FS Role What a waste of Money

[onlyanother30years]

I find the whole FS role and the associated hangers on a total waste of time and money.

In my experience they by no means cover their salary in focus income and are normally failed wannabe bankers that have been given the boot by Banks or Building Societies.

[FinancialSpecialist]

I agree that some are - many are old counter staff also, most are just people trying to make a living when some of the existing staff just want to get VR and so won't help them. The FS aren't the problem, they are trying to do a job too and face the same problems as you on the counter. Did you notice that they only recruit FS from outside of the PO now?

What I don't get is how some who more than likely joined the PO upon leaving school, never experienced another job, never went for promotion and refuse to do anything different to the job that they took all those years ago, have any sort of superiority complex. Before this is misinterpreted, I am not saying there is anything wrong with this at all, everyone has their own circumstances, but I just don't get how some of these people can be so scathing and resentful of others who are just trying to do a job the same as they are.

I am so eternally grateful that in my office all the staff work together, are motivated and actually enjoy themselves at work. It would be so horrible to be miserable and bitter and for your only experience in life to be a job you despise.

[The BFO]

I was achieving close to 11 sales in a low income branch and am achieving the same in a high income branch.

As a matter of interest, approximately how many Life Policies have you personally sold to completion so far this Financial Year?

I ask because in our office, despite several 'Focus Days' and much angst, we have, as of Week 9, 'failed to trouble the scorers'.

[FinancialSpecialist]

We have achieved our average of 2 a week, although not over achieved. We do an awful lot of life meetings a week to get these 2 sales, which is frustrating, but the majority since April have been level and decreasing term - anyone we have quoted who has had life cover with their bank has saved money, with the exception of those who have developed medical conditions. This means that everyone realises that we do have a good product, but it is sometimes a slog to get the sales.

We are stronger on savings and insurances and reasonable on credit cards - the office is nothing special, but everyone tries their best, if it is busy we have someone managing the queue and we do have the dreaded midday updates which really seem to work when we have had a quiet morning. No one is ever singled out, everyone is treated the same, and I am treated to a midday update also and have my customer review forms checked which I have to admit keeps me on my toes.

The targets are very tough and sometimes it feels like we are banging our heads against a brick wall, but we get there in the end. There is a lot of disillusion with the Post Office as a whole, but this doesn't detract from the fact that as staff we all want to keep our jobs and keep the spotlight off us, so everyone mucks in. This is no different from my previous office who worked the same. I find it really strange to hear some of the stories on here of bullying managers and threats to staff and lazy FS - I have no doubts that this goes on, but perhaps I think differently because this honestly doesn't go on in my area.

I felt bad for rising to the bait in my last post, but I guess I don't know how bad it is in some places and I completely understand why some are disheartened and depressed in their work. I don't, however, think the problem lies with the idea of FS and financial sales, it must be the management in these areas who are at fault when staff feel so rubbish in their daily job. No one expects to come jumping with joy into work on a Monday, but it shouldn't be so bad so some people out here seem to be experiencing.

[demoralisedofessex]

I find the whole FS role and the associated hangers on a total waste of time and money.

In my experience they by no means cover their salary in focus income and are normally failed wannabe bankers that have been given the boot by Banks or Building Societies.

Yes indeed, would be interesting to find out how many (if any) FSS's actually generate enough sales to at least cover their salary, let alone turn a profit.
Is there any reliable data out there that we are able to access to find out? - or will it be the usual lies, lies and damn statistics?
Hmmmm.....

[FinancialSpecialist]

I find the whole FS role and the associated hangers on a total waste of time and money.

In my experience they by no means cover their salary in focus income and are normally failed wannabe bankers that have been given the boot by Banks or Building Societies.

Yes indeed, would be interesting to find out how many (if any) FSS's actually generate enough sales to at least cover their salary, let alone turn a profit.
Is there any reliable data out there that we are able to access to find out? - or will it be the usual lies, lies and damn statistics?
Hmmmm.....

Any decent FS more than covers their salary, by a long long way. Don't focus on what the branch gets for each sale - £44 for a life insurance policy?? Not on your life would POL be receiving that, the true figure is £100s and a payment is made to POL each year. Growth Bonds, ISAs (for which the FS and branch practically receive nothing), car and home insurance (£3-£4 branch income), etc. etc. Do you really think that is all POL gets? If so, then you are deluded and have been brainwashed.

In addition, as an FS there is an expectation that we sell homephone and travel insurance, for which we get no credit but helps the branch no end. Today I sold 4 Travel Money Cards and 2 travel insurance, I don't get any credit for this, but I am helping out the bureau who help me out too.

So yes, I can say hand on heart with 100% security that I generate much more income than my salary. Now, as for those on the counter performing robotic operations and refusing to have conversations - how much would they be worth?

[bc29]

"Now, as for those on the counter performing robotic operations and refusing to have conversations - how much would they be worth?"
FinancialSpecialist

About 3 times more than you.focus income £3 million and standed income £10 million.

[FinancialSpecialist]

Yes but what is the ratio between counter staff and FS? Does your FS not contribute to standard income? To be honest I don't know why I am trying to justify myself to someone who can't spell "standard".

[The BFO]

But how much of our Income is going to the beleaguered Bank of Ireland?

[onlyanother30years]

Do other offices have this proplem

So yes, I can say hand on heart with 100% security that I generate much more income than my salary. Now, as for those on the counter performing robotic operations and refusing to have conversations - how much would they be worth?

Our FS cannot even count

Each week us counter robots keep count of referrals sent over to FS

Each week our Manager and FS blames the Counter Robots for lack of sales due to lack of referrals

Why is it our records say 50 referrals yet FS claims only 20

Is it because 5 sales from 20 is good for FS but 5 sales from 50 is bad for FS

[PO1]

Can I ask Financial/Spelling Specialist what attracted him to the Post Office and why did he leave his previous job?

[Another Spartacus]

Having worked for the Post Office for over 12 years and for the last 3 of them as an FSS/FS and still regarded as a 'newbie' (dont you have to do a minimum of 220 years to be excepted)I find the majority of these comments quite offensive. Of course we earn our wages. Only last week I sold 3 travel money cards 6 annual travel insurance, too numerous to mention single holiday insurance's and got £15000 in pre orders for the Bureau Specialist. Upsold to Special Delivery/Parcel 24 and Global Express for our Mailings Specialist umpteen items which would in all probability have gone as 'normal' mail. Also sold a home phone and home phone/broadband for our Telephony Specialist as well as doing my own job and achieving my own target which included 2 life sales btw. These specialist also get paid £1000 when branch achieves target. I don't hear you moaning about them or begrudge their bonus, counter peeps!
I started at the PO as leave reserve, worked all the sh**y rotas, covered all their sick absense, special leave and holidays, got called in on my day's off too. Covered for P O's, P A's ABM's and BM's and even covered other branches 20-30 miles from home. Walked the queue at month end checking documents, answered queries and took the abuse, cos no one else would! and I still do on a daily basis. Yes I even cleaned up the sick, sh*t (both human and canine) p*ss and used needles as well as the usual litter and half eaten sausage rolls
But guess what? I still enjoy my job and still want to work for the P O, I want ALL our customers to have a great experience, but still you treat us with indifference.

Give us a break eh.

Spartacus!

[Another Spartacus]

And in response to PO1 question

I was made redundant from my previous job in retail management where I was earning 23K in 2000

[onlyanother30years]

0nly last week I sold 3 travel money cards 6 annual travel insurance, too numerous to mention single holiday insurance's and got £15000 in pre orders for the Bureau Specialist. Upsold to Special Delivery/Parcel 24 and Global Express for our Mailings Specialist umpteen items which would in all probability have gone as 'normal' mail.Also sold a home phone and home phone/broadband for our Telephony Specialist

Should be ashamed I manged double that last Tuesday while still taking my 25mins tea breaks and hour and half lunch

And with our EMS and TPS they work alongside us everyday in the trenches and deserve every penny of their very hard earnt and well deserved bonus

[The BFO]

Having worked for the Post Office for over 12 years and for the last 3 of them as an FSS/FS and still regarded as a 'newbie' (dont you have to do a minimum of 220 years to be excepted)I find the majority of these comments quite offensive. Of course we earn our wages. Only last week I sold 3 travel money cards 6 annual travel insurance, too numerous to mention single holiday insurance's and got £15000 in pre orders for the Bureau Specialist. Upsold to Special Delivery/Parcel 24 and Global Express for our Mailings Specialist umpteen items which would in all probability have gone as 'normal' mail. Also sold a home phone and home phone/broadband for our Telephony Specialist as well as doing my own job and achieving my own target which included 2 life sales btw. These specialist also get paid £1000 when branch achieves target. I don't hear you moaning about them or begrudge their bonus, counter peeps!
I started at the PO as leave reserve, worked all the sh**y rotas, covered all their sick absense, special leave and holidays, got called in on my day's off too. Covered for P O's, P A's ABM's and BM's and even covered other branches 20-30 miles from home. Walked the queue at month end checking documents, answered queries and took the abuse, cos no one else would! and I still do on a daily basis. Yes I even cleaned up the sick, sh*t (both human and canine) p*ss and used needles as well as the usual litter and half eaten sausage rolls
But guess what? I still enjoy my job and still want to work for the P O, I want ALL our customers to have a great experience, but still you treat us with indifference.

Give us a break eh.

Spartacus!

When you have done another 23 years you will, like me, have to put up with being put into the ‘miserable old git, stuck in his ways, resistant to change, not able to cope with the modern way of doing things’ category. My Branch Manager talks to me and treats me like a complete idiot. She is nearly 20 years younger than me and does not have a clue about what I have seen and done, and it does not occur to her that she may learn from my mistakes.
It is a shame that this debate seems to be developing into a ‘Counter versus Financial Specialist’ argument. The truth is that there are good and bad Counter Staff, Financial Specialists, and Managers.
Such is life…