To not really feel sorry for postal workers?

[SpunkyBiscuit]

I get that their job has its challenges - bad weather, heavy loads and maybe not the best pay. But last time I checked, it’s still a stable job with decent conditions compared to a lot of others. They’re not working 12-hour shifts in a warehouse or dealing with life or death situations.

AIBU to think that, overall, they still have it relatively good? I know some will disagree but it just seems like they’ve got a solid deal compared to how rough things are for a lot of other workers right now.

Is there some background to this…?

Do you mean the Royal Mail ones delivering letters, the EVRI-type ones, or all in between?

Mainly Royal Mail but honestly I’ve heard the same tone of sympathy across the board - from Evri to delivery drivers in general. Just questioning how fair that is compared to people in far worse jobs.

My DH started a temporary job with Royal Mail a few years ago. He left within a couple of days because of the vile, racist bullying within the team. He's white British and the bullying wasn't directed at him but it was so appalling he couldn't stay there as it would feel like he was condoning it.

He left telling the boss and the agency his reasons. I wonder if things have changed.

It's shift work and not spectacularly well paid, but relatively stable compared to a lot of delivery work. It comes with pressure to deliver on time and difficulties adjusting to shift schedules as with a lot of other shift work jobs.
People are allowed to moan about their jobs.

Pressurised multi drop work in a congested city must surely be pretty stressful and thankless.

Ive no idea really/I also think that unless you have done that job .You cant really comment fairly .I mean I dont like cleaning my own house, and cant imagine being a cleaner for someone else .I think theres an awful lot on walking .carrying heavy bags ,avoiding dogs and so on with being a postie and like many jobs looks easy probably isnt!

Lots of delivery drivers are self employed some companies exploit that delivery people work sometimes up till 9pm and maybe started at 9 they have their packages to collect and then deliver i get it isnt "down the mines" but why do they need you to feel sympathy ?

Why would you question whether they need sympathy? Why that job over any other job? What's making you question this?

I think people working for the courier companies, like Evri, probably have a difficult time making any money out of it.

But Royal Mail postmen? Dunno, might be naive, but I always thought it looked quite a nice job really if you like to be outdoors. Our postmen always look well fit!

All Posties I know are finished for the day by mid afternoon and have options for over time when wanted.

Posties will start early though and.do shifts now because they are delivering parcels evenings and weekends. We seem to have a rota of maybe 4 posties for my street but I see them at different times,

Depends. If you are in a lovely suburb delivering then it could be a great job. Rural in winter / scary. In a city horribly busy, stressful and constant fear of parking tickets and driving offences just to do your job which is a necessity for society to function.

so yes YABU

That's a really low bar though isn't it?

By your reckoning, no-one should ever complain about anything as there's always someone worse off.

You're every government's dream.

From what I hear from my ex postie friend it's early starts, pressure in the sorting rooms before you go out on your round. They also wear tracker watches that monitor their movements and allow them certain amounts of time for each section of their job.

I guess they don't have it any easier than any other worker in this day and age.

My friend's sister is a postie and they're given a shift rota which they're told to stick to.

This means they have to work 1 Sunday in every 4 and the various weekday shifts mean they'll either finish at 2.30pm or 4.30pm.

Very little overtime but they're regularly expected to finish their round even if it takes them way past their official finishing time.

They're given a dressing down if they return from their rounds with letters or parcels, and yet they're often given far too many for the allotted time.

I have worked closely with posties and my husband used to be one. It isn't the worst job but it isn't as lovely as many believe it to be.

You start early. You spend time in a warehouse doing sorting before you hit the streets. You have to get your whole load from the sorting office to your transport singlehandedly without leaving it unattended.

Many on semi rural rounds end up using their own vehicles with no remuneration.

You are expected to average a 4mph pace, while carrying a heavy load, and if you don't it will be unpaid overtime.

You are out in all weather. You have no access to any facilities once you leave the office. Many properties have steps, awkward access, can be difficult to find, some have tricky gates, letterboxes at low level, letterboxes with strong springs.

Dogs, both loose and behind the door are a regular hazard. As are cats behind the door waiting to pounce and claw at anything they manage to glimpse through the opening.

Trips, slips, heavy lifting and road accidents are a problem. As is abuse from the public.

My DF was a postman in London for 26 years, Said it was the best job he ever had.

Basically your thoughts are if any jobs is seen as secure. You put up and shut up.

Are postal workers craving pity? I didn’t get the memo.

People forget that it's not about comparing between jobs.

It's about getting the working conditions and benefits and pay that employees should be getting.

I did wish people would stop pitting different vocations against each other.

Yes, let's make it a race to the bottom.

I think being a postal worker or a parcel delivery driver/person are really difficult and hardworking jobs. It’s certainly not a walk in the park! Hats off to the people who do those jobs.

Royal Mail was privatised. So it's the same old story...more profits at the top, shittier working conditions at the bottom. Death by a thousand cuts. It used to be a good job. Now it's not.

Well it can't be that great. Rumours has it there a 9 vacancies at our local sorting office and it's only a town of 10,000 people. (Obviously the area they cover is much greater).

That said, I'm not sure you can directly compare a Royal Mail delivery postal worker's job to that of Evri or Amazon. The former are paid a salary for set hours whilst the latter are paid per parcel.

I am always very appreciative of the couriers who deliver to me, including Royal Mail. They all get a bottle of wine at Christmas, and sometimes during the year too if they look very tired and stressed.