I gots to know!

[Mr_danger]

Hi I'm new and about to start as a delivery post man with driving and would be highly appreciative if you good people could answer any or all of the following;-

What is the delivery functional supplement and to whom does it apply?
Being on a 6 month fixed term will I have a pay review if offered another contract after 6 months?
Is there a ot rate or should I just be grateful of the hours?
Will I start on the 8.58 ph or is there a training wage?
What's the best way of getting my contract extended?
Is it compulsory to wear tiny shorts in all weathers or have the health and safety nuts put an end to that?

Thanks in advance!

[fishtank]

Hi I'm new and about to start as a delivery post man with driving and would be highly appreciative if you good people could answer any or all of the following;-

What is the delivery functional supplement and to whom does it apply?

It's a supplement that applies to members of staff working or tied to the delivery function.
£21 ish...pro-rata.

Being on a 6 month fixed term will I have a pay review if offered another contract after 6 months?

Pay increases after 6 and 12 months.

Is there a ot rate or should I just be grateful of the hours?

Yes but it's s**t and not worth worrying about.

Will I start on the 8.58 ph or is there a training wage?

8.58 ph

What's the best way of getting my contract extended?

Sexual favours.

Is it compulsory to wear tiny shorts in all weathers?

Yes.
1980s football shorts will do.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome.

[Mr_danger]

Thanks. So would the £21 pro rata apply to me as I've no understanding of what the delivery function is, it's just lingo at the moment.

Is the pay review only for the first 6 and 12 month period or is it ongoing?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Yes

Delivery Function is anyone (with certain limitations which don't apply to you) working within a Delivery Office.

Pay review is not ongoing - you will receive the same pay as someone doing the same job for 40 years after 12 months of satisfactory service.

[Mr_danger]

So I started this week and so far so good. The round im learning is the depots only HCT round and it's almost identical to the paper round I had when I was a kid. The only bug bearer so far being a distinct lack of actual training. I'm basically shadowing and trying to pick up as much as I can but the chap I'm shadowing seems to take it for granted I understand all processes and is more concerned with finishing his round as soon as possible which is usually 1-2 hours early than showing me the ropes. Don't get me wrong I understand he's not benefitting from me being with him and there's probably a little resentment that I'm likely going to take his relatively cushie round over Xmas whilst he's put on to a more difficult run but it's frustrating being eager to learn the role and he's just tring to get me to go as fast as him without gaining any of his knowledge or skills.

Anyway I have another question. In my contract it states the reason for my 6 month fixed term is that the reorganisation of the business is likely to concur with my fixed term. Is this standard jargon for fixed term contracts or should I not get too comfortable?

[fishtank]

Is this standard jargon for fixed term contracts ?

Yes.
A fixed term contract legally has to have a start date,an end date and a reason why it's a fixed term contract.
The "reorganisation of the business" part is just its raison d'etre.

[clashcityrocker]

Is he supposed to be training you as a postman or is he just showing you how to do the duty?
If it is the former he is being paid £30/week so stop him and get him to explain anything you don't understand.
If it is the latter, get him to stop and explain anything you don't understand. Because if you f**k up when you are on your own it will be your job that is on the line.

Here are the main points to being a postie:
1. Know what a Special Delivery is, learn about the security of said SD and don't lose one.
2. Don't put your fingers through a letter box ever. Ask for a posting peg.
3. Make sure you know how to fill out a 739 card properly.
4. Don't doorstep any parcels. Don't get overexcited by Delivery to Neighbour yet.
5. Don't leave the HCT unattended unless you have to (flats etc)
6. Don't go near dogs. They bite.
7. Know what to do with a jury citation if you get them.
8. Do your D2D to specification. Everyone thinks it is junk mail but it is classed as live mail.
9. Take a meal relief, don't dehydrate and look after your feet.
10. Don't use a pedometer.

The rest of the job is, as Vince would say, froth.

[Mr_danger]

He's not a designated trainer as far as I'm aware, well I hope he's not. I'm just a bit worried because I'm carrying out the entire round out by myself on Friday and I've only had an hour on the rack and not handled any SD's or filled out any cards or operated the hand helds as of yet. I've tried to get him to let me take half the round out by myself tomorrow but he's reluctant due to me not doing any specials. I've alluded to my lack of confidence to the manager but I don't want to overstate the lack of training as I'm not looking to land anyone in it on my first week. Hopefully after tomorrow Itll be a lot more clearer and the only thing I'll have to worry about are those invisible houses and streets that are nigh on impossible to find! I suppose a baptism of fire will only help me to prepare for the approaching he'll of Christmas.

[immortaltechnique]

Just keep your cool Mr-Danger.

After 12 years in RM I have found that collegues who will be helpful are as rare as hens teeth, you will be much slower than the regular guy in all aspects of the job, everybody is when they start, take your time, make sure you put the right letter in the right door and post everything they give you, speed comes with time so don't get too anxious, stick to procedure even if a customer asks you to break from it eg " can I get my mail from you, I'm waiting for something" sorry no not allowed.

Best of luck

[Barbel]

Sounds familiar! I had the same when I started, the chap who was 'training' me made it known he wasn't happy me being with him. He just wanted to get home for 12.30 and I was slowing him down. No wonder many new posties don't last more than a couple of weeks.

[Mr_danger]

Well we've butted heads a couple of times now and it got to the point where I told him to stop repeating one word commands at me and to string some sentences together and he was much more tolerable when I was doing the round and he was just guiding me, probably because he'd resigned himself to going home on time instead of early.

After being taught my round over 3 days the inevitable happened on the Friday and I got put on a driving round in a different town! This was a great experience though as I felt like I picked more up from the two Posties on the new round in the one day than I had all week!