Does management have a duty to make sure rounds are even

[norris9]

Does management have a duty to make sure rounds are even?

by 'even', I mean at least in the same ball park....

There is a round in our office that is clearly and obviously smaller than other rounds. It is completed by the duty holder whereas virtually every other duty is 40 mins+ too big. It has over 100 less delivery points. It is NOT a round that has large detached houses with long driveways, it is a compact round with short driveways.

Out of curiosity I questioned why this round was smaller and just got the response "it is what it is", "at least something is getting complete"....

What annoys me about this is that I actually believe the round is too small, the guy on it gets no grief from management as it's completable, whereas the rest of us get hassled by management now and again for bringing 'too much' back.

[Rumple]

Rather than complain that 1 round is too small, work on getting the other duty’s reduced to a similar size. Stick together, do the job correctly and again, stick together.

[norris9]

Rather than complain that 1 round is too small, work on getting the other duty’s reduced to a similar size. Stick together, do the job correctly and again, stick together.

The difference between my round and their round is absolutely ridiculous add all the other circumstances that come into play and it's even more ridiculous. It just doesn't make sense. I would actually say that smaller round is too small, it's easily completable within time....

There's evidence that the round should be given more work. This is nothing against the postie on that round, this is just illogical planning by our management.

The only way to get all other rounds reduced in size is to reinstate the rounds they dismantled....and that looks unlikely.

[Basildon Bond]

I would agree with the first reply. You have one "good" round and a load that are horrible. I wouldn't angle the discussion around dragging the good one down to the same level as the rest - even if it's unlikely (like we all know) to have duties put back in.

Be happy for there to be one achievable round - highlight it to management that that's what you all want (the ability to complete even when it's a heavy day). However, and separately there is nothing to stop you dropping hints to the duty holder of that round they have it easier. They don't get to complain (as much) as the rest.

[ted_e_bear]

The thing about this that really ticks me off is how management think the people on the "easier" duties are great, they used to be 1st in line for ghost overtime back in the day when duties had to be delivered, those of us on s**t duties get classed as serial moaners whilst they don't because they've got nothing to complain about.

Rant over.

[enskied]

We don't have any do-able duties in the entire office, still only taking out between half to 3/4 off one duty and leaving the entire of the partner duty in untouched and often bring stuff back.
So far our parcels haven't dropped from the Christmas peak. We have less staff than ever and fewer hours to cover the workload.

[norris9]

The thing about this that really ticks me off is how management think the people on the "easier" duties are great, they used to be 1st in line for ghost overtime back in the day when duties had to be delivered, those of us on s**t duties get classed as serial moaners whilst they don't because they've got nothing to complain about.

Rant over.

It's completely wrong IMO.

Many of us with ridiculously long rounds have been taken into one on one meetings with managers where we were told our rounds were completable within time. These rounds weren't or were only just completable before they added 40 minutes worth of delivery and 20 minutes of prep to them.

Meanwhile, for some reason they have left this round (there might be others) untouched, it changed, but it didn't get bigger, it had roads taken off, then roads added. The person on it gets finished everyday, probably casually walks around his round. Yet the managers have not added extra to it....loads of rounds are failing, yet that round stays easy? WTF - it makes no sense.

[kazardaimenu]

Management are just out to cause trouble. If we complete in our time our manager says our duty is too small and we should have more added. If it’s heavy and we go over and bring stuff back he declares we should be able to complete in our time easily. You can’t win with these creatures.

[Dorset Plodder]

IMO the majority of Managers are incompetent, out for an easy life, nobody rocking their boat and a nice bonus at the end of the year to pay for a New Car.

They REALLY don't give a shite about anyone in their Offices unless they can do something for them. The problem with most Posties, and a lot of the comments on here, is that we actually want to try and improve the system and do the job properly. "But Hang On isn't that the Managers Job"? I hear you shout. Yes it it!

We can see the system isn't working, and we'd like it to be fixed so that we can complete achievable duties and not go home totally knackered and stressed out!
The problem is Managers have a different Aim: Their Aim is to do as little work as possible, organise their office so they get no problems and knock off early so they can get an afternoons golf in!

Keep working "Properly", Don't work for FREE, take your MR (or claim it) and Finish at your Contacted Time (if you want to) use the Cutting Off Procedures and bring back mail if your duty is too BIG!

Yes it will upset your Manager, and he may well moan at you, but it will highlight that there's something wrong with your Duty. Otherwise your Lazy Incompetent Manager will just keep ticking those boxes, lying to his Boss that everything's OK and NOTHING will change!

[norris9]

IMO the majority of Managers are incompetent, out for an easy life, nobody rocking their boat and a nice bonus at the end of the year to pay for a New Car.

They REALLY don't give a shite about anyone in their Offices unless they can do something for them. The problem with most Posties, and a lot of the comments on here, is that we actually want to try and improve the system and do the job properly. "But Hang On isn't that the Managers Job"? I hear you shout. Yes it it!

We can see the system isn't working, and we'd like it to be fixed so that we can complete achievable duties and not go home totally knackered and stressed out!
The problem is Managers have a different Aim: Their Aim is to do as little work as possible, organise their office so they get no problems and knock off early so they can get an afternoons golf in!

Keep working "Properly", Don't work for FREE, take your MR (or claim it) and Finish at your Contacted Time (if you want to) use the Cutting Off Procedures and bring back mail if your duty is too BIG!

Yes it will upset your Manager, and he may well moan at you, but it will highlight that there's something wrong with your Duty. Otherwise your Lazy Incompetent Manager will just keep ticking those boxes, lying to his Boss that everything's OK and NOTHING will change!

All very true.

They don't want to change things as they can't be bothered as it will cost them time in the short term, even though it will make things run more efficient for the long term.

It's honestly best to just ignore a manager when they are telling you are slow at your job, there is no point in arguing back, just tell them it's not true and walk away. Those arguments never go anywhere.

[nuklearpuppy]

If the manager has a pet in most cases their round will be easily achievable and will be gifted nice overtime for taking out failed mail on the more difficult walks and getting a van home to themselves.
These imposters are on the 40k a year bracket. The types who sign up to be a union rep and work place coach. Basically the hypocritical posties who have a way of making folk look up-to them even though they are in with the managers and would be first to grass you up and stab you in the back. Most offices have them and I for one left as a result of that culture. Rotten to the core!!

[guardianangel]

never happens in our office ,on the last revision the bosses boys had nothing added to their already achievable rounds while some of us had 40 minutes added to our already unachievable rounds while the union sat back and did nothing,the cwu will not help they are in cahoots with the devil.

[norris9]

never happens in our office ,on the last revision the bosses boys had nothing added to their already achievable rounds while some of us had 40 minutes added to our already unachievable rounds while the union sat back and did nothing,the cwu will not help they are in cahoots with the devil.

sounds like my office.... but not sure it was done to help out those posties.... I feel it was done either because the computer system used to put the rounds together failed, the management themselves unknowingly messed it up, or they did it on purpose so they could at least have some rounds completing....

but going in everyday seeing someone on a round that's 40 minutes shorter than yours, that can easily complete, is demoralising....and this will continue, possibly for years.... the thought of that annoys me so much I want to leave.

[SpacePhoenix]

I feel it was done either because the computer system used to put the rounds together failed

Is the data on Route Planner even remotely up to date? Whoever builds the rounds probably partly basis it on that data. Also if that data is wrong then the sequenced mail will be wrong as the sort plans for the machines are written based on the same data.

[ted_e_bear]

I feel it was done either because the computer system used to put the rounds together failed

Is the data on Route Planner even remotely up to date? Whoever builds the rounds probably partly basis it on that data. Also if that data is wrong then the sequenced mail will be wrong as the sort plans for the machines are written based on the same data.

If it was a "table top" revision then if our place is typical then no data is used whatsoever, it's decided by whatever the resident office brown noser/s agrees with the manager.