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Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
Diehard
Posts: 4
Joined: 15 Oct 2023, 13:06
Gender: Male

Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by Diehard »

Been here since August and had to work every Sunday at a different office delivering parcels. My office is shut on a Sunday so it’s not part of the working week. So, my days off go Mon/Tues, then Weds/Thurs then Fri/Sat but no facility to include Sundays!

Not only is this demoralising for family life but it means I work 7 seven days straight for 2 weeks out of every 3. This is not compensated by having 1 week with 4 days off as I have to work on the feffing Sunday

I can’t see why Sundays can be added to my rotation??

Thoughts?
rubberbond
Posts: 1497
Joined: 24 Aug 2014, 16:03
Gender: Male

Re: Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by rubberbond »

You must have known what you were letting yourself in for when you applied and then accepted the job offer ,as did I when I joined , so you don’t seem to have much of a basis for complaining.
SMS1969
Posts: 1015
Joined: 28 Jun 2021, 11:36
Gender: Male

Re: Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by SMS1969 »

Because they want rid of the parcels, as they apparently make them the most money. Personally I’d have asked before I took the job on. At least you get two days off together every week.
yellowbelly
Posts: 3713
Joined: 23 Jun 2015, 15:51
Gender: Male

Re: Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by yellowbelly »

Diehard wrote:
10 Dec 2023, 08:48

Not only is this demoralising for family life but it means I work 7 seven days straight for 2 weeks out of every 3. This is not compensated by having 1 week with 4 days off as I have to work on the feffing Sunday


Thoughts?
As long as the 2 weeks 7 days are not consecutive (so you're not working 14 full days) then legally (in terms of rest days) then RM are doing
nothing wrong.

ACAS:
By law (The Working Time Regulations 1998), employees and workers have the right to the following rest:

during the working day – 20-minute rest break if they're expected to work more than 6 hours during the day
between working days – 11 hours' rest between finishing work and starting work
between working weeks – 24 hours every 7 working days or 48 hours every 14 working days
each year – holiday entitlement
Morally and in terms of keeping the workforce content - it's abysmal!
Nickvilla20
Posts: 784
Joined: 13 May 2013, 07:30
Gender: Male

Re: Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by Nickvilla20 »

They wonder why they can’t retain staff if you never get a full weekend off.
yubin282
Posts: 990
Joined: 25 Jul 2014, 19:18
Gender: Male

Re: Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by yubin282 »

It still surprises me there isn't more Sunday working, considering newer starters have it in their contract. Instead RM will dangle the "sunday working" carrot, actively trying to piss off their more senior workers.
Jen1
Posts: 231
Joined: 31 Oct 2018, 12:00
Gender: Female

Re: Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by Jen1 »

You get a Saturday off!!!!! :shock:

I’ve worked here for 5 years and I’ve not had a single Saturday off this entire year, I’m supposed to get 1 in 6 off

Management and Union excuse is that they’re so understaffed and nobody will work their day off if it’s a Saturday (that’s not my f***ing fault)

Our latest recruit who just does parcels gets Mon and Tues off every week and has to work every Sat and Sun he looks miserable, and he starts at 1.30pm and doesn’t finish till 7.30pm so really not much chance for a social life that can’t be good for anyone’s mental health

We really have just thrown the new starters to the wolves I hope everyone on a new contract gets together and withdraws their Sunday labour until the work life social life balance is addressed
SpacePhoenix
MAIL CENTRES/PROCESSING
Posts: 12139
Joined: 12 Nov 2008, 17:03
Gender: Male

Re: Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by SpacePhoenix »

Jen1 wrote:
10 Dec 2023, 10:09
We really have just thrown the new starters to the wolves I hope everyone on a new contract gets together and withdraws their Sunday labour until the work life social life balance is addressed
That would probably be construed as being unofficial industrial action by RM as Sunday working is likely in their contracts
Jen1
Posts: 231
Joined: 31 Oct 2018, 12:00
Gender: Female

Re: Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by Jen1 »

SpacePhoenix wrote:
10 Dec 2023, 10:19
Jen1 wrote:
10 Dec 2023, 10:09
We really have just thrown the new starters to the wolves I hope everyone on a new contract gets together and withdraws their Sunday labour until the work life social life balance is addressed
That would probably be construed as being unofficial industrial action by RM as Sunday working is likely in their contracts
Maybe they should make it official then
ted_e_bear
Posts: 4080
Joined: 03 Sep 2012, 19:37
Gender: Male

Re: Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by ted_e_bear »

yellowbelly wrote:
10 Dec 2023, 09:26
Diehard wrote:
10 Dec 2023, 08:48
As long as the 2 weeks 7 days are not consecutive (so you're not working 14 full days) then legally (in terms of rest days) then RM are doing
nothing wrong.

ACAS:
By law (The Working Time Regulations 1998), employees and workers have the right to the following rest:

during the working day – 20-minute rest break if they're expected to work more than 6 hours during the day
between working days – 11 hours' rest between finishing work and starting work
between working weeks – 24 hours every 7 working days or 48 hours every 14 working days
each year – holiday entitlement
We've got guys who work their days off every week, they also work every Sunday parcels on overtime so unless they're on leave they're constantly contravening the above rest between working weeks rules, surely there should be something set in royal mails pay system that wouldn't permit this to happen.
iHateD2Ds
Posts: 546
Joined: 16 Apr 2008, 16:33

Re: Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by iHateD2Ds »

To be blunt, you are contracted and If it's affecting your family life then you need to look for another job because RM do not care about individuals.
The new contracts are shite.
Last edited by iHateD2Ds on 10 Dec 2023, 11:47, edited 1 time in total.
qwerty2
Posts: 2077
Joined: 30 Jun 2009, 00:42
Gender: Male

Re: Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by qwerty2 »

Diehard wrote:
10 Dec 2023, 08:48
Been here since August and had to work every Sunday at a different office delivering parcels. My office is shut on a Sunday so it’s not part of the working week. So, my days off go Mon/Tues, then Weds/Thurs then Fri/Sat but no facility to include Sundays!

Not only is this demoralising for family life but it means I work 7 seven days straight for 2 weeks out of every 3. This is not compensated by having 1 week with 4 days off as I have to work on the feffing Sunday

I can’t see why Sundays can be added to my rotation??

Thoughts?
You knew you had to work Sundays before you took the job
If you don’t like it stop moaning :Boo hoo! and leave :wave
LouBarlow
Posts: 4709
Joined: 15 Oct 2007, 18:56

Re: Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by LouBarlow »

qwerty2 wrote:
10 Dec 2023, 11:47
Diehard wrote:
10 Dec 2023, 08:48
Been here since August and had to work every Sunday at a different office delivering parcels. My office is shut on a Sunday so it’s not part of the working week. So, my days off go Mon/Tues, then Weds/Thurs then Fri/Sat but no facility to include Sundays!

Not only is this demoralising for family life but it means I work 7 seven days straight for 2 weeks out of every 3. This is not compensated by having 1 week with 4 days off as I have to work on the feffing Sunday

I can’t see why Sundays can be added to my rotation??

Thoughts?
You knew you had to work Sundays before you took the job
If you don’t like it stop moaning :Boo hoo! and leave :wave
That is a terrible attitude. We are all doing the same job and we should support each other.
eggraidonmojo
Posts: 120
Joined: 06 Nov 2012, 16:44
Gender: Male

Re: Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by eggraidonmojo »

Although it depends on area, I heard that as more new contracts start, Sundays off should be rota'd into your duty pattern. It is a lot down to your area/local rep though, and whether they can do a deal with management.
Clappedoutpostie
Posts: 1259
Joined: 05 Nov 2021, 21:46
Gender: Male

Re: Sundays - why can’t aren’t they part of the working week?

Post by Clappedoutpostie »

You are lucky compared to our new starters, they get a fixed Monday and Tuesday off every week. Only time they get either a Saturday or Sunday off is if they book annual leave.