Recruitment Suspended Immediately

[CharlesG]

So after coming back from Annual Leave i have been told this week that our Vacancies that were given green light AND advertised have now been given red light.
New ROD has stated ALL recruitment in area is to cease with immediate effect. Manager is as confused as myself as we struggle to clear office and have had 3 members of staff leave recently. If they are not to be replaced work / walks will fail daily.

A disagreement has been lodged today but we are told not to hold our breath as decision has been made by the higher powers - with no reason.

Union / Management relations in our area are also becoming stagnated as new management structure are not liaising with senior union officials.

The honeymoon period seems to be over

Any other areas hearing reports of a recruitment stoppage?

[POSTMAN]

Yes, there seems to be another freeze on, so the DOM's decide was all bollox from super Si and his cronies.
What a way to run a business.

[Woody Guthrie]

It definitely looks like the new Regional Operations Directors have been given a remit to slash costs wherever possible.

[gimba]

We had a sheet for working good Friday and Easter Monday, I'd say 30ish signed to say they'd work it, about £17 an hour if you didn't want a day back, came in today with a notice saying all overtime for Friday and Monday is now cancelled

[postslippete]

Ah, when will they realise that it's not possible to run a business on a shoestring. Apparently, they are collapsing 4 walks on Saturday.

It won't all go if that's the case. There will be mail and packets left just like last Saturday.

[roadrunner bill]

So after coming back from Annual Leave i have been told this week that our Vacancies that were given green light AND advertised have now been given red light.
New ROD has stated ALL recruitment in area is to cease with immediate effect. Manager is as confused as myself as we struggle to clear office and have had 3 members of staff leave recently. If they are not to be replaced work / walks will fail daily.

A disagreement has been lodged today but we are told not to hold our breath as decision has been made by the higher powers - with no reason.

Union / Management relations in our area are also becoming stagnated as new management structure are not liaising with senior union officials.

The honeymoon period seems to be over

Any other areas hearing reports of a recruitment stoppage?

It's near the end of royal mail... no people left in delivery... it's all going to collapse very soon.. I see the future..

[SpacePhoenix]

So after coming back from Annual Leave i have been told this week that our Vacancies that were given green light AND advertised have now been given red light.
New ROD has stated ALL recruitment in area is to cease with immediate effect. Manager is as confused as myself as we struggle to clear office and have had 3 members of staff leave recently. If they are not to be replaced work / walks will fail daily.

A disagreement has been lodged today but we are told not to hold our breath as decision has been made by the higher powers - with no reason.

Union / Management relations in our area are also becoming stagnated as new management structure are not liaising with senior union officials.

The honeymoon period seems to be over

Any other areas hearing reports of a recruitment stoppage?

It's near the end of royal mail... no people left in delivery... it's all going to collapse very soon.. I see the future..

There'll be no one left in MCs way before you're left with no one in DOs. I think the use of agency will start in DOs at some point if it hasn't already

[Woody Guthrie]

Agency staff don't work in delivery.

It's not like an MC where you can just point people at the work and tell them what to do.

You put agency staff in DOs you get half the work done for twice the cost.

The idea that agency staff are a cheap alternative completely fails to understand how agencies work.

[DGH]

Agency staff don't work in delivery.

I'm afraid they do round our way, and have done since Covid (though most were unceremoniously ditched at Christmas).

[Dexydog]

We had an agency come in to do our packets as we had 2 bulk mail postings. He came in at 7.
The packets weren't finished being sorted so he went and sat in the canteen till maybe half past.
I went to get him and showed him roughly which way to do them as it was semi rural (adding another 15 minutes on to do what I wouldn't normally have to).
He had maybe 40 packets spread over 2 walks, only a few odd awkward calls- this would take me perhaps 2 and a half hours, less if doing with mail.
He was still in the building at half 8.
Later, around 12 I see him in one of streets we were doing.
I asked him how it was going.
He still had 15 packets left in the van.
The day after he comes in the same to repeat the same, and told me he finished at half 2.
No manager approached me in any of this, before or after.
So they pay an agency worker at least 7 and a half hours, plus my 15 minutes to show him stuff, for something they wouldn't pay me overtime for what would have cost them 2 and a bit.
You couldn't make up how stupid RM actually are.

[greengiant]

Agency staff don't work in delivery.

It's not like an MC where you can just point people at the work and tell them what to do.

You put agency staff in DOs you get half the work done for twice the cost.

The idea that agency staff are a cheap alternative completely fails to understand how agencies work.

Yes, they do. We've had an agency guy in since Xmas

[Dexydog]

I think Woody meant they're not effective, or efficient in delivery.
My case above proves this beyond doubt.

[scirocco'r']

Manpower Royal Mail agency had a payrise last week, to £15 ph Mon-Sat and around £19 ph on Sunday, approx 5% no hassle. They are also GUARANTEED 8 hours pay on Sunday whether there is work to do or not

[Woody Guthrie]

I think Woody meant they're not effective, or efficient in delivery.
My case above proves this beyond doubt.

Thank you.
I thought I had made that clear but obviously not.
There are of course situations where agency staff are used in delivery but it's a resource of last resort, hugely expensive and very ineffective.

[Deadly]

Is the recruitment freeze business wide or just deliveries?