LTB 311/17 - Workplace Coach - Trial TOR for the Use of Tablet Technology

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB 311/17 - Workplace Coach - Trial TOR for the Use of Tablet Technology

No. 311/2017

9th June 2017

Workplace Coach – Trial TOR for the use of Tablet Technology

Dear Colleague,

Royal Mail and the CWU have committed to a programme of improved training and support for all employees supported by Workplace Coaches. In an effort to upskill Workplace Coaches in all functions, we have been in dialogue with the company now for some time regarding the introduction of a ‘Tablet’ for the exclusive use of the WPC Role in order to allow them easy and immediate access to the IT portals required, and to enable them to perform their role to the best of their ability. The need to train and equip all of our work place coach members in order to perform their roles competently is critical.

Feedback taken jointly from both operational managers and Workplace Coaches has informed us that Workplace Coaches have limited access to IT hardware and online resources i.e. ‘The Workplace coach portal.’ To fulfil their coaching responsibilities they rely on hardcopy learning materials and are required to record learning activity locally rather than via a central learning management system.

This trial plans to assess whether better access to IT hardware and the learning management system has an impact on the volume and quality of coaching records at Royal Mail Group.

The plan is to issue a small number of tablets to coaches within trial sites selected in Deliveries, Processing, Logistics and International to evaluate this.

To protect our employees’ data and personal information, the PSP data privacy principles will apply as normal with all PC / laptop technology. (Please see Appendix 1). Plus we have also ensured that the protections within the Royal Mail Acceptable Use policy (Appendix 2) will be applied, and will be briefed to all managers in trial locations prior to the commencement of the trial.

The scope of the tablet trial is across 31 trial units, with 24 of these receiving tablets, and the remaining 7 acting as control sites. Control sites will be briefed in line with the remaining sites but will not have tablets issued, this will better allow us to understand the impact of the tablets themselves.

The trial will last for 6 months from Monday 12th June 2017, with completion of the trial on Monday 27th November.

The tablet that has been selected is the HP Elitepad 1000. This model runs full Microsoft Windows and works just like the laptops that managers are currently issued with, and that coaches have access to. This model is fully supported by the IT helpdesk. A full user guide has been created specifically for these tablets to help users. Furthermore, coaches will be provided with a productivity case that adds a keyboard to the Tablet, and also provides extra ports for a mouse etc, and protects the tablet from damage.

To be absolutely clear and for the avoidance of any doubt that Branches may have, this is merely an updated method of doing what a WPC already has the capability to do in terms of inputting information. The use of the tablet will allow them to do so at their own pace and gives them the ability of direct access to the systems rather than be reliant on access to a manager’s PC or Laptop. Furthermore, it should be understood that, Workplace Coaches cannot access an individual’s personal details other than their training records.

CWU representative at the trial sites will be fully briefed, updated and involved in all aspects of the trial.

Trial outputs will be jointly reviewed at National level and any subsequent proposals to roll out the tablets will be the subject of further discussions and national agreement.

Any queries to the content of the above please contact the Outdoor Postal Department, email: outdoorsecretary@cwu.org quoting reference number: 230.

Or:

Davie Robertson, Assistant Secretary, email: dwyatt@cwu.org or shayman@cwu.org quoting reference number: 717.04.

Yours Sincerely,

Mark Baulch Davie Robertson
CWU Assistant Secretary Elect CWU Assistant Secretary

[raymod]

Surely half the battle would be to get some wpc that can actually do the job before giving them a tablet to toss it off with really.
No disrespect to those who do I good job for there 35 quid a week.
But ours are terrible

[Decky Boy]

In what way are they terrible ?

[Kick the Bucket]

More money wasted by Royal Mail. Looks like our jobs will be put on the line to make up for it again.

[BeamishStout]

Furthermore, it should be understood that, Workplace Coaches cannot access an individual’s personal details other than their training records.

Not sure if the implication behind this particular part. Esp the should. To me it implies that there is nothing to stop WPC accessing an individual's personal details other than the understanding that they will be instructed not to.

After a recent run-in on Data Protection issues (re Driving Licence checks) the instructions to WPC (and managers too) re data access on what is/is not allowed should be clearly documented and available for all to see.

[Ozzvaldo]

In what way are they terrible ?

I don't know about Raymod's WPCs, but at my place the coaches are all ghost overtime/runner types.

We've recently had a handful of newbies start and after "training" none of them know what a LWT is or that they can insist on not working continuously without a break. One was even left on their own to get a bus back to the office while the coach cleared off in the van in the opposite direction to do some ghosting.

When the WPC jobs were advertised there were a number of unsuccessful applicants who are generally recognised in the depot as good posties who would therefore show new starters how to work properly. Is it too cynical to suggest that an extra 35 quid a week is a small price to pay to keep the office pets onside along with the possible side benefits of new recruits being inculcated into this culture?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Furthermore, it should be understood that, Workplace Coaches cannot access an individual’s personal details other than their training records.

Not sure if the implication behind this particular part. Esp the should. To me it implies that there is nothing to stop WPC accessing an individual's personal details other than the understanding that they will be instructed not to.

After a recent run-in on Data Protection issues (re Driving Licence checks) the instructions to WPC (and managers too) re data access on what is/is not allowed should be clearly documented and available for all to see.

I really doubt most Lime Managers within Royal Mail know that they are subject to the Data Protection Act (as we all are) and the implications of it.

When they tell one person that another is off sick because of a condition, that is a direct and flagrant breach of the DPA under medical records section.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Furthermore, it should be understood that, Workplace Coaches cannot access an individual’s personal details other than their training records.

Not sure if the implication behind this particular part. Esp the should. To me it implies that there is nothing to stop WPC accessing an individual's personal details other than the understanding that they will be instructed not to.

After a recent run-in on Data Protection issues (re Driving Licence checks) the instructions to WPC (and managers too) re data access on what is/is not allowed should be clearly documented and available for all to see.

I really doubt most Lime Managers within Royal Mail know that they are subject to the Data Protection Act (as well are) and the implications of it.

When they tell one person that another is off sick because of a condition, that is a direct and flagrant breach of the DPA under medical records section.

Lime Managers - thats a good name - they do pull faces like they are sucking a lime, when you ask a simple question.

[BeamishStout]

Lime Managers - thats a good name - they do pull faces like they are sucking a lime, when you ask a simple question.

Nah more like lemon managers -

Definition of Lemon . (1) Something that was useless or crappy (2) A lame person or thing