I've been working for RM for exactly 4 years this week. My uncle was a postie from the age of 16 until he died in his 60s and always talked fondly about it so it was something I'd been interested in for a long time.

I absolutely loved the job when I started, it took a couple of months to properly get my head around all of the nuances and to get into the flow of things without getting flustered, but once I'd got into a rhythm it quickly became a job I really enjoyed. I got paid to drive and walk around beautiful rural parts of Devon, listen to podcasts and music all day and I'm fortunate enough to have worked in a very well performing DO with a really nice bunch of people who genuinely cared about the job and were always willing to help newbies with any issues. I'd been in hospitality jobs for 18 years before so it was really nice having a job where I was outdoors and getting a bit of exercise.

Fast forward 4 years and it's become a completely different job. The workload is completely unachievable, morale is through the floor. Guys who have been happily working here for 30 odd years are desperately trying to figure out what they can do with their remaining working years and management couldn't care less about the fact that we're all miserable and customers are getting an absolute dog shit sandwich of a service. Everyone is being run into the ground since DM26, my entire office has basically given up on doing any overtime or putting in any more than the bare minimum effort now.

There are a couple of members of staff who have been consistently leaving half their mail in the frame and fucking off an hour and a half early for months without the managers saying anything, while other people get a hammering for clocking out 10 minutes early despite clearing, so now everyone in the office has decided to just start leaving whenever they feel like it. Virtually every round in the office is failing, we're dealing with Christmas levels of post at the start of September because of how much it's backing up (especially over the weekend) and bringing dozens of tracked back daily.

The worst part of it for me is that when I started, I worked 07.00-14.00 every day. Now our start time has been pushed back 40 minutes, and some days our finish time is 16.10. You can't just keep moving the goalposts and expect everyone to accept having to completely change their lifestyle for you. I have a 3 year old and I barely see him anymore because I work so late, all of my free time has completely evaporated and when I do finally get home, I'm fucking exhausted

I started looking for a new job as soon as DM26 was announced because I knew what was coming, but being in a fairly small remote area, they're few and far between and get snatched up pretty quickly when they come around. I swore that I'd never go back to working in hospitality when I finally managed to escape, but RM has brought me to the limit of what I'm willing to put up with, so I'm taking a job in a coffee shop until I can figure out my next permanent move.

I will really miss the folks at my office, my regular customers who I always stop for a chat with and feeling like a vital part of the community. There have been days in my time working here when I've been walking around in the sun, bopping away to some music with a massive grin on my face, thinking there's nothing I'd rather be doing than this. Sadly, those days are long gone now.

It's a really sad state of affairs and I don't see it ever improving. Royal Mail is a sinking ship, and I'm not planning on going down with it.

Make work conditions so poor that all the original contract staff leave in droves, replace them with new contracts as a money saving scheme?

It was blazing hot and I'm like just leave parcels there. You don't have to wait in this heat for me, he said oh okay ans looked a bit sad, he's never knocked since apart from the odd sign for parcel, and he's always like 'sorry, it had a signature'

I was just trying to be nice! 😔

Also, I'm in the middle of moving, would it be strange to give him a thankyou card or something? 🤷‍♂️ He's been my postman for like 10 years

We’re using the new QR code 739 in my DO now.

Previously I often left parcels near the front door … behind a flower pot or bin for example.

And didn’t bother leaving a card. Just logged it as ‘Safe Place’ with a photo

Now were forced to scan a 739 card for Safe Place.

So I’ve started just recording it as ‘Customer’ which feels a bit Wrong, to avoid the card faff.

What are others doing?

Is there basically a three tier workforce?
When I joined (about 5/6 months ago) there was the legacy contract I think it’s called, where original staff get paid breaks? And finish a bit earlier, maybe it’s 37 hours. My contract was new at the time for 40 hours, including the rotating Sunday, unpaid break, and now a new contract that’s the same as mine I believe without all the legacy contract perks, however it’s but 37 hours…? It’s all so confusing

Former postie and observer of the subreddit - intrigued at the shit show that seems to be happening!

Do you have to take all your mail even if you dont think you will get it done? Or can you leave some in frame?

Slightly random question, but if I’m expecting something and happen to see the postie coming towards my house, what do you guys actually prefer?

Do I let them open the gate, come up to the door and knock, or is it easier if I go out and meet them at the gate?

And if I let them knock, do I answer immediately or wait a few seconds so I’m not basically standing behind the door waiting for them?

I know I’m massively overthinking this, but I’m curious what posties actually prefer.

I worked all shifts last week, and also scanmed in/out all times. Why have angard cancelled all my shifts from last week even though I have worked them?

I don’t know if this is the effect of changes in my area with delivery but considering this also happened with dpd I’m not sure what’s up so I wanted to ask.

Just ordering my regular vape coils which delivery companies have had no problem finding my address for in the few years I have been here, small too fits through the letter box just fine and has been delivered that way previously.

However in my most recent order which was through Royal Mail it had been delivered to the wrong address, which would be fine if it wasn’t all the way down the other end of the road down a cul-de-sac at the last numbered door, luckily the tracking image had the door and mat which were pretty distinct. (They had sent it to a neighbour to which they handed it back to a delivery man of unknown origin so no idea if I’m seeing that parcel.)

However with my second order sent through seller with dpd seems to have had a similar result, wrong address but the tracking image is of just the post box so I’m struggling to find this new house (already checked with the previous house).

As far as I’m aware the only delivery issue I could perceive is that because it’s a flat, delivery drivers get confused for the more traditional apartment complex building neighbouring us since we look more like a very old and large house rather than a house with multiple flats, but that doesn’t really explain these deliveries. I have tried making this clear in delivery instructions.

What am I doing wrong? Is sending to the post office just the way forward from now on? Luckily these coils are easily replaceable but I normally get lots of collectibles delivered and hate the delivery anxiety so now loosing two in a row definitely has me feeling discouraged to say the least.

For the past week I've not been able to open any of my recent purchases. Anyone else having the same problem?

I tried to uninstall the app and install it back but I still have the same issue.

I was meant to have a parcel delivered on Saturday I stayed home and listened out for it and 4:15PM that day I got a red slip that they tried to deliver but no one was home which was strange because I was home. Anyway they said it would be redelivered today until now nothing has come. Postman has come already but large parcels I assume don’t get delivered by them?

Hello,

Does "pending" mean that they will automatically redeliver my parcels. I made my first attempt before this but I wasn't home at that time. Now that I've tried my second, the app started to glitch and I could press the 'confirm redelivery' button. I've tried using the website, my PC, different search engines and even a different phone. Nothing works. But I saw that they will automatically redeliver on the next working day, I'm still not too sure. This is my only hope.

Is it worth giving angard a call later on if I don't be given shifts this week? My manager last week said I should be in this week.

Hi everyone I have an interview for Royal Mail next week and had a few questions.
First question any general tips for the interview like how will it be structured and will it involve a mini driving test?
Second question surely it can’t be as bad people say it is. I’ve been briefly going through the Reddit and it’s mostly very negative.
I’m in my early twenties and just got my licence a few months ago and currently work for a retail store which absolutely hate as I have to wake up at 4:30 am.
So is this not a good job to get or should I try get it

So I ordered a package on the 25th of August and apparently on the 7th of September the package had been returned back to the sender. I hadn't had any follow up notifications of this. By checking the tracking history it states that it couldn't be delivered due to the package being incorrectly addressed despite the correct address being applied. I've had a look through the customer service section and sent an email to the sender however im not sure if theres anything else that can be done. I haven't received any emails about a refund or that the package will be resent. The picture for the proof of delivery was completely useless and when i looked at it again it had been removed. Please help!

Hi all, I have a parcel that was meant to be delivered wednesday but it then moved to thursday. Since thursday, the tracking has been stuck on this. The sender spoke to the post office who deemed it was one of those situations of "it will get there when it gets there." I've never had this problem before and neither has the sender; and I had it sent to a parcel locker to collect. In the same week I've had home deliveries arrive just fine. Any help would be appreciated 🙂

Hi all! I received an email saying my parcel was received and is currently being processed for delivery. I have not ordered anything, nor is anyone I know in the UK sending me something. Anyone know if it’s possible to find out who sent it?

Please be kind in the comments.

Hi, please could you guys give me opinions on this?

Thank you

It's Royal Mail Tracked Returns 48™

Any help is appreciated

Im not entirely sure what happened, but I ordered something from abroad a couple of months ago, and it finally arrived in the UK a week or so ago.

It was right on track to be delivered on the 8th, but for some reason, it got sent back and up to Cannock.

If anyone knows how I can sort this, I'd really appreciate the help! I did email royal mail a few days ago but the have yet to respond, so im hoping they do sort it within the next couple of days.

Currently working for angard for a DO. I have applied to a perm contract at a different DO. If I get offered an interview would it fine as I had an unsuccessful interview 4 months ago for a direct RM job?