Questions for Angard/Reedglobal?

Post by **POSTMAN** » 25 Oct 2017, 22:17

If you have any questions you need answers to please post them here, I am contacting Reed/Angard this week with a couple of my own.
Feel free to add yours and let others know as well......you never know.

There seems to be problems with break times and non shifts correct?

If you want to go into more detail you can PM me in confidence.

tabact · Post by **tabact** » 26 Oct 2017, 12:07

I think one of the main issues is the fact that Angard won't respond to queries on break entitlements. You might get an intitial response if you query why we get less breaks although AWR qualified but when you get asked to email a particular person whom you assume will give you an answer to any questions don't expect a reply. The people who actually contact you for shifts will trot out the line that it is built into your hourly rate and that's why it is higher. if you say OK then how much is added on to the basic hourly rate to compensate for unpaid breaks? That's when it all goes quiet.

The problem is Angard staff are basically RM staff on zero hour contracts kept at arms length so RM can say they don't use zero hour contracts and Angard are the RM manager responsible. Due to the nature of the Angard/RM relationship if there is any kind of issue with RM managers cutting breaks Angard will always support the RM line and deny any responsibilty for what breaks you get as long as you get a 30 minute break on the longer shifts.

AC2490 · Post by **AC2490** » 26 Oct 2017, 20:17

Good luck

Im still waiting on a reply from over a month ago

You could ask why ongoing angard staff are the last people to know or be offered Christmas work?

So far all ive heard is "We will let you know" which isn't the most convincing of answers, was ignored last year for this work last year and had to phone constantly to get any kind of shift

Or ask why a lot of angard staff are lied to about the amount of work available , or simply not told of work available because "oh we only needed 10 people"

Some weeks ive had one shift and speaking to others they have been in at least 2-4 nights that week, i know this isn't the case all the time but it gets out of hand when im struggling to afford a taxi home and others are working 30+ hours every week

intelligentsia · Post by **intelligentsia** » 26 Oct 2017, 21:00

AC2490 wrote:Good luck

Im still waiting on a reply from over a month ago

You could ask why ongoing angard staff are the last people to know or be offered Christmas work?

So far all ive heard is "We will let you know" which isn't the most convincing of answers, was ignored last year for this work last year and had to phone constantly to get any kind of shift

Or ask why a lot of angard staff are lied to about the amount of work available , or simply not told of work available because "oh we only needed 10 people"

Some weeks ive had one shift and speaking to others they have been in at least 2-4 nights that week, i know this isn't the case all the time but it gets out of hand when im struggling to afford a taxi home and others are working 30+ hours every week

One wonders if they actually use this quoted tracking software? Or is it down to who you know at the mail centre? Problem is there are so many at the Angard call centre who also work for reed.co.uk who also place workers at other workplaces! Angard employment policy changes all the time

Apparently I was told by a Kirsty (who has since left) at Angard that each Angardee is "tracked" by shift software which counts all shifts worked by each employee so that AWR is not lost by that particular employee. Hence if the system is working correctly and fairly each employee is warned if they are coming close to losing AWR status by not working for 6 weeks?.. but one wonders what the actual AGREED SYSTEM between shift managers and ANGARD IS? There is so much gossip and misinformation that workers are left continually confused and frustrated

Angard call centre staff do not seem to have a clear policy for mail centre staff. It depends on who you speak to...

nothingatthemoment · Post by **nothingatthemoment** » 26 Oct 2017, 23:22

OK Here are some for you Mr. Postman

1) Regarding Tea-Breaks- Why are Angard workers given considerably less T-Brakes than RM staff for completing the same shift , when it clearly states in AWR Regulations that Agency workers are entitled to the same treatment/breaks as comparable Full time staff.

2) Unpaid Breaks-Rm staff breaks are paid for Angards are not ( I don't buy the BS that they are worked into the hourly rate as this would be impossible to implement and possibly Illegal)

3) Constant recruitment- Although it clearly states that Angard workers are on zero hours contracts, there has in the last 12 months been a huge increase in the amount of "new starts " being recruited by Angard Staffing, now this would be fine if everyone were getting the the same amount of shifts , but this isn't the case , I have heard of AWR qualified staff going 4-5 weeks without any shifts , while those not AWR qualified been given 3-4 shifts per WEEK , this is surely an AWR avoidance tactic, which is also against AWR regulations .

4) Constant Lies About Shifts- Angard consultants constantly lying about shift availability , oh it's very quiet at the moment , then make a few phone calls and find out 40 people were in on the day you phoned.

5) Angard "Favourites"-Seems to be that Angard operate a favouritism policy where-by a certain number of Agency staff seem to be offered shifts every week regardless of how busy or quiet it is.

Just a few of the many questions unanswered by Angard.

The Cat · Post by **The Cat** » 30 Oct 2017, 16:14

Will ID badges be mailed out for Angard people working at an MDEC thus year or will we have to go to the MDEC?

When will the calls/texts be made?

As an Angard worker of several years' standing I know there are often problems & delays but I would welcome any clarification.

FWIW I've been "hired and start date agreed" for days

Post by **rogersh** » 30 Oct 2017, 19:50

tabact wrote:I think one of the main issues is the fact that Angard won't respond to queries on break entitlements. You might get an intitial response if you query why we get less breaks although AWR qualified but when you get asked to email a particular person whom you assume will give you an answer to any questions don't expect a reply. The people who actually contact you for shifts will trot out the line that it is built into your hourly rate and that's why it is higher. if you say OK then how much is added on to the basic hourly rate to compensate for unpaid breaks? That's when it all goes quiet.

The problem is Angard staff are basically RM staff on zero hour contracts kept at arms length so RM can say they don't use zero hour contracts and Angard are the RM manager responsible. Due to the nature of the Angard/RM relationship if there is any kind of issue with RM managers cutting breaks Angard will always support the RM line and deny any responsibilty for what breaks you get as long as you get a 30 minute break on the longer shifts.

I posted this some years ago & the reason given for higher rate was to pay you for the extra holiday pay - With no reference to breaks in the equation

I have obtained this response from payroll.
Be aware angard have advised that shift allowance is not included in
gross when calculating holiday pay.

RESPONSE FROM ANGARD

"The calculation of 12.07% is, as you have correctly stated, based on the
statutory minimum. As this calculation is built into our software for all
workers across Angard we are unable to change this when you qualify for
AWR. Because of this, your AWR rate is worked out slightly higher than
permanent workers at Royal Mail, to pay you in lieu for the extra holiday
pay that you are now owed."

NW11851 · Post by **NW11851** » 31 Oct 2017, 08:22

Why can’t we have passes that open the entrance door?

As AWR Staff we are not on a par with RM employees.

It’s ok if going in at the same time as others but if summoned urgently, it’s degrading to have to phone a Manager to beg for admittance.

(I believe that this was raised in an Industrial Relations Tribunal court case last year and the judge commented that Angard were not following thE AWR rules. As he didn’t issue a specific directive, Angard simply ignored him.)

Post by **Lockardian** » 03 Nov 2017, 01:06

Postman

I sent you a PM with a couple of queries, which I hope you received.

Will you posting any feedback from Angard in this thread/forum?

nothingatthemoment · Post by **nothingatthemoment** » 03 Nov 2017, 15:23

Lockardian wrote:Postman

I sent you a PM with a couple of queries, which I hope you received.

Will you posting any feedback from Angard in this thread/forum?

Hope so , otherwise the thread is a bit pointless.
Another question is why are all Angards phone lines now answering machines that no-one answers ?

Post by **Lockardian** » 04 Feb 2018, 23:42

Postman - any update on our queries?

Post by **POSTMAN** » 05 Feb 2018, 11:45

Apologies I haven't had the time, will do it as soon as I am able to.

nothingatthemoment · Post by **nothingatthemoment** » 23 Feb 2018, 18:09

POSTMAN wrote:Apologies I haven't had the time, will do it as soon as I am able to.

Any updates on this ????????
Most Angardees are having a hard time of it at the moment .

paddyd · Post by **paddyd** » 23 Feb 2018, 18:13

ask them why the same faces [usually foreign ones] are in upto 4 nights a week an the rest struggle for 1 shift

pointless i know

ang_3853 · Post by **ang_3853** » 02 Mar 2018, 09:57

Simply put; you need to have worked there a long time, & be competent, to have any success out of Xmas period. I say a long time (1+ year) because you get to show your face and that you're dedicated. There's no point investing in someone who may or may not be there next week.