Rural Duties As Newbie

[larminator]

Hello all.

I've just started working at Royal Mail within the last month. I was shown a rural duty for the first 3 days and I've been on a rural on my own, ever since.

Now my question is, should this be allowed or should "newbies" be partnered up for a set period of time?

[grchpo]

Got 2 days training when I started, late back every day cos I was so late getting out, putting mail into frame meant I wasn't out til 10.30-11.00. After couple of weeks I got quicker on prepping & managed to get back on time.
So the answer to your question is 3 days is all you will get, if you're lucky

[Clappedoutpostie]

You have landed on your feet. Will be hard for a while but u will get quicker, think yourself lucky u got some training and not just sent out blind. No it’s not normal but nothing is at RM at the moment.

[blacov]

I think you are living the dream compared to many newbies. You got some training, you are a same round everyday and you get to work on your own. Many people get to cover different duties everyday and they received very little training too. Consider yourself lucky

[Dorset Plodder]

Now my question is, should this be allowed or should "newbies" be partnered up for a set period of time?

Welcome to RMC. You've come to the right place.

As mentioned you're very lucky to get your own duty this early in the game. Normaly you'd recieve at least three days training on a duty.

First day Watch & Listen to an Experienced Postie (making copious ammounts of notes). Second day Prep, and Deliver, the job yourself (under Supervision and with Assistance) .... making adjustments to your notes as you realise what else you need to remember. Third day Prep & Deliver the job (with your Trainer just riding shot gun and watching out for major cock ups).

What normally happens nowadays is DOM says, "We haven't got anybody to train you and I can't afford the time"
He'll then send you out "Blind" with some kind of crap hand drawn map, or if your lucky he'll print something off Google Earth with illegibil notes scrawled across it! That's why Newbies normally get a town duty with estates where they can "Follow their Nose" and use house numbers & road names as a guide. It's usual to put them on a Rural (which often have lots of unnamed tracks and House Names in no particular order).

I suggest you make the most of it. Keep your notes, and update them until you're happy with how the duty works. You could ask around the office to see if anyone else has got some notes/ideas they would share. What's bound to happen after a while is they'll move you onto another duty (and you'll have to start all over again). But you'll have you're notes and when they say, "Can you take that Rural out because we've got no one else to cover"? it you'll be ok.

[zombiepostman]

Its never been any differant in our office 3 days training on a rural 1 day for a town (if your lucky)
we dont have a work place coach,so basiclly you just get on with it or leave,
sad state of the company i am afraid

[Sundodger]

You have been very fortunate, my first day with 6 others (all part timers) was literally, watch some videos, told about basic van checks, taken to a frame and shown how to bundle and load bags, and sent on my way after 3 hours on rural duties.

Was changed to different walk every day, to clear back logs (always happened on the walks the experienced posties disliked)

No instruction on a PDA until 4 days in, and not told about cutting off by management, and it being insinuated that the whole frame had to be delivered, meaning I was doing 11-12 hours a days in my first two weeks and not taking breaks. However, we were told about putting van keys/book and PDA through door when we got back and DO was all locked up at night.

However, that has all changed now, experience and help of other posties.

Plus Covid, gave me the opportunity to help out at other DO's, some dreadful with a just get on with it attitude, as well as luckily working at one very good DO, who eventually asked if I would like to transfer to that DO doing rural - I grasped it with both hands and was able to transfer, and work in a much friendlier and helpful environment.

My advice would be to always ask questions about the job of anything you are unsure of, no matter what: about the work expected of you; your route, is there anyone with knowledge of the area that can give you some advice; even what to do if you get a puncture or breakdown, or batteries for a torch.

[Dorset Plodder]

No instruction on a PDA until 4 days in, and not told about cutting off by management, and it being insinuated that the whole frame had to be delivered, meaning I was doing 11-12 hours a days in my first two weeks and not taking breaks. However, we were told about putting van keys/book and PDA through door when we got back and DO was all locked up at night.

Sounds about right from Management. Our Rep always makes a point of getting around the New Starters and telling them about that sort of thing.

Also reminds the DOM that the Newbies have no vested interest in the Firm and if he messes them about too much they'll just walk out the door. It's worked so far and the last batch have all lasted six months or so.

[Route1]

You got more training than i got years ago before van share came in.

The rural duty u r covering might not be easy but its good u got some training and have been left on it. It will help you with the learning curve without having learn different duties.

My partner is off with covid so i've been doing one frame & all tracks & large parcels for both duties for two weeks now.

On xmas eve i got a new start, first day of his job....you couldnt make it up. Manager brought him to me saying hes working with me today. We have 4 work places coaches who are paid to do this but I saw them scurry out of the office as I was prepping 2 dropbags for each frame.

His training was me doing 3 closes with him, him doing the 4th while I did the fifth. More or less did the first couple of loops together. Told him as much as I could without overloading him and if hes not sure about anything to bring it back or call me. And ask as many silly questions as he wants as they arent silly. It took 90 minutes longer to do the duty than if I had been on my own.

Apparently he's own his own next week (on the easiest duty in the office). He is a capable hardworking guy but hes not ready yet cos i've noticed hes made a mistake or two when doing the cleos. Not his fault as his trainer for the day (me) should never have left him alone.

[Dorset Plodder]

Yep.... Great Job .... Shite Company.

[Dayman!]

Rural duties are as good as it gets, if you ask to be partnered up you'll regret it over the coming months.
Keep your head down, settle into it and hope you don't get moved.

[97gaz]

Hello all.

I've just started working at Royal Mail within the last month. I was shown a rural duty for the first 3 days and I've been on a rural on my own, ever since.

Now my question is, should this be allowed or should "newbies" be partnered up for a set period of time?

The office I worked at is predominantly rural. We had fifty duties of which about thirty five were rural. When I started in 97 we had three days training for every rural we went on then we were on our own.