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How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
DGP1
Posts: 15551
Joined: 07 Jun 2007, 20:39
Gender: Male
Location: Terminus

Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by DGP1 »

Yahoorsur wrote:
clagnet wrote:Its started to get physically tiring for me these days.
Sometimes out for near 4 hours and i feel drained at night.
I know its not mentally challenging or boring like a production line but the weight we carry and the miles we do start to tell when you get older.
Many times i might work with out a break if its busy and missorts come early.I finish early but obviously the break is on the back end.7 hours on your feet isn't easy work.
I've worked in an office and done laboring and you tend to work in spurts and have more breaks.

I think folk like myself getting into mid 40's are the same,on a Friday afternoon all I want to do is vegitate in front of the telly,2 Saturdays ago,I was in my bed at 2145 on a Saturday night :oops: ,simply because I was cream crackered,starting at 0530,then not having a sleep in the afternoon,god I hate getting old :chuckle
I like using the WTLL sessions for a kip :whistle
I'm preparing myself for the zombie invasion, rule number 1 - Cardio
krussel
Posts: 5300
Joined: 26 Jan 2009, 18:03
Gender: Male
Location: Out on the streets.

Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by krussel »

clagnet wrote:Its started to get physically tiring for me these days.
Sometimes out for near 4 hours and i feel drained at night.
I know its not mentally challenging or boring like a production line but the weight we carry and the miles we do start to tell when you get older.
Many times i might work with out a break if its busy and missorts come early.I finish early but obviously the break is on the back end.7 hours on your feet isn't easy work.
I've worked in an office and done laboring and you tend to work in spurts and have more breaks.

This is what i am finding its the long stint with the lack of breaks which wipes me out. I am mid 40's and not overweight and have been working on delivery for over 20 years but i am wacked out by 9pm :crazy: I ve tried taking my full break before i go out on delivery and to be honest its worse because halfway round i end up with indigestion and need a pee :sad: or worse :roll: The old 2 delivery system was not so bad, two and half hours out, a proper canteen break with a chance to take a pee, then about one hour back on the streets. I am now out for about 4h 20m if packets are heavy.
Talking to mates in other jobs many involve short spurts of pressure work followed by coffee and a chat (bit like some RM managers) unlike delivery where you are working at a steady fast rate the moment you hit your frame to you walk out to go home. :sad: its not the job which is hard its the long stint which gets you.

It would not be so bad in my office if all the rounds were balanced but some are getting away with 2h 30m deliveries :shock: I used to cut off on a Sat and did so for about 6 months but in the end gave up and booked OT as i only got loads of hassle from the managers and a piss taking from my fellow posties who were going home about 10.30am.

BUT who knows where we are heading now as depending on the outcome today (thurs 26th Feb) i really fear things are going to change much for the worse :arrrghhh
Rows of houses all bearing down on me........I can feel their blue hands touching me.......All these things in all positions.........All these things will one day take control..........
kazardaimenu
Posts: 1391
Joined: 13 Apr 2022, 19:11
Gender: Male

Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by kazardaimenu »

This thread could be from this year :chuckle It’s still not as bad as some jobs but pretty physical and I need to cool off after a shift then ready for bed early doors.
ted_e_bear
Posts: 4078
Joined: 03 Sep 2012, 19:37
Gender: Male

Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by ted_e_bear »

The part about working non stop flat out between walking in and out of the door is the deciding factor that differentiates this from probably most other jobs.
Dorset Plodder
Posts: 4351
Joined: 29 Apr 2009, 20:05
Gender: Male

Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by Dorset Plodder »

ted_e_bear wrote:
20 Apr 2024, 20:41
The part about working non stop flat out between walking in and out of the door is the deciding factor that differentiates this from probably most other jobs.
Yep we've gotto be Efficient & Productive so we can can earn all those bonuses for the Managers :left:

Nowadays it's just one Mega Gaslighting session to try and convince everyone that they've got to work faster, "because the traffic figures show you should be completing within time, and not claiming pressure or cutting off"! Lying Asssholes, they want to try getting their Fat Asses out of the office and attempt a 5.30 delivery ... Most of them would collapse with exhaustion. :cuppa
Like all Wage Slaves, he had two crosses to bear: The people he worked for and the people he worked with! (Stephen Vizinczey.)
SpacePhoenix
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 12137
Joined: 12 Nov 2008, 17:03
Gender: Male

Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by SpacePhoenix »

The mix of mail has changed massively since this thread was first started back in 2009. A lot less SDs and letters and flats and way more packets now, compared with back then. Can't remember what year Tracked was introduced, but I think it was after 2009.
sorefeet17
Posts: 295
Joined: 11 May 2015, 17:10
Gender: Male

Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by sorefeet17 »

SpacePhoenix wrote:
20 Apr 2024, 22:11
The mix of mail has changed massively since this thread was first started back in 2009. A lot less SDs and letters and flats and way more packets now, compared with back then. Can't remember what year Tracked was introduced, but I think it was after 2009.
On the delivery side it hasn't made much difference with the mail reducing, the absorbing of rounds means each route still gets roughly the same to prep/deliver.
guardianangel
Posts: 1830
Joined: 21 Feb 2020, 19:40
Gender: Male

Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by guardianangel »

Ive actually slowed right down its the only way i can get through the brutal delivery with all the added extras we are now suppose to do,i leave shed loads and lino moans everyday (you'd think he'd be bored by now) but i literally do not give a damn ,i will not stress or kill myself for a bunch of scumbags who dont give a damn about people.
Barnacle
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Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by Barnacle »

Being a postie is not as hard as being catering staff in a large hotel. That’s when you discover what sweat rash really is, weekend working and Christmas Day/New Year’s shifts are the norm, and the notion of finishing at a certain time or leaving early because you hadn’t taken a break, would get you laughed out of the job.
’You can't just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they'll want something new.’
SWIM
Posts: 422
Joined: 11 Jan 2010, 20:33
Gender: Male

Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by SWIM »

guardianangel wrote:
21 Apr 2024, 09:20
Ive actually slowed right down its the only way i can get through the brutal delivery with all the added extras we are now suppose to do,i leave shed loads and lino moans everyday (you'd think he'd be bored by now) but i literally do not give a damn ,i will not stress or kill myself for a bunch of scumbags who dont give a damn about people.
💯
'deal of the century' - dingo
guardianangel
Posts: 1830
Joined: 21 Feb 2020, 19:40
Gender: Male

Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by guardianangel »

Barnacle wrote:
21 Apr 2024, 11:10
Being a postie is not as hard as being catering staff in a large hotel. That’s when you discover what sweat rash really is, weekend working and Christmas Day/New Year’s shifts are the norm, and the notion of finishing at a certain time or leaving early because you hadn’t taken a break, would get you laughed out of the job.
Catering staff have allowed themselves to be abused for years,but times are changing the youth of today won't put up with it, nearly every establishment will tell you they have a high turnover of staff and are struggling to employ people after Brexit now they cant exploit the migrants,pretty much the same with nurses and a lot of other jobs ,people are silent quitting everywhere and the main reason the country is in a mess.
postslippete
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Joined: 14 Jul 2014, 16:27
Gender: Male

Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by postslippete »

Considering Rishi Sunak's wants to make it harder for people to obtain sick notes might inadvertently increase the idea of silent quitting.

Many companies seem to want people to live to work, rather than the other way round. This is often the case at Royal Mail as many staff are either coming in to work early or being forced/coerced/pressured into working past their time to complete their duties.
On the face of it, shareholder value is the dumbest idea in the world.
Mr Rush
Posts: 3296
Joined: 05 Aug 2011, 14:27
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Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by Mr Rush »

SpacePhoenix wrote:
20 Apr 2024, 22:11
Can't remember what year Tracked was introduced, but I think it was after 2009.
Tracked existed as early as April 2008. I only remember because I found one in my packet bag after a WTLL session about it being absolutely critical that any stray Tracked be passed to the crewbus driver (the only ones with scanners back then).

Remember when Tracked was rare enough they had the purple stickers on them?
The machine stops.
SpacePhoenix
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 12137
Joined: 12 Nov 2008, 17:03
Gender: Male

Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by SpacePhoenix »

Mr Rush wrote:
21 Apr 2024, 22:37
SpacePhoenix wrote:
20 Apr 2024, 22:11
Can't remember what year Tracked was introduced, but I think it was after 2009.
Tracked existed as early as April 2008. I only remember because I found one in my packet bag after a WTLL session about it being absolutely critical that any stray Tracked be passed to the crewbus driver (the only ones with scanners back then).

Remember when Tracked was rare enough they had the purple stickers on them?
I used to do the Tracked on Monday nights years ago. Three yorks would be a busy night back then. We had to put a purple sticker on each one and note which DO it was going to (guessing they emailed all the DOMs to let them know how nay Tracked they had coming)
LouBarlow
Posts: 4709
Joined: 15 Oct 2007, 18:56

Re: How hard do we actually work compared to other jobs

Post by LouBarlow »

If you are in reasonable shape physically, it is still a decent job. The biggest change I have noticed, is low letter boxes, which are arguably more damaging to the body than being made to walk a few miles extra a day.