Trying to get a Saturday off as a P/Ter

BE89 · Post by **BE89** » 07 Mar 2017, 17:04

Full time staff in my office get a Saturday off every 1 in 6. As a part timer am I also entitled to the same? I am usually given Tuesday's off and have to ask the manager if I want a Saturday off well in advance and see what he can do. I have been working for Royal Mail since August and have never had a long weekend off. I have also noticed in the office that 1 other part timer who is a female gets a lot more Saturday's off than the other P/Ters.
Is there anything I can do to guarantee the 1 in 6 or do I just have to go along with whatever the manager Rotas?

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 07 Mar 2017, 17:56

You can't guarantee 1 in 6 because the agreement they are applying says "the majority of staff getting 1 in 4 saturdays off", for the same reason long weekends can't be certain.

However, you should be treated the same as all other employees, so if you want to push it you'll need to see the rep and perhaps make it official (grievance). However, if your manager is approachable, I would say an informal chat would be the first thing to do, it may get sorted without aggro then.

As a side note, I haven't had a Saturday off, except leave, since I started in 2004

daveyeff · Post by **daveyeff** » 07 Mar 2017, 18:01

p/tmrs normally get s**t on, especially new starters. if you are not on a rota or regular cover you will be at the mercy of the DOM/lino. and you will find saturdays off are practically non existent. wrong I know. but its the way these clowns run the business.

Post by **Judgee** » 07 Mar 2017, 18:15

Do you work 5 days a week? If so then you should get a fair share of Saturdays and any reasonable DOM would try and accommodate you. 'Reasonable' not being a trait most DOMs are known to be gifted with!

Oh the female in your office getting more Saturdays off is probably playing the family friendly card. We had one in our office that had every Saturday off. Great for her but less chance for anyone else to get a Saturday off!

BE89 · Post by **BE89** » 07 Mar 2017, 18:56

Thanks for the advice. I do work 5 days a week. I will speak with the manager tomorrow and bring up my concerns. I just feel annoyed that I have to try and make an effort to get something that I should be entitled to anyways.

Gazza47 · Post by **Gazza47** » 07 Mar 2017, 19:15

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:You can't guarantee 1 in 6 because the agreement they are applying says "the majority of staff getting 1 in 4 saturdays off", for the same reason long weekends can't be certain.

However, you should be treated the same as all other employees, so if you want to push it you'll need to see the rep and perhaps make it official (grievance). However, if your manager is approachable, I would say an informal chat would be the first thing to do, it may get sorted without aggro then.

As a side note, I haven't had a Saturday off, except leave, since I started in 2004

Just a quick one on this, let's say you work 25 hours a week as a spare, but you are only given your duties at best two weeks in advance. Now you may be planning a dirty weekend away in two months time, with no shift pattern how do you know whether you need to book it off or it would be a rest day. Doesn't seem fair and a possible waste of leave when you may have been rostered off.

salomon2 · Post by **salomon2** » 07 Mar 2017, 19:38

It's taken me over 2 years to finally be in a holiday group so will be getting my first long weekend in a few weeks. Unfortunately that seems to be fairly normal. The girl in our office swaps her weekdays for Saturdays with others in her group as that's what works for her and the others in her group. Don't just accept the tuesdays as your day off but good luck with the Saturdays for at least the first year!

slinder123 · Post by **slinder123** » 08 Mar 2017, 18:01

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:You can't guarantee 1 in 6 because the agreement they are applying says "the majority of staff getting 1 in 4 saturdays off", for the same reason long weekends can't be certain.

However, you should be treated the same as all other employees, so if you want to push it you'll need to see the rep and perhaps make it official (grievance). However, if your manager is approachable, I would say an informal chat would be the first thing to do, it may get sorted without aggro then.

As a side note, I haven't had a Saturday off, except leave, since I started in 2004

and that is supposed to make him feel better is it

bettyflo16 · Post by **bettyflo16** » 08 Mar 2017, 18:22

I had to wait for a year to get a Saturday off but since then I've managed to get 2 long weekends as well, although at very short notice so no chance to plan anything. In my opinion, it gets easier to be treated reasonably when you've been there for a while and you keep on good terms with the DOM.

Speedmeister · Post by **Speedmeister** » 08 Mar 2017, 18:50

I've been with Royal Mail just over 6 years and very rarely get a Saturday off - the last one was probably at least 2 years ago. I've never even been given the option of 1 in 4 Saturdays off either. I'm a FT reserve on rural duties, there does seem to be only a few people at my office getting a regular long weekend - mostly high up on the seniority list. Most weeks I don't even know what my day off will be until the Friday or Saturday before although last week they've put up the duty rota for the next 3 weeks.

Gazza47 · Post by **Gazza47** » 08 Mar 2017, 18:55

To be honest I prefer Monday off, usually early finish on Saturday then you can then enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Post by **CPTNemoUK** » 09 Mar 2017, 19:20

I finally got a saturday off last week

but had to change if for a friday off for my birthday

Carryoncas · Post by **Carryoncas** » 13 Mar 2017, 00:09

Gazza47 wrote:
TrueBlueTerrier wrote:You can't guarantee 1 in 6 because the agreement they are applying says "the majority of staff getting 1 in 4 saturdays off", for the same reason long weekends can't be certain.

However, you should be treated the same as all other employees, so if you want to push it you'll need to see the rep and perhaps make it official (grievance). However, if your manager is approachable, I would say an informal chat would be the first thing to do, it may get sorted without aggro then.

As a side note, I haven't had a Saturday off, except leave, since I started in 2004
Just a quick one on this, let's say you work 25 hours a week as a spare, but you are only given your duties at best two weeks in advance. Now you may be planning a dirty weekend away in two months time, with no shift pattern how do you know whether you need to book it off or it would be a rest day. Doesn't seem fair and a possible waste of leave when you may have been rostered off.

Wish I knew my duty 2 weeks in advance, we get our rota on a Saturday for the following week!