Contracts ?

[Postiepattie]

I’m currently on Mat leave. I work a civil service desk job and it’s horrible so I’m not looking forward to going back. I’ve been looking into working for RM. The management etc doesn’t sound too unfamiliar to what I deal with at my current job anyways. The upside to the postie job is being on my feet, walking about instead of being tethered to a desk.

There are vacancies at the moment but they all seem to be fixed term until March 2023. I assume this is to cover the Christmas period. Is there usually scope to make the job permanent or am I better waiting until something more secure comes up? I don’t want to leave a permanent job and then get laid off in March once my contract is up.

Another question about the RM position - it states that you are responsible for sorting your Mail. How do you sort your Mail in a way that it’s easier to deliver. Is there a system in place and do you have a route planner or are you expected to work it out yourself.

[gfte]

Edit: congrats on the wee one!

I quit as a permenant EO with DWP and started here last year. No permenant jobs get advertised, and they'll all be part time hours.

This is definitely a private company, but the union is more present and active than PCS.

The lower management I've experienced are fine, I'm sure itll be the same with anywhere, you can get arseholes or not.

It was definitely worth it.

Sorting: you may or may not have to sort your own mail as a part timer. If your office is as short staffed as ours though you'll get the chance to come in early (over time) and do it.
If you Google "royal mail frame" you'll see the set up. The route is already set out in order, you pop the mail in the slot for the house(s) and then bundle them together after.

(How this was allowed to be filmed I dont know, but here's a clip of a chap trying up on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU1wyW4TkSo )

You would get a day in the 'classroom' going over health and safety and all the same type of annual training vids youd have done with the civil service. Then youd watch someone for a day and by the end of the week youd have picked up more and more til you're doing it.

Or youd be on parcels and itll be a bit different with a route planner thing.

[Postiepattie]

Thank you!

Haha I’m currently an EO with DWP. You’ll be familiar with the trials and tribulations then

I joined the civil service to help people and of course it does come with job security and a great pension, wages are ok etc but I’ve cut my hours to part time only because I can’t stand being in the office. The management… the workload..being static all day staring at a computer screen. it’s just a nightmare. Plus I feel we don’t actually help anyone due to the higher ups having a different agenda.

Anyways, I figured at least with RM I can get out and about. I’ve seen bad things written about RM but most people seem to be happy enough once on their route.

Thanks for your reply. I will give that video a watch. I might speak to citizens advice and see what the deal is if I don’t return to the CS in regards to Mat leave, working notice etc I’m fine with working part time, I just don’t want to work part time on a fixed term contract and then get told I’m out of a job once the contract ends. That’s my biggest concern.

[gfte]

Plus I feel we don’t actually help anyone due to the higher ups having a different agenda.

All sounds very familiar, yes!

As I say, you get different managers in different offices, so maybe grab the posties round about you and see what they say.
As for the 6 month contracts, that's how they seem to recruit but who knows what will happen with recruitment in the current situation. It is a gamble, even if i/we/they were to say it was a sure thing. As you'll know, it means diddly squat until it's in writing. We just had our first kid 4 months ago, so I was kinda bricking it until I got made permanent at 6 months.

Here's a better youtube video: https://youtu.be/8pFd8DLcPIY
Postie sorting at 4m30s.