Better bonus arrangement on the agenda for RM Customer Experience members
Postal, Royal Mail Customer Experience January 28 2020‘Better and fairer’ bonus arrangements could be on the way for over 900 workers in Royal Mail’s Customer Experience (CE) Division, after the union secured a joint review of targets & measures for the current scheme.
A small joint working group (JWG), consisting of senior management and 2 union nominees, is meeting this week and is aiming to have its recommendations agreed and set in motion within an eight-week period.
“While there is the possibility under the present system for a CE worker to earn up to £1,000 in bonus pay over a year – in reality, this rarely happens,” explains CWU assistant secretary Andy Furey.
“Last November’s payout, for example, was exceptionally low. Whilst this was clearly disappointing for our members on a positive note this provided evidence that it really is time for change.”
The union’s representations on this matter have now been accepted in principle and the company has agreed to enter the formal review process.
In a joint statement issued, Andy Furey and CE director Susan Howlet explain the reasoning, the timescale and the respective JWG objectives.
CWU reps Steve Keeley and Sara Wright will be joined by Susan Harvey CE head of central operations and the company’s commercial programme manager David Willows in the task of investigating the bonus scheme, looking at its weaknesses and putting together a series of recommendations for reform with the aim of delivering better bonus payments.
These JWG proposals will then be submitted to the CWU assistant secretary and CE director for their consideration with the plan being to introduce changes by agreement to apply from the start of the new financial year.
“Bonus payments should fairly reward all employees for their endeavours and offer a real incentive to drive up performance and productivity – while also being achievable and realistic, currently this is not the case hence the establishment of the Joint Working Group” says Andy.
“It’s our sincere hope that any new arrangements agreed will meet these key criteria and deliver a better and fairer bonus payment system to our hard-working members.”