Royal Mail employment policies are ideal for reps and colleagues as a quick guide to our full agreements. (Updated 2021)
Royal Mail have developed summaries on the policies colleagues most frequently ask about. The at-a-glance summaries give an overview of the key parts of the policies so you can quickly find the information you need.
The policies are available from myroyalmail.com.
Please note you need to refresh this page or F5, and the actual summaries as well so you get the up to date ones-Make sure the date is correct on each summary.
Quick access
• Attendance
We want to provide you with advice and support to help you achieve consistently good levels
of attendance.
• Includes: Sickness - Long-term sickness - Welcome back meetings - Occupational health service - Review processes - Informal discussion - Formal review - First class support
Download Attendance Summary...
• Being a parent
We know that being a parent brings additional responsibilities, so we try to support parents
to combine work and home life. We have a number of family-friendly policies that outline the
support available.
• Includes: Maternity leave - Maternity pay - Paternity leave - Adoption leave - Parental leave-What is Shared Parental Leave and statutory Shared Parental Pay? - Who is eligible for Shared Parental Leave? - Different ways Shared Parental Leave can be taken - How to request Shared Parental Leave
Download Being a parent Summary...
• Compliance
We comply with law and regulation because it is the right thing to do and is good for our
business. Everyone has a role to play in compliance, including you.
• Includes: Where can I go to for help or to raise concerns? - Anti-bribery - Christmas tips
Download Compliance Summary...
• Conduct
All employees are expected to behave professionally within Royal Mail’s Code of Business
Standards, to take responsibility for their work, customers and fellow employees and to follow
any reasonable instruction of their manager.
• Includes: Includes: If your manager is unhappy with your conduct - The formal procedure process - Possible conduct consequences
Download Conduct Summary...
• Conflicts of interest
A conflict of interest can occur when you have competing interests or loyalties between your
personal activities and your job at Royal Mail Group.
• Includes: What is a conflict of interest? - Examples of conflicts of interest - It’s important that you disclose a potential conflict of interest.
If you don’t, it could result in a conduct matter
Download Conflicts of interest Summary...
• Promoting diversity and inclusion
We are committed to treating everyone within our business fairly irrespective of a protected
characteristic.We promote fair equality of opportunity for all our employees and job applicants. We aim to create an
environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from
discrimination or harassment.
• Includes: Disability - What we expect of you - Types of discrimination and harassment - What to do if you have a complaint - Bullying and Harassment
Download Promoting diversity and inclusion...
• Flexible working
We understand that flexible working can be beneficial to both employees and the
business. You may have interests or responsibilities outside of work where working
flexibly could help you balance your work and personal life.
• Includes: Examples of flexible working - Formal requests - Review (trial) periods
Download Flexible Working Summary...
• Ill health
If there comes a time when you’re unable to perform your normal role because of
serious ill health, your manager will support you through a number of stages.
• Includes: Referral to occupational health service - Action following occupational health service advice
Download Ill Health Summary...
• Raising concerns
If you’re ever concerned about how you or others have been treated at work, you should first
speak to your manager. If it can’t be resolved informally, a complaint can be raised using the
most relevant formal process.
• Includes: Bullying and harassment - Dealing with bullying and harassment - Grievances - Speak up (whistleblowing)-What happens if I raise a bullying or harassment concern?
Download Raising concerns Summary...
• Recruitment
Our recruitment processes are designed to help us find the best people for roles. Merit,
skills and performance are considered, in line with our Equality and fairness policy.
• Includes: Career opportunities - Transferring within Royal Mail - My Future site on myroyalmail.com
Download Recruitment Summary...
• Sick pay
If you’re unwell and unable to come to work, you may be eligible for sick pay providing you’ve
given Royal Mail the appropriate medical documents (absence declaration form or fit note) and
cooperate with your manager whilst you’re off sick.
• Includes: Sick pay rates - Full rate - Half rate - Statutory rate - Sick pay entitlements
for CWU represented grades
Download Sick pay Summary...
• Social media use
Social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter are extremely popular these days.
They have lots of benefits, including the way we interact with each other on a daily
basis. But, they have also brought some challenges that we all need to be aware of.
• Includes: Potential hazards - Using social media in your personal life - What you should be aware of when using social media - Inside the RMC naughty room
Download Social Media Use Summary...
• Terminal Illness
Hearing the news that you have a terminal illness is probably one of the most difficult things anyone has to face
in life, so it is important that you know what support is available from Royal Mail.
• Includes: Where you can go for advice & support - Continuing to work - Absence from work - Helplines
Download Terminal Illness...
• Time off: annual holiday
Taking holiday is important for your wellbeing. We have a good holiday allowance which gives you
more opportunity to take a break from work. Managers will do their best to balance your holiday
requests with the needs of the business.
• Includes: Entitlement - Requesting your holiday - Carrying days over - Bank and public holidays credit or payment
Download Annual Holiday Summary...
• Annual Leave/Resourcing Guidelines
Royal Mail & CWU Nationally Agreed Guidelines Covering Annual Leave and weekly Resourcing.
•The guidelines that were circulated to Branches on the 4th November 2014 have recently been subject to a National review
Available in our union room forum...
• Time off: other leave
We know there may be times when you need time off to deal with family commitments,
for example, or other responsibilities. Your manager will try to support you, and be as
accommodating as possible. It’s important you speak to your manager as soon as possible,
so they can help as much as they can.
• Includes: Urgent domestic - Domestic events - Bereavement - Dependant’s leave - Family emergency leave - Family events - Care for a dependant - Medical appointments - Religious holidays - Religious observance - Jury service - Adverse weather
Download Other Leave Summary...
• Uniforms
Royal Mail provides you with uniform, including footwear that is appropriate for your job
throughout the year and for indoor and outdoor work. It is important that employees always
meet our dress standards.
• Includes: Dress standards - Ordering uniform - Uniform entitlements - Wear and tear
Download Uniforms Summary...
• Working Time (CWU represented grades)
Royal Mail Group’s Working time policy sets limits on the amount of hours you can work in
any week. This is to support your health, safety and wellbeing, while ensuring we comply with
the law. It is important that you work within the agreed limits on working hours per week that
are set out in the Working time policy.
Your manager has a responsibility to make sure that working hours are kept within reasonable
limits, so they will monitor working hours. You also have a duty to ensure you are not working
excessive hours – you should inform your manager if you think that you may be doing so.
You should not volunteer for overtime if it means you’ll exceed the limits.
• Includes: Working hours limits - Rest breaks - Night workers - Young workers -Second jobs - Drivers
Download Working Time (CWU represented grades)Summary...
• Working Time for managers (Unite/CMA represented grades)
Royal Mail Group’s Working time policy sets limits on the amount of hours you can work in
any week. This is to support your health, safety and wellbeing, while ensuring we comply with
the law. It is important that you work within the agreed limits on working hours per week that
are set out in the Working time policy.
As a manager you have a responsibility to make sure that your working hours are kept within
reasonable limits and, together with your manager, you should monitor your working hours for
this purpose. Inform your manager if you think that you may be
• Includes: Working time limits - Rest breaks - Night workers - Managerial overtime - Time Off In Lieu (TOIL)
Download Working Time for managers (Unite/CMA represented grades) Summary...
• Other time off management support booklet
There may be occasions when an employee needs time off, other than holiday, to deal with other commitments
and responsibilities. In these circumstances, we (Yes, that means you managers!) should be as supportive and accommodating as possible.
• Includes: Everything you need to know to help your staff - So there is no excuse for you to bullshit them - Put yourself in the employees shoes – All options should
be considered before declining requests for other time off - Be as flexible as possible and take a sensitive and supportive
approach. - We want our people to feel valued.
Download Management Support Booklet...
Registered members of the site have access to the full agreements in our downloads forum...HERE
