Life after Royal Mail

[Straight4ward]

Guess at 63 going on 64 the knee issue won't get any better.

I realise this isn't an option for the vast majority but living in a warm climate has made an enormous difference for me. Whereas my knees used to give me grief more often than not, nowadays I get the odd twinge perhaps once every one or two months. I still spend a lot of time on my feet and work just as hard. Perhaps an improved diet has some bearing on it but I'm inclined to think it's the constant warmth.

[grandypants]

IHR after 20 years now working part time 20hrs in a supermarket shelf stacking on a twilight shift and I love it dont neerd the money just enjoy being out there after a year out

[KayGeeExOPG]

Life after (leaving) Royal Mail?

I accepted a VR package due to a site closure. I made the right choice, I think. But for me, life took a very sharp turning curve, where I learnt just how difficult and prejudiced the 'real jobs market' was/is, back in 2010. In fact, it was, and still is, an underestimated rats maze of obtructions, to just getting an interview! I have found that the organisations and companies who are 'crying out' the hardest for much needed new employees, and the very ones with the worst and hardest recruitment processes, literally shooting themselves in the foot! For any one situation, there will be pro's and con's. For me, poor mental health for some time, some poverty after limited finances ran out, and relocating from a dearly loved home area, not once....but three times! But the pro's, were eventually and slowly discovering a new talent and career (sadly short lived due to Covid pandemic) elsewhere where I decide my own hours and terms, lots of long postponed cycle touring and travelling, not needing to rush about in foul weather to get to work, or tolerate arrogant demands to do something I was already doing, and doing well, and watching my physical health improve once I had stopped prepping and hurling about 11kg mailsacks at a rate of 100 per hour. Oh, and although I was dubbed as being 'among the best workers on my shift', nobody bothered to give me any kind of courtesy farewell send off, like what so many other had had, but it still felt GREAT to walk out of those double doors for one last time, and leave behind me a very chaotic and unhealthy Mail Centre! These days, if I ever need to experience again, a few hundred people all eyeballing each other and watching critically each other over shoulders etc, I don't need Mail Centre work for that, I can recreate that by going to Bristol Temple Meads train station, platform 12!
The funny thing is, from time to time, my mind reflects on the good events I had during my RM years, and for some bizarre reason, actually misses it all. I suppose that is all part of the aging process!

KG.

[guardianangel]

Life after (leaving) Royal Mail?

I accepted a VR package due to a site closure. I made the right choice, I think. But for me, life took a very sharp turning curve, where I learnt just how difficult and prejudiced the 'real jobs market' was/is, back in 2010. In fact, it was, and still is, an underestimated rats maze of obtructions, to just getting an interview! I have found that the organisations and companies who are 'crying out' the hardest for much needed new employees, and the very ones with the worst and hardest recruitment processes, literally shooting themselves in the foot! For any one situation, there will be pro's and con's. For me, poor mental health for some time, some poverty after limited finances ran out, and relocating from a dearly loved home area, not once....but three times! But the pro's, were eventually and slowly discovering a new talent and career (sadly short lived due to Covid pandemic) elsewhere where I decide my own hours and terms, lots of long postponed cycle touring and travelling, not needing to rush about in foul weather to get to work, or tolerate arrogant demands to do something I was already doing, and doing well, and watching my physical health improve once I had stopped prepping and hurling about 11kg mailsacks at a rate of 100 per hour. Oh, and although I was dubbed as being 'among the best workers on my shift', nobody bothered to give me any kind of courtesy farewell send off, like what so many other had had, but it still felt GREAT to walk out of those double doors for one last time, and leave behind me a very chaotic and unhealthy Mail Centre! These days, if I ever need to experience again, a few hundred people all eyeballing each other and watching critically each other over shoulders etc, I don't need Mail Centre work for that, I can recreate that by going to Bristol Temple Meads train station, platform 12!
The funny thing is, from time to time, my mind reflects on the good events I had during my RM years, and for some bizarre reason, actually misses it all. I suppose that is all part of the aging process!

KG.

Glad you've found a bit of peace,of all the people i know who have left not one have said they regret it,they have all gone on to find better jobs although a couple have said they have jobs that are similar with useless managers but do not miss those long wet ,cold winter days slogging your guts out with little or no thanks from anyone . Good luck in your next chapter it wont be long before i'll be going through those double doors myself.

[celtic1967]

Left five years ago and returned to an industry where I served my apprenticeship. Have a boss who treats me with dignity and respect. What a change that makes.

[Tman]

That begs the question of why would a time-served craftsman want to be a postie?

[Barnacle]

That begs the question of why would a time-served craftsman want to be a postie?

There are numerous highly qualified people working as posties. Sometimes, you take a job because it is beneficial to your mental health. Sometimes you need a job that is physical because you have been slowly killing yourself in an office job for years. Sometimes you need to get away from a high pressure environment and do something where your major concerns are whether someone filled the van up with fuel or whether you’ll have time to nip to Asda during your walk.

[Tman]

So it's an utterly shite job on minimum wage that no-one wants, but craftsmen etc take it for a mental break for their regular job?
Sure they do.
I'm always amazed by the number of posties who like to claim "I was on a grand a week, me" but are happy to stick this job out.

[Barnacle]

So it's an utterly shite job on minimum wage that no-one wants, but craftsmen etc take it for a mental break for their regular job?
Sure they do.
I'm always amazed by the number of posties who like to claim "I was on a grand a week, me" but are happy to stick this job out.

They do actually. It’s not always about the money and if you are in a dual income household, being on a posties wage isn’t a struggle.

[Basildon Bond]

That begs the question of why would a time-served craftsman want to be a postie?

There are numerous highly qualified people working as posties. Sometimes, you take a job because it is beneficial to your mental health. Sometimes you need a job that is physical because you have been slowly killing yourself in an office job for years. Sometimes you need to get away from a high pressure environment and do something where your major concerns are whether someone filled the van up with fuel or whether you’ll have time to nip to Asda during your walk.

Yep. I was burning out in my old job. Paid a heck and half more than delivery but I wouldn't go back. If you have never had that kind of pressure you perhaps cannot see the pluses this job has. I'm sure there are many in high pressure office jobs and they revel in it and wouldn't change it for the world. But there are those of us that have tasted that life and decided to walk away and join you as part of the team.

Sure there are stressors and pressure but I guess, by comparison, they are manageable. If we met in a delivery office and you said you thought you had made a poor decision becoming a postie all those years ago, I'd would try my best to convince you otherwise. The grass isn't always greener. There are a few on here that have left RM only to rejoin. Hence, if this job is a good fit tor you, you should continue to do it to the best of your ability.

When you walk down that drive of a new build, with a Merc on the drive and knock on the door, just know that the house isn't paid for, the car is on credit, and monthly purchases are probably hopping between several cards.

[ted_e_bear]

I'll echo the above comments, prior to RM I worked in predominantly customer facing roles, completely different industries examples are the motor trade and selling plumbing supplies, and I can confidently state that in my 20 plus years here I've had less hassle from "customers" than I'd get in a single day in my previous jobs, one of the noticeable aspects was when you were off work on holiday etc everything had to get done so no coming back to catch up although unfortunately that's not always the case these days.

Yes the management in delivery offices is absolutely f***ing abysmal to the point of despair compared to everywhere else I've worked but the job itself has the benefits that make it attractive in it's own way.

[celtic1967]

So it's an utterly shite job on minimum wage that no-one wants, but craftsmen etc take it for a mental break for their regular job?
Sure they do.
I'm always amazed by the number of posties who like to claim "I was on a grand a week, me" but are happy to stick this job out.

Bit late to reply but I didnt leave my job, the car plant closed and I was asked to relocate to Eastern Europe to help start up a new factory but that didnt appeal to me and my family so took a redundancy package and started doing consultancy work but that ended being 60 hour weeks plus lots of travelling so I decided to get out of the rat race. Big drop in money but my mortgage was paid. Stress ended too.

[Nullbrawl]

Left five years ago and returned to an industry where I served my apprenticeship. Have a boss who treats me with dignity and respect. What a change that makes.

That's amazing!It is very refreshed to hear about positive work environment. Having a boss that treats you with respect makes you all different. You are happy to hear that you are back to a place that gives you importance!