What is it like as a TNT postal worker?

[DGP1]

I can't believe there's been a fight and I had nothing to do with it

I really must be losing the plot

[POSTMAN]

Can i ask a question menca?
Is this new job part of the TNT Post trial in London?

Yes it is, I'm not sure of what became of the trial at liverpool but I'm hoping (Have been assured) given that my performance is up to scratch I will be hired full time perm.

I know you haven't had a particularly warm welcome on the board but personally i would be grateful if you could keep us updated on your experiences.
It would also be interesting to know what they are paying but i understand if you want to keep that to yourself.

Well, it's alright I guess, can look after me just fine. =)

Pay would be £7.10 an hour. Basic under performing would be NMW only. Pay increases would be up to £8.10-50 and held there unless you get promoted of course. Get 28 days paid holiday each holiday year, statutory sick pay for more than 3 days, good pension scheme, Right allowance programme for travel if needed and get various bonuses also. Until I start I can't comment on the training quality, workload, working environment or other positions pay rates etc. I'll post an update in the near future if it is any use to you or others I guess.

Yes keep us informed if you could,this is very interesting for us.
Dare I ask as well for you to tell your colleagues about us.

Our other motto on here is ,keep your friends close...

[fng]

I've not been so entertained in a long time, this is far better than eastenders.

[arnold cheshire]

probably a lot easier than being a royal mail postal worker

[menca]

Here is the update you mailed me about postman, this place slipt my mind completely, good thing you reminded me. Taster week this week - 10 hours to come. Very flexible and booked me around my job experience placement and uni classes.

Quality training imo - don't know what you normally get in comparison, would be nice to know.

Day 1: Classroom based training at JCP building. A group of 30-40 at a time. Photos taken, intro to Health & safety, Security, clothing, attitude, work place vids (very detailed and cheesy lol), a bit of group work, demos of how to pick up boxes and for us to perform. Lots of signing. Engaging, far from boring and repetitive 6-7 hours.

Day 2:Trained by a professional team of cyclists at a huge emptied car park and later in a busy streets and junctions. Groups of 20 at a time. level 1 and 2 training. No cutting corners , very detailed and to the point. Day after, went out and bought my own two wheeler and haven't used my car or bus since. A guys first time cycling crashed a few fences violently and was asked to repeat. After all that, he was rebooked for another session. I felt bad for him. 6-7 hours.

Day 3: Depo intro by manager/assistant and other buddies. Lovely peeps. Taken out in groups of 5 + one of the three I mentioned. 3 hour route. Shown what to expect, taken through diff scenarios and how to deal with them. Later given the delivery pack (detailed maps, addresses, delivery directions etc) and each is to take a turn leading the way and ask question if needed. No post delivered. Once returned to depo - shown how to sort our mail, much simpler than I thought it would be. 4-5 hours

Day 4: Ran out of time on day 3, so we were booked to finish of. Given two routes (part of my perm route assigned to me), told to go out and make notes. Did so, first one went well, second route got lost (lol those darm UNAMED roads/streets drive me crazy ). Made it through and back an hour late.

Day 5: Which is today, picked up uniform and hit uni class.

Downfall...I was the only female employee I saw through out. How is the female to male ratio in RM? Thought it was a strange thing to begin with, never been in an all male environment.. Got over it on day 2.

[Stormproof]

How many items will you be delivering on the bike?

[menca]

TNT employees are to be pitied rather than pilloried, so best give her a break....

Pitied, I sure hope this job turns out of better standards than the equivalent job at RM, just so I can come here and rub it in your face. :vcfo





Just to keep to my word

[menca]

How many items will you be delivering on the bike?

290 a route, we get two routes a round. Don't mark my words, haven't yet started.

[POSTMAN]

Thanks for the updates,keep us posted,especially when you start posting.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

How many items will you be delivering on the bike?

290 a route, we get two routes a round. Don't mark my words, haven't yet started.

Jealous.

Our pay appears better but our "routes" are 600+ delivery points - and today I did easily 1200-1300 letters and 40 odd packets.

M/F ratio a first glance it appears the same - we have just over 200 posties here and I think roughly there are about 10 to 15 are females.

Thanks for the update and please visit again it is very interesting to see what the competition is doing, and how they treat their staff as well.

[menca]

Done a few days of work - so far it's ok. Saw some RM postal worker, seemed like he was power walking almost breaking into a jog to me. Bum, feet and arms sore...

The waiting was horribly boring on the first day. The place was packet with people. I think they've under estimated how fast people will sort their mail and hit the road before the second set of workers came in. Keep in mind it's everyone's first day. Team leader/Assistant/buddies were friendly, welcoming and helpful. Knew what was going on and guided us through the process flawlessly. I came in at 9:40am. Majority of the time I spent waiting for someone to finish their packing so I can start. I left the depo at 12pm. Had two routes and each had approximately 280-300 letters to deliver. Took me 6-7 hours to finish, should of been no more than 2 each lol.. When lost I had a number to call. Used twice maybe, the feed back was great and got me back on track. My Ipad helped me too. Some peeps cam back early and given extra to do to fill their time. Paid over time.

The following days were better organised, less time wasted waiting for a clear spot, if any at all. Everyone getting to know each other including the manager. Relaxed atmosphere. One thing that is starting to annoy me is having to do EVERY single thing by the book so to speak. We have so many things to sign and fill out for each route and it gets tiring. I guess that's the price we have to pay to get to work outside in the RAIN! I think the weather didn't hold back and gave me a good old soaking a few times. I was drenched before I had the chance to wear my water proof kit so I didn't. xD My timing has improved, I came in on time once in the 5 days that I worked. We get to keep the same rounds each time, so that's good. Paid over for the time without having to ask.

[menca]

How many items will you be delivering on the bike?

290 a route, we get two routes a round. Don't mark my words, haven't yet started.

Jealous.

Our pay appears better but our "routes" are 600+ delivery points - and today I did easily 1200-1300 letters and 40 odd packets.

Oh wow, you have to carry most of that right? Carrying just a quarter of mine is uncomfortable but doable. I have mostly magazines and things of that size.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

How many items will you be delivering on the bike?

290 a route, we get two routes a round. Don't mark my words, haven't yet started.

Jealous.

Our pay appears better but our "routes" are 600+ delivery points - and today I did easily 1200-1300 letters and 40 odd packets.

Oh wow, you have to carry most of that right? Carrying just a quarter of mine is uncomfortable but doable. I have mostly magazines and things of that size.

No that was 8 bags - 7 being replenishments on route. Done in just under 4 hours IIRC.

I remember once a very quiet Wednesday I had to count the letters in my frame - it was 500 total and 10 packets = quietest day ever. Done in 2 hours that day.

[POSTMAN]

Update?
How you getting on?