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Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Postal workers discussion forum. Discuss the day to day life in a Blue Shirt.
chickenwittle
Posts: 2088
Joined: 15 Nov 2009, 09:43
Gender: Male

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by chickenwittle »

GRS wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 20:52
Woody Guthrie wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 18:10
thedonkey wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 17:52
How can productivity be maintained by a reduction in hours to 35, when deliveries can't be completed with the current hours?
By improving the indoor productivity which lets be honest is a s**t show of inefficiency in most offices.

Deliveries don't have to get longer when the indoor gets shorter , the whole day can get shorter instead.

We've let Royal Mail drive the narrative on automation right from when sequenced mail became a thing that the only way to maintain full-time jobs was to increase deliveries, now I think most of us realise we've come to the end of the road with making duties longer, we need a change of direction.
Dream on…….most of the stresses on delivery have come about since the shorter working week came in. Any responsible business would fit a person’s amount of work around their available working hours. RM have cut the working hours then increased the amount of work to be done in that time. The amount of stress this has caused people is beyond belief, I’m not just talking about walk lengths but what you do in a day such as - scam items during prep, less staff so more sorting, scanning on delivery, customer collects, age verification, later starts so scurrying round doing 1pm specials before starting delivery etc etc etc.
Now I know people will say just work your hours etc etc and not clear your work but the stress comes from dealing with just that and having to go to the COM EVERY day and having to go through the same conversations. Remember not everyone will find it easy to have that conversation and confrontation on a daily basis.

Basically if anyone thinks a shorter working week will happen or help people then IMO they are mistaken as all you’ll do is increase the stress.
If it means we would work a shorter week , it’s a good thing , all the other stuff you mentioned is Royal mails issue , not mine .
postmanzach
Posts: 515
Joined: 18 Jul 2011, 15:01
Gender: Male

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by postmanzach »

chickenwittle wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 17:29
ted_e_bear wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 17:06
chickenwittle wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 16:48
ted_e_bear wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 16:29
Well I'm up for that providing they create duties you can comfortably complete in the time provided.
I can never understand this comment when talk of a 35 hour week comes around, oh but I can’t complete now etc. so what , we have a start and finish time.
I was suggesting less actual work to accommodate a shorter working week, surely that's a better scenario than the usual nothing that happened historically, pretty sure most people would like to have to do less work for the same pay.
It’s irrelevant because Royal Mail will always be looking for savings so shortening duties for a 35 hour week wouldn’t last long , they would soon start lapsing duties again so you will never have a doable duty, regardless of hours.
And? Why would that affect you? You’d be getting paid more as the clash said it’s a pay rise, and bigger rounds means more work fails it’s only going to affect the managers bonus.
chickenwittle
Posts: 2088
Joined: 15 Nov 2009, 09:43
Gender: Male

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by chickenwittle »

postmanzach wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 08:40
chickenwittle wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 17:29
ted_e_bear wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 17:06
chickenwittle wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 16:48
ted_e_bear wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 16:29
Well I'm up for that providing they create duties you can comfortably complete in the time provided.
I can never understand this comment when talk of a 35 hour week comes around, oh but I can’t complete now etc. so what , we have a start and finish time.
I was suggesting less actual work to accommodate a shorter working week, surely that's a better scenario than the usual nothing that happened historically, pretty sure most people would like to have to do less work for the same pay.
It’s irrelevant because Royal Mail will always be looking for savings so shortening duties for a 35 hour week wouldn’t last long , they would soon start lapsing duties again so you will never have a doable duty, regardless of hours.
And? Why would that affect you? You’d be getting paid more as the clash said it’s a pay rise, and bigger rounds means more work fails it’s only going to affect the managers bonus.
It wouldn’t affect me in the slightest, read my post properly, I’m all for a 35 hour week , the workload is royal mails problem , not mine.
Londonsburning
Posts: 1018
Joined: 09 Oct 2024, 18:14
Gender: Male

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by Londonsburning »

chickenwittle wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 09:33
postmanzach wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 08:40
chickenwittle wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 17:29
ted_e_bear wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 17:06
chickenwittle wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 16:48
ted_e_bear wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 16:29
Well I'm up for that providing they create duties you can comfortably complete in the time provided.
I can never understand this comment when talk of a 35 hour week comes around, oh but I can’t complete now etc. so what , we have a start and finish time.
I was suggesting less actual work to accommodate a shorter working week, surely that's a better scenario than the usual nothing that happened historically, pretty sure most people would like to have to do less work for the same pay.
It’s irrelevant because Royal Mail will always be looking for savings so shortening duties for a 35 hour week wouldn’t last long , they would soon start lapsing duties again so you will never have a doable duty, regardless of hours.
And? Why would that affect you? You’d be getting paid more as the clash said it’s a pay rise, and bigger rounds means more work fails it’s only going to affect the managers bonus.
It wouldn’t affect me in the slightest, read my post properly, I’m all for a 35 hour week , the workload is royal mails problem , not mine.
"Performance issues" :left:
nuisance
Posts: 215
Joined: 06 Oct 2016, 12:57
Gender: Female

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by nuisance »

This can only work for people who can think in terms of time, not workload.

Anyone who feels accountable for their workload will just be under increased pressure to complete the same (or if the pattern continues) a bigger workload in less time.

I maintain that this job should not be measured in terms of time. What a lot of us can, or should, take on is not determined by time, but rather our physical effort, energy and cost to overall physical/ psychological well-being. That's why walk overtime payments have always been met according to workload (loops), not hours.

People keep claiming that RM is heading for gig economy tactics but in this sense it's moving away from them to a system that best rewards employees who do as little as possible within a set number of hours. Reduce that set number of hours and the productive will be pushed harder and the lazy will complete even less.

That's a very inefficient, negative-growth way to go, so yeah, that one's probably coming soon.
kazardaimenu
Posts: 1391
Joined: 13 Apr 2022, 19:11
Gender: Male

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by kazardaimenu »

It’s a good idea I just don’t know how they would measure it and it really can’t work with park and loop. If your regular partner went sick and you get a 2 day in new starter you’d be getting paid the same but your day would be way longer.
Londonsburning
Posts: 1018
Joined: 09 Oct 2024, 18:14
Gender: Male

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by Londonsburning »

nuisance wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 14:53
This can only work for people who can think in terms of time, not workload.

Anyone who feels accountable for their workload will just be under increased pressure to complete the same (or if the pattern continues) a bigger workload in less time.

I maintain that this job should not be measured in terms of time. What a lot of us can, or should, take on is not determined by time, but rather our physical effort, energy and cost to overall physical/ psychological well-being. That's why walk overtime payments have always been met according to workload (loops), not hours.

People keep claiming that RM is heading for gig economy tactics but in this sense it's moving away from them to a system that best rewards employees who do as little as possible within a set number of hours. Reduce that set number of hours and the productive will be pushed harder and the lazy will complete even less.

That's a very inefficient, negative-growth way to go, so yeah, that one's probably coming soon.
How much OT do you get paid for a 'loop' nowadays? Some of our walks have 12-14 loops and some have 6-7. We get paid anything between 4 and 6 hours OT for a row depending on how desperate management are on any given day lol
Mr Rush
Posts: 3143
Joined: 05 Aug 2011, 14:27
Gender: Male

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by Mr Rush »

nuisance wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 14:53
a system that best rewards employees who do as little as possible within a set number of hours.
The company turned it into office work in which the aim is to stretch out your workload to 5PM, likely because warming a chair is all they know. One of the most attractive elements of the job was Job & Finish. It was introduced for a reason, after all.

For every instance I say 'I used to be home for two hours by now', it keeps me going to know within my heart that management say 'I used to be on the golf course for four hours by now'.
The machine stops.
SMS1969
Posts: 983
Joined: 28 Jun 2021, 11:36
Gender: Male

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by SMS1969 »

Londonsburning wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 18:45
nuisance wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 14:53
This can only work for people who can think in terms of time, not workload.

Anyone who feels accountable for their workload will just be under increased pressure to complete the same (or if the pattern continues) a bigger workload in less time.

I maintain that this job should not be measured in terms of time. What a lot of us can, or should, take on is not determined by time, but rather our physical effort, energy and cost to overall physical/ psychological well-being. That's why walk overtime payments have always been met according to workload (loops), not hours.

People keep claiming that RM is heading for gig economy tactics but in this sense it's moving away from them to a system that best rewards employees who do as little as possible within a set number of hours. Reduce that set number of hours and the productive will be pushed harder and the lazy will complete even less.

That's a very inefficient, negative-growth way to go, so yeah, that one's probably coming soon.
How much OT do you get paid for a 'loop' nowadays? Some of our walks have 12-14 loops and some have 6-7. We get paid anything between 4 and 6 hours OT for a row depending on how desperate management are on any given day lol
We aren’t allowed any deals whatsoever. The time that you clock out is your OT that’s it. Crap really.
chickenwittle
Posts: 2088
Joined: 15 Nov 2009, 09:43
Gender: Male

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by chickenwittle »

SMS1969 wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 19:43
Londonsburning wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 18:45
nuisance wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 14:53
This can only work for people who can think in terms of time, not workload.

Anyone who feels accountable for their workload will just be under increased pressure to complete the same (or if the pattern continues) a bigger workload in less time.

I maintain that this job should not be measured in terms of time. What a lot of us can, or should, take on is not determined by time, but rather our physical effort, energy and cost to overall physical/ psychological well-being. That's why walk overtime payments have always been met according to workload (loops), not hours.

People keep claiming that RM is heading for gig economy tactics but in this sense it's moving away from them to a system that best rewards employees who do as little as possible within a set number of hours. Reduce that set number of hours and the productive will be pushed harder and the lazy will complete even less.

That's a very inefficient, negative-growth way to go, so yeah, that one's probably coming soon.
How much OT do you get paid for a 'loop' nowadays? Some of our walks have 12-14 loops and some have 6-7. We get paid anything between 4 and 6 hours OT for a row depending on how desperate management are on any given day lol
We aren’t allowed any deals whatsoever. The time that you clock out is your OT that’s it. Crap really.
Nobody in my office would do overtime if that rolled out nationwide .
chickenwittle
Posts: 2088
Joined: 15 Nov 2009, 09:43
Gender: Male

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by chickenwittle »

Londonsburning wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 12:57
chickenwittle wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 09:33
postmanzach wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 08:40
chickenwittle wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 17:29
ted_e_bear wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 17:06
chickenwittle wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 16:48
ted_e_bear wrote:
17 Apr 2025, 16:29
Well I'm up for that providing they create duties you can comfortably complete in the time provided.
I can never understand this comment when talk of a 35 hour week comes around, oh but I can’t complete now etc. so what , we have a start and finish time.
I was suggesting less actual work to accommodate a shorter working week, surely that's a better scenario than the usual nothing that happened historically, pretty sure most people would like to have to do less work for the same pay.
It’s irrelevant because Royal Mail will always be looking for savings so shortening duties for a 35 hour week wouldn’t last long , they would soon start lapsing duties again so you will never have a doable duty, regardless of hours.
And? Why would that affect you? You’d be getting paid more as the clash said it’s a pay rise, and bigger rounds means more work fails it’s only going to affect the managers bonus.
It wouldn’t affect me in the slightest, read my post properly, I’m all for a 35 hour week , the workload is royal mails problem , not mine.
"Performance issues" :left:
Feel free to check my PDA guvnor.
postmanzach
Posts: 515
Joined: 18 Jul 2011, 15:01
Gender: Male

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by postmanzach »

chickenwittle wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 22:12
SMS1969 wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 19:43
Londonsburning wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 18:45
nuisance wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 14:53
This can only work for people who can think in terms of time, not workload.

Anyone who feels accountable for their workload will just be under increased pressure to complete the same (or if the pattern continues) a bigger workload in less time.

I maintain that this job should not be measured in terms of time. What a lot of us can, or should, take on is not determined by time, but rather our physical effort, energy and cost to overall physical/ psychological well-being. That's why walk overtime payments have always been met according to workload (loops), not hours.

People keep claiming that RM is heading for gig economy tactics but in this sense it's moving away from them to a system that best rewards employees who do as little as possible within a set number of hours. Reduce that set number of hours and the productive will be pushed harder and the lazy will complete even less.

That's a very inefficient, negative-growth way to go, so yeah, that one's probably coming soon.
How much OT do you get paid for a 'loop' nowadays? Some of our walks have 12-14 loops and some have 6-7. We get paid anything between 4 and 6 hours OT for a row depending on how desperate management are on any given day lol
We aren’t allowed any deals whatsoever. The time that you clock out is your OT that’s it. Crap really.
Nobody in my office would do overtime if that rolled out nationwide .
it did roll out nationwide awhile back with siso. Your dom is getting to pay overtime to peope that have already clocked out, he must have powerful friends above him to be still doing that. Its fraud.
chickenwittle
Posts: 2088
Joined: 15 Nov 2009, 09:43
Gender: Male

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by chickenwittle »

postmanzach wrote:
19 Apr 2025, 01:09
chickenwittle wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 22:12
SMS1969 wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 19:43
Londonsburning wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 18:45
nuisance wrote:
18 Apr 2025, 14:53
This can only work for people who can think in terms of time, not workload.

Anyone who feels accountable for their workload will just be under increased pressure to complete the same (or if the pattern continues) a bigger workload in less time.

I maintain that this job should not be measured in terms of time. What a lot of us can, or should, take on is not determined by time, but rather our physical effort, energy and cost to overall physical/ psychological well-being. That's why walk overtime payments have always been met according to workload (loops), not hours.

People keep claiming that RM is heading for gig economy tactics but in this sense it's moving away from them to a system that best rewards employees who do as little as possible within a set number of hours. Reduce that set number of hours and the productive will be pushed harder and the lazy will complete even less.

That's a very inefficient, negative-growth way to go, so yeah, that one's probably coming soon.
How much OT do you get paid for a 'loop' nowadays? Some of our walks have 12-14 loops and some have 6-7. We get paid anything between 4 and 6 hours OT for a row depending on how desperate management are on any given day lol
We aren’t allowed any deals whatsoever. The time that you clock out is your OT that’s it. Crap really.
Nobody in my office would do overtime if that rolled out nationwide .
it did roll out nationwide awhile back with siso. Your dom is getting to pay overtime to peope that have already clocked out, he must have powerful friends above him to be still doing that. Its fraud.
Local agreements have always been the way with Royal Mail.
Alfietherat
Posts: 75
Joined: 08 Feb 2011, 17:08
Gender: Male

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by Alfietherat »

While your at it, what happened to the four pillars agreement? 😑
sindba
Posts: 1447
Joined: 05 Feb 2012, 20:27
Gender: Male

Re: Is it time to revive the 35hr week?

Post by sindba »

Alfietherat wrote:
23 Apr 2025, 19:08
While your at it, what happened to the four pillars agreement? 😑
Everything went pear shaped because the absolute clowns at the CWU agreed to a "no strike" clause in their legally bound agreement.

So once we went on strike, the agreement was invalidated, we had no legal backup and RM could do whatever they wanted.