have raised this issue with the DM have always ben told that its >their choice>,,

[Tman]

A query that's been asked many times, and the answer is "yes, they're covered".
An RM employee doing RM work on RM premises will always be covered.

[fishtank]

Whether RM are insured or not is irrelevant as far as we are concerned. It's their cover not ours. What is more relevant is what level of compensation your legal representation could hope to recover bearing in mind you may have been somewhere you shouldn't have been.

Where there's blame there's a claim and where there's reciprocal blame there's...well obviously less of a claim.

[fishtank]

And obviously on the flipside if you cause an accident while you're somewhere you shouldn't be and that results in injury to a third party...It's going to be a very bad day.

The word disavowed springs to mind along with human sacrifice and thrown to the wolves.

[Anonymous100]

i think all managers all across the country are very similar when it comes to cutting off, I think the best thing to do if it was me is to just inform your manager when your tying up whether your going to need support or not. Never take mail/parcels out if you know that your not going to complete if it’s a heavy day.
Sometimes we all know something out the ordinary happens and we are in traffic or something happens on your walk and you can’t avoid cutting off, and again even though some of us refuse outright haha... if you can text or call them and give them as much notice as possible I’m sure it will be okay.

Couple of my mates are managers and when they leave sometimes at 3pm and someone gives them two loops I with no warning I can understand why they get the jump, but I’ve also been on the receiving end of DOMs and managers who are complete dicks and have never done a duty in there life, yet they look at a frame and they think there isn’t much there and decide themselves how long it should take us.

They don’t see blocks of flats, they don’t see the long driveways and until they look at what we do from our perspective as well we will always have this manager v postie conflict.
I’ve recently been doing 46hours a week and now I’ve had to go back down to 25 hours because I have a part time contract and our office has massively overspent on its budget. I haven’t got a leg to stand on really? Because that’s what my contract states I must do, but it’s a gentle reminder that when it’s christmas or whenever we go through any other really busy periods where they are begging you to help them out, next time I might reconsider that overtime because all managers will do is use you.
So as long as your mentality is if it works for me then I will do it, than that’s the way to go I think but never let anybody force you into doing anything your either uncomfortable with or you know it can’t be done and like someone said go get your union rep that’s what you pay them for.

I agree with someone who said about them feeling slow, trust me fella I would imagine your not slow at all but you just find yourself in an office where managers will always want more out of you.
For he last 4 months I have been on one of the toughest walks in my office (maybe I’m a bit biased! Haha) but I have been completing everyday and getting it done.
Now I’m back on 25 hours on a Wednesday and Thursdays I’m cutting off everyday because there physically isn’t enough time by the time I get out there to complete.
I know I’m not slow, but if management put me in positions where I can’t complete that’s there problem not mine. They have to ‘manage’ and get that loop covered. So just keep your heads up and focus on you and your best interest and if you get any grief go see the union rep.

[crimson king]

Because that’s what my contract states I must do, but it’s a gentle reminder that when it’s christmas or whenever we go through any other really busy periods where they are begging you to help them out, next time I might reconsider that overtime because all managers will do is use you.

Yep, this is key. It's all about maintaining goodwill and having a long memory. Way I've been treated past month over various things, I shall be smiling and shaking my head maybe this Xmas time when they come round begging.

[Creditshampoo]

Because that’s what my contract states I must do, but it’s a gentle reminder that when it’s christmas or whenever we go through any other really busy periods where they are begging you to help them out, next time I might reconsider that overtime because all managers will do is use you.

Yep, this is key. It's all about maintaining goodwill and having a long memory. Way I've been treated past month over various things, I shall be smiling and shaking my head maybe this Xmas time when they come round begging.

As soon as they want you to do extra hours policy decline and if others follow suit they’ll be forced to open up FT vacancies

[crimson king]

Because that’s what my contract states I must do, but it’s a gentle reminder that when it’s christmas or whenever we go through any other really busy periods where they are begging you to help them out, next time I might reconsider that overtime because all managers will do is use you.

Yep, this is key. It's all about maintaining goodwill and having a long memory. Way I've been treated past month over various things, I shall be smiling and shaking my head maybe this Xmas time when they come round begging.

As soon as they want you to do extra hours policy decline and if others follow suit they’ll be forced to open up FT vacancies

I totally agree, in an ideal world. Trouble is not everyone will follow suit, either through not seeing the bigger picture or simply needing the overtime money to pay the rent or feed the family. And let's not forget those that feel bullied and harassed, worry about being moved from their duty or are just too non confrontational to decline, either politely or not so politely.

In that respect RM has us over a barrel. You can politely declined as much as you like but the manager knows he won't have to walk too many frames before he finds a volunteer (willing or otherwise).

It sucks, quite frankly, and unbelievable that such a situation exists in this day and age.

[MarlowPostie]

Posted this in the Union room but think it’s appropriate here. If not, do feel free to delete.

Tomorrow will be the end of my fourth week. However, I think it’s the end. Walked out this morning after yet more criticism that the round wasn’t completed on time yesterday. DOM maintains it can be done, no OPG agrees, many customers saying that no one stays on my duty for exactly the same reasons.

Really upset as I have really tried. Have walked up to 13.7 miles some days and all I get is that my 600 plus houses plus absorption and the lovely door to doors, which fills my trolley so it won’t shut, two drop bags and occasionally another pouch I carry from the DO can be done by 2:30. I don’t see how when nothing is ready and some days I don’t leave until nearly 11.

I tore a ligament on day 3 at work but had no time off or even interest/concern from the DOM about it. Carried on with knee in brace, always back late, never finish on time.

DOM initially refused to fill out an ERICA was threatened by another OPG with being reported but as she didn’t know how to fill one out she sat me in front of computer to fill it out myself and not tell anyone.

She thinks I need more training to complete on time. I think it’s a full time round being covered by a part time postie or I need to run rather than maintain a very brisk walk.

Heartbroken, but I feel I have been beasted and let down by totally incompetent management.

Wish I could have made it work but I can’t stand being continually criticised when I work so hard. I have never seen it completed, no one other than the DOM thinks it can be, they can’t keep people on my duty so customers really pissed off. It’s all broken and I’ve been made to feel as though I am a failure.

DOM has said “ you are not suspended for your behaviour, you will get paid for today but report tomorrow”. I guess my “behaviour” is my saying that “seeing as how you think it’s me rather than the duty/part time hours, I quit”.

Have already heard her on phone to the Régional “spinning” things to him to protect her own inefficiencies.

There is definitely history in that office and on my duty.

I am sorry, gutted that my efforts in trying to complete are not recognised.

I have new found respect for the posties who are broken every day, delivering huge amounts of packets, breaking their backs, walking half marathons with weight daily. I managed that, I just can’t do it all in part time hours.

Anyone reading this, give it a go anyway. Hopefully your experience will be less disappointing than mine. Hopefully your DO isn’t as shambolic. Get a reasonable DOM and I am sure it could be a nice job.

Power to the posties! You’re all super heroes in my view.

[Brandy]

Really feel for you as the job used to be so good,destroyed by incompetent bullying managers and those above them who all they think about is lining their greedy pockets.

[postmanzach]

I am the new union rep in our office as nobody else wanted to do it, now I know why... A fella in my office hates the radio being on too loud, bit petty but he asked for it to be turned down and the manager mocked him in a girly whingey voice repeating what he said 'turn it down.' I didnt hear it, but he claims it happened so I confronted the manager about it and he said 'he needs to grow a pair of balls and stop being a woss!' haha couldnt be much worse of a response! lesson learnt, next time should secretely record the conversation. Its pathetic bs imo though too much like a primary school classroom in the office sometimes

[postmanzach]

13.7 miles is up there with a biggest deliveries, how many floors were climbed though? thats what hurts! then again in the heat ..f-THAT cut off bring it back smile stay happy and relaxed, theres no reason you need to complete a delivery, just work to time no big deal

[BELIAL]

Posted this in the Union room but think it’s appropriate here. If not, do feel free to delete.

Tomorrow will be the end of my fourth week. However, I think it’s the end. Walked out this morning after yet more criticism that the round wasn’t completed on time yesterday. DOM maintains it can be done, no OPG agrees, many customers saying that no one stays on my duty for exactly the same reasons.

Really upset as I have really tried. Have walked up to 13.7 miles some days and all I get is that my 600 plus houses plus absorption and the lovely door to doors, which fills my trolley so it won’t shut, two drop bags and occasionally another pouch I carry from the DO can be done by 2:30. I don’t see how when nothing is ready and some days I don’t leave until nearly 11.

I tore a ligament on day 3 at work but had no time off or even interest/concern from the DOM about it. Carried on with knee in brace, always back late, never finish on time.

DOM initially refused to fill out an ERICA was threatened by another OPG with being reported but as she didn’t know how to fill one out she sat me in front of computer to fill it out myself and not tell anyone.

She thinks I need more training to complete on time. I think it’s a full time round being covered by a part time postie or I need to run rather than maintain a very brisk walk.

Heartbroken, but I feel I have been beasted and let down by totally incompetent management.

Wish I could have made it work but I can’t stand being continually criticised when I work so hard. I have never seen it completed, no one other than the DOM thinks it can be, they can’t keep people on my duty so customers really pissed off. It’s all broken and I’ve been made to feel as though I am a failure.

DOM has said “ you are not suspended for your behaviour, you will get paid for today but report tomorrow”. I guess my “behaviour” is my saying that “seeing as how you think it’s me rather than the duty/part time hours, I quit”.

Have already heard her on phone to the Régional “spinning” things to him to protect her own inefficiencies.

There is definitely history in that office and on my duty.

I am sorry, gutted that my efforts in trying to complete are not recognised.

I have new found respect for the posties who are broken every day, delivering huge amounts of packets, breaking their backs, walking half marathons with weight daily. I managed that, I just can’t do it all in part time hours.

Anyone reading this, give it a go anyway. Hopefully your experience will be less disappointing than mine. Hopefully your DO isn’t as shambolic. Get a reasonable DOM and I am sure it could be a nice job.

Power to the posties! You’re all super heroes in my view.

Bump . Thats my office too. Brain dead bonus fed corporate imperial stormtroopers at the helm. radio volume is the least of our worries.