Just started

[silverspring]

I've just started as a postperson with driving duties (with RM, not an agency), but it's crossed my mind that the only reason RM have employed so many people at this time of year is because of the Christmas rush. How likely is it that i'll all of a sudden not be wanted come January? Does getting rid of people in this way usually happen?

[Shirtbuttons]

No they won’t get rid of you.

[silverspring]

Good to know, thanks.
Hopefully I don't quit beforehand

[crazyshrew]

They spent a long time trying to trim/rightsize the workforce, and do so on the cheap.

It came in two concurrent parts.
Firstly an almost complete ban on any and all recruitment.
Secondly they launched heavy handed attacks on the workforce, with the unspoken aim to get enough to throw in the towel voluntarily [without any compulsory redundancies]

The problem they had is that the second part worked too well.
Far more people left than they expected.
But they had accelerated through their plans so hard and fast it was impossible to put the breaks on it quick enough
It was a rapid spiral of people leaving, increasing the workload for those who were left, more people leaving, more work for those who remain...more people left....

You get the idea.


Things are slowly being to settle down but retention of staff is now the issue they have and it doesn't take a fancy university degree, or years of experience in high level management to see why.

It's no secret that anyone starting now is on noticeably lesser terms and conditions, not just to the colleagues they stand next to every morning, but supermarkets and factories offer better and expect less.
And then a bright, enthusiastic young things walk through the door and see the chaos, and then are exposed to the stories, the misery, and trauma that might resemble that of innocent civilians who have suffered the hardest while simply trying to get through things while the powers that be have been at war.
Who in their right mind would want to stay there if they have any other opportunity available to them?

As I say things are slowly turning around. And this huge push on recruitment is part of it.

I can say with 99% certainty that you are not just here for Christmas, if you survive that you have a job for as long as there is work for us to do.

[silverspring]

Thanks for the comments.

I'm OK with the job so far, but that's probably because I'm just new to it and my attitude may well change as the weeks progress. The lesser terms and conditions aren't great, but I suppose that's the way things are heading in quite a few other places.

I was hesitant about doing this job after reading about all the issues from others on this board, but then realised that most people will complain about their job no matter what it is. I've done a few jobs in the past and always thought that there were more negatives than positives. Financially I'm in a reasonable position and really only took the postie job for something to do as I was getting bored and frustrated with sitting around the house most days with nothing to do. Every day was like groundhog day lol.

Anyway, let's see if I last....

[Londonsburning]

Thanks for the comments.

I'm OK with the job so far, but that's probably because I'm just new to it and my attitude may well change as the weeks progress. The lesser terms and conditions aren't great, but I suppose that's the way things are heading in quite a few other places.

I was hesitant about doing this job after reading about all the issues from others on this board, but then realised that most people will complain about their job no matter what it is. I've done a few jobs in the past and always thought that there were more negatives than positives. Financially I'm in a reasonable position and really only took the postie job for something to do as I was getting bored and frustrated with sitting around the house most days with nothing to do. Every day was like groundhog day lol.

Anyway, let's see if I last....

Oh you sweet summer child

[Mr Rush]

and then are exposed to the stories

We got told to stop telling new starts how awful it is now compared to what is used to be. Nothing retains people quite like lieing by omission.

[Londonsburning]

and then are exposed to the stories

We got told to stop telling new starts how awful it is now compared to what is used to be. Nothing retains people quite like lieing by omission.

By whom exactly? Lol

[crazyshrew]

Thanks for the comments.

I'm OK with the job so far, but that's probably because I'm just new to it and my attitude may well change as the weeks progress. The lesser terms and conditions aren't great, but I suppose that's the way things are heading in quite a few other places.

I was hesitant about doing this job after reading about all the issues from others on this board, but then realised that most people will complain about their job no matter what it is. I've done a few jobs in the past and always thought that there were more negatives than positives. Financially I'm in a reasonable position and really only took the postie job for something to do as I was getting bored and frustrated with sitting around the house most days with nothing to do. Every day was like groundhog day lol.

Anyway, let's see if I last....

My opinion is that it is in fact a great job. I enjoy what I do, the natural challenges that come with it and overcoming them.

It's the unnatural challenges, imposed by poor quality, Machiavellian, management (we went through a phase where the only qualifying criteria for a frontline management position seemed to be one had to be daft enough to volunteer for the job) are what make the working environment an absolute misery.

Sounds like you know why you took the job, find your joy in it and you'll be fine.
If it turns out to be a bad fit for you just remember it's not a life sentence, and find a way out, sound like it would be easier for you with some other previous experience.
Just watch out for the "lifers" who have done nothing else and are just clinging on until they can collect their pension, they will take any opportunity to try to destroy the soul of anyone who dares display the tiniest spark of joy or show any kind of pride or enthusiasm in their work

[Checkerfinch]

Thanks for the comments.

I'm OK with the job so far, but that's probably because I'm just new to it and my attitude may well change as the weeks progress. The lesser terms and conditions aren't great, but I suppose that's the way things are heading in quite a few other places.

I was hesitant about doing this job after reading about all the issues from others on this board, but then realised that most people will complain about their job no matter what it is. I've done a few jobs in the past and always thought that there were more negatives than positives. Financially I'm in a reasonable position and really only took the postie job for something to do as I was getting bored and frustrated with sitting around the house most days with nothing to do. Every day was like groundhog day lol.

Anyway, let's see if I last....

My opinion is that it is in fact a great job. I enjoy what I do, the natural challenges that come with it and overcoming them.

It's the unnatural challenges, imposed by poor quality, Machiavellian, management (we went through a phase where the only qualifying criteria for a frontline management position seemed to be one had to be daft enough to volunteer for the job) are what make the working environment an absolute misery.

Sounds like you know why you took the job, find your joy in it and you'll be fine.
If it turns out to be a bad fit for you just remember it's not a life sentence, and find a way out, sound like it would be easier for you with some other previous experience.
Just watch out for the "lifers" who have done nothing else and are just clinging on until they can collect their pension, they will take any opportunity to try to destroy the soul of anyone who dares display the tiniest spark of joy or show any kind of pride or enthusiasm in their work

This absolutely. The ones who've been there the longest are the most miserable. Most of them here as well actually as you might be able to tell. They've been there so long they can't see what's good about the job. You're your own boss, you're outside on the road, you can decide for yourself how to work etc. and best of all you can put your phone on silent and never have to talk to a manager until next morning. And you'll be well fit.

It's still a decent part-time gig and there are worse jobs out there.

Try to enjoy the good parts. If you find yourself becoming anything like them, then do what they're too frightened to and leave for something better.

[Judgee]

If you don't have to do it and can leave when you want because you are financially secure then I guess you won't find it so bad, you can just leave the moment something pisses you off with no further consequences!

If you're financially in the toilet with a mortgage, kids and more bills and debt than you can shake a stick at. Then it feels like you have sold your soul to the devil just to survive the daily grind on the giant hampster wheel. Until one day if your lucky you get to retire to a wheel chair and a few years of dribbling on your shoes. While you contemplate why you wasted so much of your time delivering s**t that no one wants for an employer who treats you like something they just stepped in!

[derekm]

Everyone has there own opinions how this job is now and for new starts it is totally different to as so called lifers when they started.the difference is in I started letters had to be delivered no matter what. They were the priority. parcels have really kicked off after Covid and now they are the money maker which is quite obvious. But what management doesn’t realise it takes longer to deliver these parcels,knocking doors,trying the neighbour,looking for so called safe place takes time which they don’t take into consideration. But if your happy in the job then crack on I’ve seen enough new starts have the enthusiasm knocked out of them by poor management.