Reducing hours after 65 + .

Smiller · Post by **Smiller** » 27 Dec 2018, 17:57

When I turned 65 I approached my manager to ask if I could reduce my hours ,he said that he would ask his manager. This came to nothing and now iv been told that it will be reviewed in the new financial year .I don't see why I have to finish working all together when my body is telling me carry on but reduce your workload.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 29 Dec 2018, 22:29

Congratulations on finally getting on here at the Young Age of 65 Smiller.

I think your suggestion is reasonable. I believe it's the way to go for Older Posties.... keeping them in the job but reducing their hours, if they're drawing some of their pension they shouldn't be too badly off financially.

I discussed this with our DOM and he shined the RM spotlight on it from the Management end. The problem with you reducing your hours is: IF they have to take on another Postie to cover those hours they'll have to pay the Tax, NIC, Holiday Pay & sickness cover for that person.

Personally I just think it's "Lazy Management", I'm sure most of those hours could be absorbed by other PTers looking for more hours. The only glaring problem could be paying out extra sick pay..... but surely most of us don't have that much time off, and the situation could be monitored?

We had two FT Posties that both wanted to halve their hours, and basically have a "Job Share" on a duty, but they were told No. With the recruting problem... and I'm sure we've got one.... and the problems associated with the heavier workloads on older colleagues it would make sense for the CWU & RM to at least look at this idea.

jd9442 · Post by **jd9442** » 29 Dec 2018, 23:26

Doctors note to reduce workload
Sorted

Post by **aiden01** » 29 Dec 2018, 23:50

jd9442 wrote:Doctors note to reduce workload
Sorted

How?? They rarely listen when you are on sick with docs note..

Post by **rogersh** » 30 Dec 2018, 09:22

When I asked why "lost" hours are not replaced when staff leave my line manager replied "We are saving hours!".. Since then our RDC have had two intakes; 71 in 2016 & 10 last month.
Yet an employee (60+) has not been granted a request for a reduction in hours - to work 4 days instead of 5 - Told by another manager "cannot afford to lose the hours !"

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 30 Dec 2018, 09:51

Regarding recruiting there are people in this country who wish to work still. Most of the time the RM HR can't be a**** to communicate in reasonable time with the most enthusiastic applicants that would be excellent posties. They then understandably get a little impatient and accept jobs from elsewhere. This happens on nearly every round of advertising jobs in RM.

Post by **Navalron** » 30 Dec 2018, 10:05

Is there not a twenty five or thirty your p/t postie who wants fulltime. A straight deal with the next in line/senior associate to be made up seems the easiest way and there would be no increase in the budget for hours. Or is there something in place in RM to stop that. I can't think of any of why there would be...

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 30 Dec 2018, 11:18

Celgar wrote:Regarding recruiting there are people in this country who wish to work still. Most of the time the RM HR can't be a**** to communicate in reasonable time with the most enthusiastic applicants that would be excellent posties. They then understandably get a little impatient and accept jobs from elsewhere. This happens on nearly every round of advertising jobs in RM.

Very true Elgar. How many times have you talked to a local who applied for a job..... and never heard back?

Friend of mine (Ex-Marine) was VERY keen to get a local job, loved the idea of plenty of excercise, good work ethic, applied online..... and never heard back.

So he obviously went elsewhere, as in the real world we all need an income, and can't just hang around for RM HR to shift itself.

I believe they should have a system where locals can apply to their Local Delivery Office, and that Manager should be able to action it IF there's a Vacancy. This would also stop this ridiculous situation where Postie A has to travel to the next town, and passes Postie B travelling in the opposite direction (to his town), costing both of them Money for Fuel & Running Costs plus Time EVERY day!

Of course this doesn't bother RM because they basically don't give a shite, so long as there's enough Posties in A & Bs Delivery Offices!

As with Government the Centralisation of Management doesn't work in RM........ probably just an excuse for "Jobs for the Boys", half these idiots aren't required.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 30 Dec 2018, 11:27

Navalron wrote:Is there not a twenty five or thirty your p/t postie who wants fulltime. A straight deal with the next in line/senior associate to be made up seems the easiest way and there would be no increase in the budget for hours. Or is there something in place in RM to stop that. I can't think of any of why there would be...

You'd think this would be easy to do wouldn't you Navalron? However it probably requires "Common Sense", a commodity that's very rare among RM Managers.

As I mentioned before it's probably just a case of "Lazy Management", half these managers are quite happy just to sit in their offices all day playing on their idiot-phones. You would think they'd try and be a bit Pro-Active and try and improve their Delivery Offices/Mail centres wouldn't you? It's meant to be a Team Game FFS. Any manager, of any team, should be trying to improve it. Looks like RM are happy to just let their Teams languish at the bottom of the Lower Leagues.

park&loopy · Post by **park&loopy** » 30 Dec 2018, 20:53

Hi smiler
I was 65 last year and wanted to reduce my hours, I mentioned it to a 63 year old workmate who had 40 years service and asked him if he fancied job sharing his duty. He said "if you can sort it, count me in". When I approached our manager he said, when do you want to start.
We have now been doing it 3 months, we each take it in turns to work Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then have 7 days off. We are both enjoying the shorter working week.

philip.morford · Post by **philip.morford** » 31 Dec 2018, 10:14

last april a fellow postie and I dropped from full time to share a round 3days per week . it was agreed and in place within 3 weeks. week on week off. feel better pick up o/t sometimes. we are in our fifties and be planning to work till at least 67 . I believe this is the way too go if you can afford. we have had zero sick since started.

arnold cheshire · Post by **arnold cheshire** » 01 Jan 2019, 10:48

park&loopy wrote:Hi smiler
I was 65 last year and wanted to reduce my hours, I mentioned it to a 63 year old workmate who had 40 years service and asked him if he fancied job sharing his duty. He said "if you can sort it, count me in". When I approached our manager he said, when do you want to start.
We have now been doing it 3 months, we each take it in turns to work Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then have 7 days off. We are both enjoying the shorter working week.

Why do you both do three days each ? Do you get a rota week as well? How many hours do you get paid for ? Five day week working required and you are doing six days

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 02 Jan 2019, 17:07

park&loopy wrote:Hi smiler
I was 65 last year and wanted to reduce my hours, I mentioned it to a 63 year old workmate who had 40 years service and asked him if he fancied job sharing his duty. He said "if you can sort it, count me in". When I approached our manager he said, when do you want to start.
We have now been doing it 3 months, we each take it in turns to work Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then have 7 days off. We are both enjoying the shorter working week.

Glad it worked out for you.

Just goes to show... IF a manager can be bothered.... it can be done. Hope for others though.

Dorset Plodder · Post by **Dorset Plodder** » 02 Jan 2019, 17:08

philip.morford wrote:last april a fellow postie and I dropped from full time to share a round 3days per week . it was agreed and in place within 3 weeks. week on week off. feel better pick up o/t sometimes. we are in our fifties and be planning to work till at least 67 . I believe this is the way too go if you can afford. we have had zero sick since started.

Glad it worked out for you too PM.

Noet of RM manage to move that fast.

nickbsmooth · Post by **nickbsmooth** » 06 Jan 2019, 09:58

I'm surprised it's such a problem for years the company were trying to buy down contracts from 40 to 30 etc