Mental health.

[scotchy1962]

Had the joy on Tuesday of a union brief on mental health in the workplace and how they and the company have all these things to help you.
Got me thinking, all this money they are spending when the solution is simpler than they think, make the job manageable, stop your managers acting like third world dictators and treat your workforce as a asset and not some expendable toothpick you throw in the bin when your finished with them.
Not sure it will ever happen but that's my solution.

[GRS]

Totally agree. The whole of society is now fixed on mental health and how serious it is and in many cases the tragedy it can become. Yet in Royal Mail the people who have a duty of care ( by law) are the very people deliberately causing mental health issues amongst their staff. Unfortunately one day something terrible will happen to a RM staff member and I hope the bastards at fault are dragged through the courts!!

[LouBarlow]

Unfortunately the solution you propose would cost the company too much money and given they are a business now obsessed by squeezing every single penny out of us, they will never agree to it. Instead they paper over the cracks with these pointless schemes and pretences that do nothing to alleviate those who have issues.

[derekm]

Had one of these breifs about mental health issues & how the managers door is always open if you need to have a chat then they are giving you grief because you refuse to work over & clear your frame they say it’s a quiet one today

[clashcityrocker]

Sometimes people have issues completely unrelated to work.

[GRS]

Sometimes people have issues completely unrelated to work.

You’re right - they do and none of us know what is going on in someone else’s life, even if we’ve worked with someone for years. Yet we still have so many colleagues who continually stick their nose into other worker’s business criticising everything they do from starting early to what D2D they’re doing that day. Christ you read it on here daily & I’ve pointed out before that maybe people are coming in early for a reason (maybe a mental condition or home life issue) & it was immediately shut down by some as “ so what, that’s bullshit & no reason etc etc”. Before slagging colleagues off people need to stop & think for a second that maybe just maybe their colleague might be doing something they don’t like or agree with not to be selfish or annoy others but for some other reason!!!!

[LouBarlow]

There still has to be some kind of structure to your working life, no matter what is happening at home. The condition should be addressed and treated properly. People have mental health issues in other professions, but they don’t come in to work hours early and do what they like in those situations. Doing so can cause problems for their work colleagues and add stress to their working lives, which isn’t ideal either.

[scotchy1962]

Sometimes people have issues completely unrelated to work.

Absolutely right Clash and if RM cared for their workforce they would remove one more stress from peoples lives by making the job achievable.

[Smoothbackground]

Sometimes people have issues completely unrelated to work.

You’re right - they do and none of us know what is going on in someone else’s life, even if we’ve worked with someone for years. Yet we still have so many colleagues who continually stick their nose into other worker’s business criticising everything they do from starting early to what D2D they’re doing that day. Christ you read it on here daily & I’ve pointed out before that maybe people are coming in early for a reason (maybe a mental condition or home life issue) & it was immediately shut down by some as “ so what, that’s bullshit & no reason etc etc”. Before slagging colleagues off people need to stop & think for a second that maybe just maybe their colleague might be doing something they don’t like or agree with not to be selfish or annoy others but for some other reason!!!!

Spot on with this

[twoloops]

If you are concerned about a fellow posties mental health & welfare, who is best to contact? This postie is also our office union rep.

[Smoothbackground]

If you are concerned about a fellow posties mental health & welfare, who is best to contact? This postie is also our office union rep.

Speak to him directly in the first instance, telling him you care and that you are concerned about him, and for these reasons…. He might already be aware and working on the issues. If he isn’t already working on them, you have at least brought the issues out into the open.

Alternatively, and assuming you are in the union, speak to someone else in the union hierarchy so that they can tackle it with him discreetly and can escalate as appropriate.

Or if not, maybe escalate to a trusted colleague who understands how serious these things can be if left?

Would suggest speaking to a manager but was recently taken a bit aback — during Mental Health Week of all weeks(!) — by the “just man up” and “just needs to pull himself together” approach taken by management towards a particular colleague who was in mental health crisis and who clearly needed real psychiatric help and medication. No real care or consideration for this human being with 12 years of service. Best bet is speak to someone who really cares, whoever that person is, manager, colleague, union hierarchy.

[twoloops]

Cheers Smoothbackground, he didn't turn in today, he's knock off on the ticket, I did speak to our manager who was aware things are not right, I have also just rang him & had a chat which he seemed happy with 🫡

[Hitbox]

Had the joy on Tuesday of a union brief on mental health in the workplace and how they and the company have all these things to help you.
Got me thinking, all this money they are spending when the solution is simpler than they think, make the job manageable, stop your managers acting like third world dictators and treat your workforce as a asset and not some expendable toothpick you throw in the bin when your finished with them.
Not sure it will ever happen but that's my solution.

Common Sense Idea - tick
RM/CWU listen- Nope.