Institutionalised

[Checkerfinch]

I've only been here for four years but I've never had another job than this one. Been offered a job somewhere else that's less days, worse pay but better opportunities and I get my weekends back. Safe to say I'm leaving by the end of this week.

I'm sick of the dogs, the rain, the sun, my feet hurting, the customers, the disrespect, the vans, the rounds, the managers, the constant operational changes, and training new starters every five minutes because they had 3 days training and apparently that's enough. A job that swings wildly between utter tedium and a tsunami of mildly infuriating inconveniences.

I feel like an idiot working a job that 'anyone can do' that's stressful and feels horrible to actually do. Sure, take it back, but every day I hate cutting off and not being able to complete, rushing and raging to deliver tracked, or alternatively slogging it until 5pm to clear the frame.

Yet I still can't help but feel sad about every day I've come in of my notice period. This job was rubbish the moment I started, slicing open my hands on letterboxes, bullied by management, constantly screwed over on rota changes, days off and work loads. Only good thing has been my colleagues and sometimes being put on nice (boring) rounds. I still wonder if I'm going to miss it, hate the new job, and end up back here somehow.

I'll miss being able to say I worked for Royal Mail, even if that name has been dragged through the mud by management and torched for good measure. And I still feel that small spark of happiness when I see another Royal Mail vehicle on the road and I don't know why.

Does anyone else have Stockholm syndrome?

[qw]

It sounds like you really don’t like the place so it’s a good idea to get out. Less pay isn’t important but your mental wellbeing is. Life’s too short to be miserable 5 days a week.

I felt like leaving a while ago and went in to a quiet quitting mode and haven’t looked back. I like the job and to stick with it I think you have to understand what we’re paid to do and that isn’t to perform miracles to a company that’s poorly managed.

[Phantom]

You're doing the right thing, as stated above in "qw" comments.

As soon as minimum wage catches up with the hourly rate RM offer then there will be a mass exodus. It will be great to see this happen to this privatised disaster of a company.

[stevejm]

I've only been here for four years but I've never had another job than this one. Been offered a job somewhere else that's less days, worse pay but better opportunities and I get my weekends back. Safe to say I'm leaving by the end of this week.

I'm sick of the dogs, the rain, the sun, my feet hurting, the customers, the disrespect, the vans, the rounds, the managers, the constant operational changes, and training new starters every five minutes because they had 3 days training and apparently that's enough. A job that swings wildly between utter tedium and a tsunami of mildly infuriating inconveniences.

I feel like an idiot working a job that 'anyone can do' that's stressful and feels horrible to actually do. Sure, take it back, but every day I hate cutting off and not being able to complete, rushing and raging to deliver tracked, or alternatively slogging it until 5pm to clear the frame.

Yet I still can't help but feel sad about every day I've come in of my notice period. This job was rubbish the moment I started, slicing open my hands on letterboxes, bullied by management, constantly screwed over on rota changes, days off and work loads. Only good thing has been my colleagues and sometimes being put on nice (boring) rounds. I still wonder if I'm going to miss it, hate the new job, and end up back here somehow.

I'll miss being able to say I worked for Royal Mail, even if that name has been dragged through the mud by management and torched for good measure. And I still feel that small spark of happiness when I see another Royal Mail vehicle on the road and I don't know why.

Does anyone else have Stockholm syndrome?

Institutionalised I can agree with - which is really a stronger way of saying we are affected by our environment or surroundings.

[derekm]

Quite a few have left our office with a lot longer service than yourself & they are all doing good. They left for basically the same reasons so look after no1 because no one else will.

[Jen1]

Since I’ve been at our place 2 coworkers have died, we all got in our vans and some followed the hurse, some lined the road on the route to the crematorium and doffed their caps, our manager and a few close friends of the posties walked behind the coffin

It was all very touching, I doubt you’d get that if you worked for Amazon

I think most of us have stuck with the job for this long purely for our work mates

I mean I don’t think I’d stick in any other job where you’re penalised for being a good worker

[HTPostman]

I’m in a similar frame of mind. I leave soon. I’m tired.

Tired of:

Being moved from my day off cover

Being given a large transit van on a rural and then having to explain why said van isn’t suited to tiny farm tracks.

Every morning having to find XYZ to move their vans. I’ve implored management to have designated bays or at the very least bunch vans into 3s so you know if you’re blocked in it’s only one of the 2 neighbouring duties vans.

Being treated differently to the person next to you.

Your aisle having completely different rules including when you can take your breaks, to the next aisle.

People in the locker chatting to people about last nights match, while you just want your specials and to get going.

Customers who can’t navigate the inflight options or who ask you over ring doorbell to sign Specials.

Customers who constantly leave their dogs out, or ‘hold’ them by the collar.

Customers who, despite you telling them, still don’t update their Boots/Boohoo/whatever account so it still comes as just a street name.

And lastly the ‘it is what it is/we had to do it, so do you/it’s not ideal but do it anyway’ gang. This is everyone from colleagues to management.

————

Overall I’ve enjoyed my time at RM. I don’t know what the solution is to make things better, but I wish those remaining all the best.

[bongo_fury]

Good luck mate.

[postslippete]

Best of luck for the future HTPostman I can relate to a few of the things you mentioned


In all honesty, I don't think there is a solution to make things better for posties because the business is now all about one thing - profit.

[Jpro747]

Get out and don’t look back

[Checkerfinch]

I’m in a similar frame of mind. I leave soon. I’m tired.

Tired of:

Being moved from my day off cover

Being given a large transit van on a rural and then having to explain why said van isn’t suited to tiny farm tracks.

Every morning having to find XYZ to move their vans. I’ve implored management to have designated bays or at the very least bunch vans into 3s so you know if you’re blocked in it’s only one of the 2 neighbouring duties vans.

Being treated differently to the person next to you.

Your aisle having completely different rules including when you can take your breaks, to the next aisle.

People in the locker chatting to people about last nights match, while you just want your specials and to get going.

Customers who can’t navigate the inflight options or who ask you over ring doorbell to sign Specials.

Customers who constantly leave their dogs out, or ‘hold’ them by the collar.

Customers who, despite you telling them, still don’t update their Boots/Boohoo/whatever account so it still comes as just a street name.

And lastly the ‘it is what it is/we had to do it, so do you/it’s not ideal but do it anyway’ gang. This is everyone from colleagues to management.

————

Overall I’ve enjoyed my time at RM. I don’t know what the solution is to make things better, but I wish those remaining all the best.

I'm not alone then. I have had good memories in this job too but I'm tired of everything you've mentioned as well, especially the 'it is what it is' attitude.

Quite a few have left our office with a lot longer service than yourself & they are all doing good. They left for basically the same reasons so look after no1 because no one else will.

That's encouraging. I remember there was a mini exodus when they revised the frames a while ago and was wishing I'd left then. Just didn't think I was qualified to do a better job. But there seems to be places here and there that are willing to train people nowadays.

I wish any former and current posties all the best. Most underappreciated workers around. Average person folds at the job in less than a year if not a month.

[amhopkins1]

I've only been here for four years but I've never had another job than this one. Been offered a job somewhere else that's less days, worse pay but better opportunities and I get my weekends back. Safe to say I'm leaving by the end of this week.

I'm sick of the dogs, the rain, the sun, my feet hurting, the customers, the disrespect, the vans, the rounds, the managers, the constant operational changes, and training new starters every five minutes because they had 3 days training and apparently that's enough. A job that swings wildly between utter tedium and a tsunami of mildly infuriating inconveniences.

I feel like an idiot working a job that 'anyone can do' that's stressful and feels horrible to actually do. Sure, take it back, but every day I hate cutting off and not being able to complete, rushing and raging to deliver tracked, or alternatively slogging it until 5pm to clear the frame.

Yet I still can't help but feel sad about every day I've come in of my notice period. This job was rubbish the moment I started, slicing open my hands on letterboxes, bullied by management, constantly screwed over on rota changes, days off and work loads. Only good thing has been my colleagues and sometimes being put on nice (boring) rounds. I still wonder if I'm going to miss it, hate the new job, and end up back here somehow.

I'll miss being able to say I worked for Royal Mail, even if that name has been dragged through the mud by management and torched for good measure. And I still feel that small spark of happiness when I see another Royal Mail vehicle on the road and I don't know why.

Does anyone else have Stockholm syndrome?

Do you mind me asking what job you’re going into?

I’m in a similar position after working for the company for 5years. Because I keep my head down and don’t complain I get treated worse than some other people who constantly moan and take the mick. I’m always having to train new starters who often leave after 2 weeks anyway, and other people are just left alone to do what they want. Managers definitely have their favourites and they just don’t care in the end as long as the frame is cleared.

The people I know have left have said that they are much happier.

[eviljack]

Being treated differently to the person next to you.

Your aisle having completely different rules including when you can take your breaks, to the next aisle.

The two tier workforce is really the worst thing (well it's three tier, lets be honest)

Sharing an identical working day with someone who is being paid more, with better benefits and goes home before you.
It's absolutely appalling.

[Checkerfinch]

Do you mind me asking what job you’re going into?

I’m in a similar position after working for the company for 5years. Because I keep my head down and don’t complain I get treated worse than some other people who constantly moan and take the mick. I’m always having to train new starters who often leave after 2 weeks anyway, and other people are just left alone to do what they want. Managers definitely have their favourites and they just don’t care in the end as long as the frame is cleared.

The people I know have left have said that they are much happier.

.

[twoloops]

I get changed out of my RM uniform when I leave work, thankfully I live a good distance away from the office, I would be so embarrassed if my neighbours knew I was a postman