Speed on Route

cookiewise · Post by **cookiewise** » 16 Sep 2018, 21:45

Can you help?
Is there a set time for completing a route? I have been getting mixed messages in my DO.
I'm fairly new and am struggling to get as fast as some of the longer serving staff. DOM has moaned about my speed a few times and said others can do it quicker - even some from other DOs who've never seen the route! That was a real confidence booster.
Was advised by union to either:
Work to time and bring back undelivered mail after this time
or
Claim overtime.
Now. Here's the problem: DOM doesn't want the OT on the budget, but if I return once my time is up with undelivered material then that is a "performance matter".
Seems like a catch-22 to me. A no win situation for this exhausted postie who's going as fast as they safely and accurately can.
I really hoped I would enjoy this job, but the pressure from above and the oppressive working environment make it very difficult, such that I dread going in.

number one · Post by **number one** » 16 Sep 2018, 22:04

Just listen to what you manager says and then totally ignore it, don’t get stressed, angry or upset it’s really not worth it. Each morning when you are leaving the office just ask your manager what tbey want you to do, book overtime or bring mail back. This then puts them in the picture of your intentions. It also make THEM make a decision. Chin up pal and just carry on what you are doing.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 17 Sep 2018, 13:14

cookiewise wrote:Can you help?
Is there a set time for completing a route? I have been getting mixed messages in my DO.
I'm fairly new and am struggling to get as fast as some of the longer serving staff. DOM has moaned about my speed a few times and said others can do it quicker - even some from other DOs who've never seen the route! That was a real confidence booster.
Was advised by union to either:
Work to time and bring back undelivered mail after this time
or
Claim overtime.
Now. Here's the problem: DOM doesn't want the OT on the budget, but if I return once my time is up with undelivered material then that is a "performance matter".
Seems like a catch-22 to me. A no win situation for this exhausted postie who's going as fast as they safely and accurately can.
I really hoped I would enjoy this job, but the pressure from above and the oppressive working environment make it very difficult, such that I dread going in.

There is a planned time and speed that the managers use to resource the office.

You are a human being and we are all different so as long as your speed is reasonable he is just acting like a teenager and showing his frustration.

Also at 6 weeks, you are hitting the wall at about the average time, plus over the last 2 weeks the work has ramped up. Get through the next few weeks at most and I am sure you will enjoy it, or at least be able to relax about it.

An extra point, you are a new starter only a manager with absolutely no man management or leadership skills would expect you to work at the same speed and level as an experienced long service postie, and the same level of poor management would also think that berating you, or trying to embarrass you is a recognised motivation tool.

In essence, try to ignore the manager's comments as much as you can they are trying to bully you.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 17 Sep 2018, 13:14

Moderator bit: I deleted one post that fell foul of this rule:

it does not mean that they are a 'Manager' or a 'Union fanatic', any posts making such assumptions or generalisations will be pulled or amended and the poster warned.

cookiewise · Post by **cookiewise** » 17 Sep 2018, 15:29

Thank you so much for your replies! They are really appreciated.
I am getting faster, but also being a bit more sensible with the load of parcels I can realistically carry. But on heavy full door to door days I don't think I'll ever manage to finish on time.
Today I was only 25mins over and I was going flat out, but knowing the layout of the route helps so much and that can only be gained by walking it quite a few times.
Thing is, each day can be so different you cannot really compare them.
I enjoyed today as I felt more "on it". Let's hope this feeling continues! I'm usually a really happy person but this job is certainly trying to grind that out of me!

The Postman · Post by **The Postman** » 17 Sep 2018, 16:03

Not wanting you to bring anything back and making you think your slow is a bullying tactic used by management to make you not claim overtime. Make sure to ask the manager every morning if he wants loops left or brought back or if he’s happy for you to complete on overtime. They know fine well new starters aren’t up to speed for a while, hence the reason they don’t pay new starters full rate until 12 months in. You’ll soon speed up, but don’t try to rush, that’ll only cause mistakes. Good luck.

Sir Henry · Post by **Sir Henry** » 17 Sep 2018, 19:31

If you are on the receiving end of management bullshit go to your union rep and tell them what has been happening. They KNOW you're not going to be up to speed as you haven't learned the short cuts yet and are probably labouring under managerial 'opinion' as to what constitutes your workload and duty.

Don't carry too many parcels unless you're using a trolley, any parcels too big or just too many should go via the van driver.

Don't knock on too many doors to try and deliver a parcel, the original address and ONE neighbour is as many as you need to attempt despite what some would have you believe.

Is your walk bundled and bagged by your partner when you arrive at the office? I'm assuming you're a part timer working with a full timer in a van pairing? Do you seem to leave the office at the same time as most others?

cookiewise · Post by **cookiewise** » 17 Sep 2018, 22:00

My walk is set out in a frame when I arrive but there is always more mail to sort and all of the parcels are in a big square trolley ready to be sorted.
I prepare the walk myself and, using a High Capacity Trolley walk to my route. It takes around 15mins to get to the first drop and then a further 12-15mins to walk to the second stop. The route is very badly designed and pretty illogical. I can't get my head round the shortcuts yet although have managed to factor in some but then the parcel order confuses me. Also, when I have specials they tend to dictate the order in which I execute the route - just in case!
Sometimes I leave ahead of my colleagues, but mostly I am second or last to leave. I do believe in the value of prepping a route carefully before leaving and I am getting better at remembering when there is a parcel - purely because there are regular recipients and I have got to know them now.

I still find it quite difficult to gauge how long a delivery will take each day, just looking at the volume of letters and parcels so I don't always mention it to the DM, On the one occasion I did express concern about a duty (it was a super-heavy day last week) he told me I was just being confused by the volume of door to doors. He then removed six catalogues from the route and said he'd deliver them himself. I almost choked at the generosity and understanding. I do find the DM quite patronising and genuinely wonder how he'd fare doing my route. Anyway, that day I was almost three hours over, but then learned that (a) the regulars were at least 2 hrs over and (b) a pile of parcels I had put out for the van to deliver (five heavy ones for the same address) were still waiting to be delivered when I returned!! That made me feel a bit better.

This job is the first where I have not been introduced to any of my colleagues. I have had to meet and introduce myself. It is also the hardest job I have ever done - physically, that is. I am a long distance walker and have no problem walking 20km a day - but walking on concrete with a heavy load and/or pushing a trolley coupled with all the reaching and bending is quite a different experience.

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 18 Sep 2018, 17:11

Parcels - Stop trying to remember them. If they have a parcel, and letters for the same address - turn 1 letter and write a big P (for parcel) on the reverse, then put it back in the frame backwards.

christopher.hunter · Post by **christopher.hunter** » 18 Sep 2018, 23:17

cookiewise wrote:Can you help?
Is there a set time for completing a route? I have been getting mixed messages in my DO.
I'm fairly new and am struggling to get as fast as some of the longer serving staff. DOM has moaned about my speed a few times and said others can do it quicker - even some from other DOs who've never seen the route! That was a real confidence booster.
Was advised by union to either:
Work to time and bring back undelivered mail after this time
or
Claim overtime.
Now. Here's the problem: DOM doesn't want the OT on the budget, but if I return once my time is up with undelivered material then that is a "performance matter".
Seems like a catch-22 to me. A no win situation for this exhausted postie who's going as fast as they safely and accurately can.
I really hoped I would enjoy this job, but the pressure from above and the oppressive working environment make it very difficult, such that I dread going in.

Must be part of the DOM training programme; mine said EXACTLY the same thing to me only last week, adding that “maybe this job isn’t for you” and that I should remember I’m still on my trial period!

NewPostieUK · Post by **NewPostieUK** » 19 Sep 2018, 00:26

Why change the route for parcels? Only do that for 1 o'clock specials, and even then just a slight variation maybe. Any 1 o'clockers that you can't get to easily, leave behind.
Explain to the manager that you are late getting out of the office as you have to do someone else's job (finish off prep), and also you don't know how other people can be faster than you but you do the job properly and don't cut corners.

Sir Henry · Post by **Sir Henry** » 19 Sep 2018, 18:08

Your best bet is to find out who used to deliver your duty before you started marking for RM and have a word with them or indeed anyone else who has delivered your duty. Singleton duties using high capacity trolleys need a good few days training on it. In time you will devise your own way of working to suit yourself but in the meantime get the benefit of someone else's experience. Turning a letter and marking it to denote when parcels etc are to be delivered has been my tried and trusted technique for years and saves much frustration and doubling back on yourself. Join the union and get advice from your rep/area rep.

cookiewise · Post by **cookiewise** » 20 Sep 2018, 17:04

NewPostieUK wrote:Why change the route for parcels? Only do that for 1 o'clock specials, and even then just a slight variation maybe. Any 1 o'clockers that you can't get to easily, leave behind.
Explain to the manager that you are late getting out of the office as you have to do someone else's job (finish off prep), and also you don't know how other people can be faster than you but you do the job properly and don't cut corners.

When I get those 1pm specials (that's the only ones we treat differently as they're guaranteed delivery by 1pm) I sometimes alter my route in order to make sure I reach the address in time - change the loop order not just deliver the one special so that I am not wasting too much time. Time is of the essence apparently, even though we are all different and it's not a race.

Do the managers monitor your speed and activity on route using the pda? I often wonder if that is used as a performance measure?!! If so it's a bit big brother. Mind you, they'd be able to confirm that, yes I did go a full seven hours without a toilet or meal break.