The "How was your day" thread.

[PostmanBitesDog]

With dog bites and everything else. Just seems weirds. Even eye cleaner for when dust and gravel gets chucked up in your eyes in high wind. For a company who want to be health and safety conscious it seems the right thing to do

Dogs are a pain. Jumping up at windows and scaring the cr@p out of you, jumping up and attacking the mail. Even loose dogs running after you and barking at you to scare you off.
It's worrying knowing it's actually relatively common for Postie's to get bitten.

Dog bites are not that common in actual fact. It costs RM money when we do get bitten though so RM make a big thing about it. Similar to children in London running around stabbing each other which you watch the news would appear to be a big problem. It's actually very small numbers of people involved as a percentage and unless you are involved in gangs and 'county lines' stuff you won't fall victim to it.

Not common? Over seven a day according to RM published figures, which is seven too many:

"During 2017-18 Royal Mail incurred 2,275 dog-related attacks resulting in both physical and psychological injuries."

We had a dog bite incident on the weekend. Another one with another postie on a different walk about two weeks ago. And plenty of others earlier this year alone.

What's the best way to deal with them? This:

[bardeh]

I was wondering when the double bank holiday would catch up with us, and today was the day. Barely anyone in my office was done by 3 today.

[norris9]

I was wondering when the double bank holiday would catch up with us, and today was the day. Barely anyone in my office was done by 3 today.

Was fairly crazy for me. Left the depot at 3 to go home.

Newbie aswell, but felt that even though yesterday was very busy, my speed was good. Was often back at the van around 5 minutes before my walk partner. I have no idea where he was on one loop, he was 7 minutes slower than me.

I would really love to do my round alone, no van share. It would be so much more relaxing, can work to your own pace, not have someone else pressurising you, not have someone else in your car that always needs to go for a piss break....

[Postie45]

van share is relaxing, its a state of mind. Stop worrying about the other person and do your own job.

[ViperF]

Hi,

So today was my second day at my office, I was partnered up with a nice bloke at 9am. He was covering a walk that he doesn’t normally do. He said that I would be doing this walk but that he was surprised I would be doing it as a newbie, because it’s a solo rural walk.

Do newbies do solo walks or partner up on more residential walks?

[norris9]

van share is relaxing, its a state of mind. Stop worrying about the other person and do your own job.

Not sure what's relaxing about loud eaters, farters and vans look like they haven't been cleaned for 5 years with all the dirt, dust and crisp packets everywhere.

[Celgar]

I was wondering when the double bank holiday would catch up with us, and today was the day. Barely anyone in my office was done by 3 today.

Was fairly crazy for me. Left the depot at 3 to go home.

Newbie aswell, but felt that even though yesterday was very busy, my speed was good. Was often back at the van around 5 minutes before my walk partner. I have no idea where he was on one loop, he was 7 minutes slower than me.

I would really love to do my round alone, no van share. It would be so much more relaxing, can work to your own pace, not have someone else pressurising you, not have someone else in your car that always needs to go for a piss break....

Probably would be easier for us if we didn't have bank holidays. Not that much advantage to us given that RM still wants the same work done but in less time.
It isn't a race - all you can be expected to do is your best. I get that a lot of posties don't like the shared van duties. It's alright if you get along together and work at a similar pace. If not it's no fun at all.

[Celgar]

Hi,

So today was my second day at my office, I was partnered up with a nice bloke at 9am. He was covering a walk that he doesn’t normally do. He said that I would be doing this walk but that he was surprised I would be doing it as a newbie, because it’s a solo rural walk.

Do newbies do solo walks or partner up on more residential walks?

Used to be more of a possibility for new posties to get put on a solo, maybe a rural, walk and often stay on that same walk for an extended period of time. I think nowadays you are more likely to end up on a shared van duty or a town/HCT duty.

[norris9]

Probably would be easier for us if we didn't have bank holidays. Not that much advantage to us given that RM still wants the same work done but in less time.
It isn't a race - all you can be expected to do is your best. I get that a lot of posties don't like the shared van duties. It's alright if you get along together and work at a similar pace. If not it's no fun at all.

A few things....

Firstly:

This is probably not likely, but....

Are managers open to Posties having a say on who they van share with? Will they listen to a Postie who has concerns about working with someone they do not get on with, or think is too slow for them, or maybe who is too fast for them, or works in a way they don't agree with, or has bad hygiene, stinks of smoke, farts, or is just a plain ****.


Secondly:

Driving.... who decides who drives? I assume you just decide between yourselves, but does the manager have any say on the matter? I'd assume the manager would say that it should be split 50:50. Say one Postie doesn't want to drive....they are then shifting a tonne of responsibility over to the other Postie.

I think if one person drives and has responsibility of keeping pedestrians, road users, themselves and their fellow Postie safe, as well as keeping the van safe..... then the other Postie should take full responsibility for the Specials getting delivered.

[Postie45]

This is probably not likely, but....

Are managers open to Posties having a say on who they van share with? Will they listen to a Postie who has concerns about working with someone they do not get on with yes, or think is too slow for them no
, or maybe who is too fast for them no, or works in a way they don't agree with youd have to outline what you mean by that, if theyre not doing things the right way, doesnt mean you have to or has bad hygiene, stinks of smoke, farts, or is just a plain ****.possibly


Secondly:

Driving.... who decides who drives? its actually designated to one of the duties, but if any clarification is needed ask the manager I assume you just decide between yourselves not neccessarily, but does the manager have any say on the matter? yes they can I'd assume the manager would say that it should be split 50:50 no, only the person signing the vehicle out should drive. Say one Postie doesn't want to drive....they are then shifting a tonne of responsibility over to the other Postie. depends on reasons for not wanting to drive, if they have a legit reason and have permanently removed themselves from driving and its not required in their contract (older contracts dont require driving) then they dont have to drive

I think if one person drives and has responsibility of keeping pedestrians, road users, themselves and their fellow Postie safe, as well as keeping the van safe..... then the other Postie should take full responsibility for the Specials getting delivered.what ? no...

[Celgar]

Probably would be easier for us if we didn't have bank holidays. Not that much advantage to us given that RM still wants the same work done but in less time.
It isn't a race - all you can be expected to do is your best. I get that a lot of posties don't like the shared van duties. It's alright if you get along together and work at a similar pace. If not it's no fun at all.

A few things....

Firstly:

This is probably not likely, but....

Are managers open to Posties having a say on who they van share with? Will they listen to a Postie who has concerns about working with someone they do not get on with, or think is too slow for them, or maybe who is too fast for them, or works in a way they don't agree with, or has bad hygiene, stinks of smoke, farts, or is just a plain ****.


Secondly:

Driving.... who decides who drives? I assume you just decide between yourselves, but does the manager have any say on the matter? I'd assume the manager would say that it should be split 50:50. Say one Postie doesn't want to drive....they are then shifting a tonne of responsibility over to the other Postie.

I think if one person drives and has responsibility of keeping pedestrians, road users, themselves and their fellow Postie safe, as well as keeping the van safe..... then the other Postie should take full responsibility for the Specials getting delivered.

You get to choose which duty you sign up for when there is a resign but they don't happen very often not least because it causes a lot of upset. Other than at resigns you won't usually get a choice as to who you work with. If you are a reserve or cover then you will probably get moved around and not necessarily be working with the same postie every day.
Regarding driving not every postie can drive or you can be removed from driving for two years if you have three blameworthy RTCs too close together. I think who drives is based on how the loops are designed, how many large parcels there are, and who gets back to the van first.

[AndrewCarree]

Not too good, found out today all our offices duty rota is incorrect on this psp system, so all those due BH credits were given to someone who had a day off in that week, and we don't know how long it's been going on. Smart. Don't have a clue what my A/l actually is!!!!!

[jd9442]

I was wondering when the double bank holiday would catch up with us, and today was the day. Barely anyone in my office was done by 3 today.

Was fairly crazy for me. Left the depot at 3 to go home.

Newbie aswell, but felt that even though yesterday was very busy, my speed was good. Was often back at the van around 5 minutes before my walk partner. I have no idea where he was on one loop, he was 7 minutes slower than me.

I would really love to do my round alone, no van share. It would be so much more relaxing, can work to your own pace, not have someone else pressurising you, not have someone else in your car that always needs to go for a piss break....

Did you use your trolley?

[norris9]

You get to choose which duty you sign up for when there is a resign but they don't happen very often not least because it causes a lot of upset. Other than at resigns you won't usually get a choice as to who you work with. If you are a reserve or cover then you will probably get moved around and not necessarily be working with the same postie every day.

Oh ok...

So there are the part timers/cover Posties like me.... until someone is sacked/resigns.... we won't be offered a position on a permanent walk.... are permanent positions on walks Full-Time?... if a Part-Timer gets offered a walk for the foreseeable future after someone is dismissed/resigns, then are they required to become full-time?, or do Part-Timers exist who are permanently designated to a set walk/duty number?

Also, who gets any walk that comes available?... the part timer that's been working at the depot the longest? / the person who has been floating around from duty to duty the longest? / the managers favourite?.... etc....

[bardeh]

You get to choose which duty you sign up for when there is a resign but they don't happen very often not least because it causes a lot of upset. Other than at resigns you won't usually get a choice as to who you work with. If you are a reserve or cover then you will probably get moved around and not necessarily be working with the same postie every day.

Oh ok...

So there are the part timers/cover Posties like me.... until someone is sacked/resigns.... we won't be offered a position on a permanent walk.... are permanent positions on walks Full-Time?... if a Part-Timer gets offered a walk for the foreseeable future after someone is dismissed/resigns, then are they required to become full-time?, or do Part-Timers exist who are permanently designated to a set walk/duty number?

Also, who gets any walk that comes available?... the part timer that's been working at the depot the longest? / the person who has been floating around from duty to duty the longest? / the managers favourite?.... etc....

Seniority is all that counts. When a walk comes available, a notice will be put up in the office and anyone can apply for it. The most senior person that applies will be given it.