Chances of reducing to a 3 day week...

[norris9]

This is a shot in the dark....

I have heard before that there are posties out there that work a 3 day week....

We do not have this option at our office. What are the chances of me going to my manager and asking if I could reduce my hours to a 3 day week, that they would accept.... probably impossible for anyone here to answer, unless they tried something similar, or there is some policy where Royal Mail will try to accommodate you if they can....

For me, the job is way to physical and I worry what the job will do to my body short and long term. I'd be happy to work a 3 day week, I'd possibly add a 'commit to deliver' rule in it, where I'd commit to deliver up to an hour passed the official finishing time, but I would not stay out any longer than that.

I would be shocked if they would agree to such a deal and even if they did, they'd likely want me to find someone else to also sign the same deal and share a round.

or maybe I need to hope an office nearby does these 3 day week contracts and I'll transfer.

[BenacreNick]

What your effectively looking for is another person to fulfill the other 3 days on a job-share. ie (MTW / TFS)

[Beanyjazz]

I've not heard of a 3 day a week job share but there's a duty at our place shared by 2 people, 1 week on 1 off.

[Haditup]

There are 3 day a week duties in my office which staffs around 200 employees.
It’s a job share working Mon ,Tues Weds or Thurs ,Fri ,Sat.
Some work 6 days on and 6 days off.
Ask management ,If you know someone who is willing to job share that will be a good start.

[scoobydo79]

Unlikely I’d think unless there is another Postie you know of who would work the other three days. Then if one of you leaves your manager is stuck with a vacant roun three days a week

[guardianangel]

Never understood why they didnt have 3 day week 10 hour duties you could complete your duty that is 1 and a half hours too long and do all your large packets , then no need for overtime or packet drivers,the current shift systems in royal mail are so antiquated.

[max49]

Our office/manager has been quite accommodating with job shares, we are a smaller office with 24 duties. There are 3 rounds which are shared, originally they started when we had a revision so the work plan could be adjusted, the union rep and work place coach were fully involved in making this possible. Those working the job shares decide on their days, for example one pair works alternate days, whereas another work Mon/Tues/Wed & Thurs/Fri/Sat swapping each week. It may be a case of asking your colleagues to see if anyone is interested in a job share with you. Alternatively if the office is recruiting could they employ someone as your partner? It may be an idea to talk to your union rep and get their help, good luck.

[plymouth3]

2 of us tried to job share, basically the management couldn’t be arsed sorting it. We both left eventually

[calsae]

RM totally miss that this is their golden egg to help them achieve clear units. I know so many in our unit would jump at 3 day weeks at 8-10hr days working Mon,Tues,Wednesday one week & Thursday, Friday, Saturday the next. Not only does that give every other Saturday off but time for your body to recover from the long duties. Many I have talked to have said they’d happily drop their hours for a work/life balance.
It would also retain new staff rather than most leaving within a week as let’s face it most are on 24-30 hr contracts anyway over 5 days and can’t complete a duty in that time. Also many would be happy to work an extra day overtime if needed because that would still only be a 4 day week. Time RM woke up to this chance of innovative working hours just like Sainsbury’s/Tesco etc have done for many years

[twoloops]

For me, the job is way to physical and I worry what the job will do to my body short and long term. I'd be happy to work a 3 day week

You may find working 3 days harder on your body than working 5 straight days, bit like how you feel after a week off.

[ANDREW CROCOMBE]

Stopped all 3 day duties in our place - those people then left the job. Sure it would still attract some interest if they bought them back. RM spout off over family friendly etc, but arent clever enough to be innovative over such things.

[mattick]

wait until the Ofcome report comes out after xmas; your wish may come true

[heapsy]

We had a few 3 day duties in our office. M,Tu,W then Th,F,S weeks about. Now there is only one person left. All the other have left the job. I tried to get our union rep to bring more in, with the idea of older blokes looking to work on, who perhaps couldn't do 5 days any more due to age etc. He wasn't interested. Doesn't want more part timers etc,etc. Which means basically, on your bike if you can't do the job any more. Some union that is.

[ted_e_bear]

RM totally miss that this is their golden egg to help them achieve clear units. I know so many in our unit would jump at 3 day weeks at 8-10hr days working Mon,Tues,Wednesday one week & Thursday, Friday, Saturday the next. Not only does that give every other Saturday off but time for your body to recover from the long duties. Many I have talked to have said they’d happily drop their hours for a work/life balance.
It would also retain new staff rather than most leaving within a week as let’s face it most are on 24-30 hr contracts anyway over 5 days and can’t complete a duty in that time. Also many would be happy to work an extra day overtime if needed because that would still only be a 4 day week. Time RM woke up to this chance of innovative working hours just like Sainsbury’s/Tesco etc have done for many years

RM totally miss anything that could be remotely to their advantage, how about making it possible for customers to visit it's delivery offices to either collect undelivered items or drop off returns or pre paid items, the parcel companies have that advantage over us now albeit in a less professional way as they've used shops/petrol stations for a while, it doesn't require a dedicated person to man the counter as there should always be someone on the premises, but oh no RM know best so they reduce the opening hours and introduce a worse system of auto redelivery.

Sorry I know this is off topic but just fancied a rant when you mentioned rm's inability to grasp anything that could be advantagous.

[calsae]

RM totally miss that this is their golden egg to help them achieve clear units. I know so many in our unit would jump at 3 day weeks at 8-10hr days working Mon,Tues,Wednesday one week & Thursday, Friday, Saturday the next. Not only does that give every other Saturday off but time for your body to recover from the long duties. Many I have talked to have said they’d happily drop their hours for a work/life balance.
It would also retain new staff rather than most leaving within a week as let’s face it most are on 24-30 hr contracts anyway over 5 days and can’t complete a duty in that time. Also many would be happy to work an extra day overtime if needed because that would still only be a 4 day week. Time RM woke up to this chance of innovative working hours just like Sainsbury’s/Tesco etc have done for many years

RM totally miss anything that could be remotely to their advantage, how about making it possible for customers to visit it's delivery offices to either collect undelivered items or drop off returns or pre paid items, the parcel companies have that advantage over us now albeit in a less professional way as they've used shops/petrol stations for a while, it doesn't require a dedicated person to man the counter as there should always be someone on the premises, but oh no RM know best so they reduce the opening hours and introduce a worse system of auto redelivery.

Sorry I know this is off topic but just fancied a rant when you mentioned rm's inability to grasp anything that could be advantagous.

Totally agree