The "How was your day" thread.

Celgar · Post by **Celgar** » 30 Nov 2018, 23:22

Christmas is admittedly a bad time to start being a postie but hold your nerve and before you know it will be January and it will become more manageable. I started about twenty one years ago on the 9th of December. I don't really remember what it was like in terms of volume of mail but it probably was different to nowadays. I had a DOM telling me I was too slow who tried to get me to resign so some things never change in RM do they. You will get more proficient at the job but it takes a bit of time to get there.

south London postie · Post by **south London postie** » 01 Dec 2018, 01:17

Funny thing for me is the past 2-3 days have been easier because my frame hasn't been completely prepped (short-staffed early doors). There is a small back log but nothing too serious, it just seems have been enough to make the week better. As others are saying, a lot of packets not yet gone out.

We heard today of an office near us with 150 Yorks of backlog. Totally run out of space. Sunday work everywhere if you want it. Pretty much unlimted overtime. Feels like the whole network is under great pressure.

crimson king · Post by **crimson king** » 01 Dec 2018, 06:47

Wakewaterblue wrote:I had 2 REALLY bad days for a newbie.

My frame was partly prepared as it was heavy parcel wise, chap said I had a lot of parcels as I could see. Prepared it and guy next to me was seriously overloaded so manager asked me if I could do overtime just 1 road on his. I wanted to try some overtime for once so said yes as postie a nice chap (!) so went on walk and got a call from manager to say I had 2 more parcel sacks left behind! Guy didn't tell me about that, manager said it wasn't my fault but could I come back after walk and do the tracked. THEN do the overtime road. So did route in super fast time, then I got back to grab the tracked, whizzed down the road in my trolley to go back and do same roads all over again and got a call to say come back! I was already knackered so ran trolley back and he told me to leave tracked and then just do the overtime road so I got dropped off as its far away, did it and had to walk back (which was ok actually) however it was raining and pitch black. Finished at 5pm.

Next day, I had the parcels left over from day before minus the tracked as someone else did those. My route however was HEAVY from black friday PLUS all the ones from day before and I asked for help. Nope. I was told to just get a driver to drop some bags off to me.

So I went off with my full trolley, 2 bags hanging on my shoulders and 1 bag balanced on top of trolley, with 4 bags in the van for later. 7 bags!! I left the depot so late that I was never going to win. Driver dropped off my bags, christ knows what I did with them, I was balancing them on trolley, hanging them where I could and asked him to take my returns as on my route 90% are never in so they go back. WHAT A SHAMBLES!! I got back at 5pm and my manager was asking why the hell I was just getting in as she didn't know the situ and I explained and she said "Oh Christmas is only for a few weeks... do your best!"

I am not going through that every day. I saw guy next to me had just cut off and left 3 bags on his frame. No one was doing it on overtime.

If you cut off every day and bring stuff back, how do you ever catch up? It just gets added to the next day and the next.

So i am going to be more vigilant and tough and just cut off (which will be every day if it's like this) do you need to tell manager? They HATE it when I last said it obviously but surely its only you who really suffers as it just adds to your round every day?

Long post apologies but I need to know how to get through this hell as a newbie!

Bloody hell, no wonder we have such a huge turnaround of newbies in this job.

On top of everything everyone has offered, I'd just say try not to let it get to you and ruin your own Christmas. If you can get through this one, things will get better. Last Christmas was my first working for Royal and I didn't like it much. This one is much better as I'm not on probation and don't feel I have to bend over backwards and do everything asked of me. In fact, it's all pretty chilled so far

You've come to the right place for advice though. Keep strong and try not to let them grind you down. Remember, it's your Christmas too.

Wakewaterblue · Post by **Wakewaterblue** » 01 Dec 2018, 15:43

Thanks everyone for the support.

I had a day off on Friday, totally emotionally fed up and dreading going in today. I went in and it wasn't too horrendous but after having read the cutting off process download which was kindly mentioned, I was a bit more clued up on what I can and can't do and what the manager can and can't do.

I knew it wasn't all going to fit in the trolley and I knew I would run over 2pm so I told him I was likely to need to cut off but would confirm once I had sorted my parcels to be sure. I was sure so told him, he just said leave a row on the frame but that there was no one to do it on overtime. In my mind I was feeling like I should now do it and then I wouldn't have it left to do on Monday, which I am sure will be hell anyway but then along comes a postie who had been given it on overtime. Hooray!

So the process does work and I stood my ground finally. I won't be doing this all the time as I think it's a balance, however I am a fast and fit postie and I feel I have proven myself already on the hard working side of things so every now and then cutting off is going to happen. I am still in probation, I've been there for 7 weeks now.

I heard today a newbie who started after me is in trouble as they crashed their hire van into a tree, he was a support driver! Oooops. Not sure what will happen to him!

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 01 Dec 2018, 19:08

Wakewaterblue wrote:

I knew it wasn't all going to fit in the trolley and I knew I would run over 2pm so I told him I was likely to need to cut off but would confirm once I had sorted my parcels to be sure. I was sure so told him, he just said leave a row on the frame but that there was no one to do it on overtime. In my mind I was feeling like I should now do it and then I wouldn't have it left to do on Monday

100% understand why you would worry about the mail not getting delivered and it being there for Monday. However, its really not your problem to clear a frame just because its excessively busy. Your only obligation is to work your contracted hours. If you want to do some OT thats one thing, but try not to feel guilted into it, the fact that theres a lack of people to cover such work isnt on your shoulders, its down ultimately to management and resourcing. This has been an issue at this company for many years, and there is an incorrect expectation by some managers that everyone should be willing to do OT everyday during this period. Many people were more willing to do it in the past but due to later finishing times and longer delivery spans and poor treatment of workers theyre either too busy, too tired or demoralized where they dont want to extend, whatever the reason it is though, its their RIGHT to not be forced into OT.
If you didnt clear it today and its there still on Monday, well frankly its there Monday and the manager will have to make arrangements based on whether youre prepared to do OT and how much work comes in (its not going to slow down anytime soon) or find someone willing to do it on overtime or even bring in temps.
Glad to read that you coped a bit better with it today !

Mr Rush · Post by **Mr Rush** » 01 Dec 2018, 21:23

Lapsing on in two postcodes in the office. In December. I've seen it all now.

yellowbelly · Post by **yellowbelly** » 02 Dec 2018, 15:17

Wakewaterblue wrote:Thanks everyone for the support.

I had a day off on Friday, totally emotionally fed up and dreading going in today. I went in and it wasn't too horrendous but after having read the cutting off process download which was kindly mentioned, I was a bit more clued up on what I can and can't do and what the manager can and can't do.

I knew it wasn't all going to fit in the trolley and I knew I would run over 2pm so I told him I was likely to need to cut off but would confirm once I had sorted my parcels to be sure. I was sure so told him, he just said leave a row on the frame but that there was no one to do it on overtime. In my mind I was feeling like I should now do it and then I wouldn't have it left to do on Monday, which I am sure will be hell anyway but then along comes a postie who had been given it on overtime. Hooray!

So the process does work and I stood my ground finally. I won't be doing this all the time as I think it's a balance, however I am a fast and fit postie and I feel I have proven myself already on the hard working side of things so every now and then cutting off is going to happen. I am still in probation, I've been there for 7 weeks now.

I heard today a newbie who started after me is in trouble as they crashed their hire van into a tree, he was a support driver! Oooops. Not sure what will happen to him!

Good call WW - just make sure you follow the procedure - just a hint though, I've found that it really riles some Lino's (which some might
not be too concerned about

) if you bluntly say 'I'm cutting off' which is the well worn shop floor terminology but as a newbie it's better to say 'I'm not
going to be able to complete my delivery today because.........' and then let the manager decide what action to take. Don't feel guilty about not being
able to complete - it's the manager's job to resource correctly and that's what many of them fail to do........

pinkpaws · Post by **pinkpaws** » 02 Dec 2018, 16:53

I'm a newbie, 4weeks in but I'm really lucky, my manager is lovely always asking if im ok and how am I settling in, been put on the same round for 6wks with àn old hand who really protects me, I'm quite fast so I don't hold him up at all and we always finish on time or early but don't know how I would have managed with such a negative experience.

Wakewaterblue · Post by **Wakewaterblue** » 03 Dec 2018, 18:31

pinkpaws wrote:I'm a newbie, 4weeks in but I'm really lucky, my manager is lovely always asking if im ok and how am I settling in, been put on the same round for 6wks with àn old hand who really protects me, I'm quite fast so I don't hold him up at all and we always finish on time or early but don't know how I would have managed with such a negative experience.

That's great you have someone supportive to work with and you get along. There is an old hand at my depot who ALWAYS checks on me and that has made a huge difference to my experience. I have a few great managers, all 8 of them who seem to interchange. We have about 120 posties at our depot and I feel like my world has only existed in one tiny frame area of it but I am sure in the new year I will be moved about route to route and get shafted and mixed up!

I've been stockpiling bags under my frame ready for this week's hell. Trouble is i pack my route backwards as that is how I was taught and all I see others pack forwards. This really confused me when I was trying to figure out what wouldn't fit in my trolley and what part of the route bag wise to give to the driver and quickly as he waits for me! No point packing the start of my route into bags as nowhere to put them firstly and I need them to start the route!

So I am going to just give them all of my last road in bags. I am now thinking out loud but knowing what to do on heavy days and how to make sure I could secure the bags IN my HCT was important once dropped off so they don't get nicked.

Today was okay, pretty light and first back 1 hour early. I think this is the calm before this week's storm!

antcpfc · Post by **antcpfc** » 04 Dec 2018, 14:47

Lightest December day in years for letters. Parcels not too bad.
Well cop it tomorrow no doubt.

Post by **IloveMYredTROLLEY!** » 04 Dec 2018, 17:56

Didn't expect a Tuesday in December to be so light, yet bizarrely, there were the usual suspects in on early overtime to sort letters/packets at silly o' clock.

Expecting tomorrow to be an absolute shocker, especially given the weather forecast!

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 04 Dec 2018, 18:03

would have been lighter but we had previous days packets to clear so took us up to our time.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 04 Dec 2018, 19:31

Way quieter than what I'd expect during December, worrying if it's going to be trend through December

Wakewaterblue · Post by **Wakewaterblue** » 04 Dec 2018, 21:52

Very light on letters. Parcels were steady but evenly spread across all my roads for the first time instead of being absolutely hammered in one long road which normally kills me off. I finished minutes before finish time.

I am absolutely dreading tomorrow. Surely it is going to mental?!

Post by **CPTNemoUK** » 05 Dec 2018, 16:28

I am officially declaring that the worst day in the 5 years I've been working for royal mail.

. Really busy and VERY VERY VERY wet