My cousin has applied to be a postwoman anyone work for them what are they like? So she can study in the afternoon the hours appear flexible.

Karen

My dad was a postman for 21 years and it worked out well as my mum worked afternoons so there would always be someone at home for me during the holidays.  He died about 8 years ago, but I'm guessing its still roughly the same

My dad used to get home at about 1pm, so that left plenty of free time for him to get on with all the things my mum wanted him to, like DIY etc.

Unfortunately, having to be up at 5am, to start at 6am, and being on his feet until about 1pm including walking a lot, meant the only thing he used to do in the afternoons was watch cricket and snooze in the chair until just before my mum got home ;-)

However, to be fair, he was in his 50's, and if your cousin has something she intends to be dedicated about, like study, I would say its probably ideal, as theoretically it does leave your afternoons free.

Except at Christmas of course, when overtime is virtually compulsory!

My boys' dad works for Parcelforce if thats any help - poo hours in poo weather but not bad money :rolleyes:
although hes now worked his way up to manager so doesnt have to go out in pooey weather.
Not much help really but the early starts are/were a pain

Our postman works for royal mail (funnily enough) but I know him well. Mostly he's finished by lunch but they are expected to cover for holidays and sickness so sometimes has to to extra rounds. They get free travel on the buses if in uniform so if she's on a bus route can zip around it quicker by cadging a lift up steep hills etc.

Husband's cousin recently took early retirement from Royal Mail. Yes - the hours can be good - but he was very glad to be leaving as the working conditions and the bad management were very stressful and he jumped at the chance to retire :)

Daisy

Yes, my family have a whole load of issues regarding the ill health and bad management, concerning the time my dad got ill and died so much I could write a whole essay.  He was also looking forward to retirement, just 2 years away.

However, if your cousin is young and fit and only wants to do it for a few years while she studies, as an option to be able to work a full-time job and study then it shouldn't be a problem.  If she's studying, I'm guessing she doesn't want to make being a postwoman a career path so she can get in, get the job done to finance her study then get out again! ;-)

My son is a postman at the moment having just graduated from uni, he's worked during the hols for the last 3 years he starts at 4 and can be home by 11, its 30 hours a week but he has problems with Sat working as his girlfriend lives in London and he can never have Sat off.I'll ask him what he thinks the pitfalls are.
Ange

Thanks all.
Anymore infor would be appreciated.
Yes it would only be why she studied it appears so no not a career path at all. The hours were what drew her too it.
Karen

I work for Royal Mail as a part time postman.  This is my third summer working there, I start at 5am, so get up about 4am, and I cover holidays.  Usually I am on a delivery for about 2weeks (the usual length of a postie's holiday) and then im moved onto another.  This usually works in my favour, as its nice to keep chopping and changing rounds for a bit of variety.  Sometimes it can get a bit frustrating though when you are on a nasty delivery, especially since when you are on a new delivery you tend to be much slower than the experts around you, and this can be quite frustrating.

The pay is good though, im on around £6 an hour.  If I finish early (sometimes around 10.00 on a good day) I get to go home, and if i finish after my scheduled finish (11am) I can claim overtime, which is time and a half.  I do quite enjoy working there, the office atmosphere is unique and very enjoyable.  Also, its nice to work on and be your own boss when you get out on the actual delivery.  The hours are ok, I find in the afternoons I can get very weary - sometimes I go for that nap and othertimes I hang on in there and collapse in bed around 8pm.  Yep, but working saturday really gets to me now, and this is why I am looking for something else.  Looking back, it has been a great little job for me working in the student holiday periods.  Ive just finished uni now though, so its now time to spread my wings a little further! 

All the best for your cousin's application :-)

Above post by Tom!

Actually, maybe the pay isn't so great is it.. but you do have a day off in the week. 

Tom

Have to agree with Tom about the atmosphere - my dad absolutely loved it and refused to give up his 'postie family'.  I grew up knowing a lot of the postmen and their families as they were always arranging coach trips, to the seaside, to theme parks, Christmas parties for the children.

Never heard of the one day off during the week though, that must just apply to part-time posties!

One of the downfalls I remember, and one which might affect your cousin, is the way holidays are worked out.  At the start of each year, each postman is given a sheet of 52 weeks upon which to select your chosen dates to take your holiday entitlement.  You submit it, wait a while and then you get given back your holiday dates for the year which are completely different to those submitted.  Your wife then goes bananas because you've either been allocated the most expensive time of year, or a time when you can't get the kids out of school...etc etc.

As your cousin may have exams to take this could prove awkward if he/she doesn't get her requested dates for holiday.

This arrangement for holidays is quite common in lots of work places - not just Royal Mail !! It has to be as otherwise everyone would want to take the summer months off :)

Daisy

I work for Royal Mail, and yes I'm usually home by 1pm unless I get asked to do overtime.
Things have changed a lot recently with single deliveries and we now do a 5 day week with a rolling day off, but you make up the time by doing your hours over the other 5 days.
It does mean that every 6 weeks you get a lovely long weekend  of both Saturday and Monday off.
It can ruin your social life because you are up so early and is very tiring to start with, but once you get used to it things are ok as long as you don;t mind the wet weather !!!!