Royal Mail bosses need to 'get a grip' of the situation at the local Ormskirk office says a councillor for the town.

Coun. Adrian Owens was speaking after residents contacted him about the Covid outbreak in the office and the resulting lack of post deliveries.

This morning the OWL councillor told QLocal: "My first thoughts are for the staff who have come down with Covid-19 at the Ormskirk Royal Mail office and for their families; also for their colleagues who have had to self-isolate as a result.

"Several numbers have been mentioned to me, but whatever the precise figure, it seems that a very large percentage of the mail staff at the office are now off work as a result of this cruel virus.”

“Bosses need to ask how so many staff had to self-isolate after the first cases were announced. Other Royal Mail offices haven’t seen the same disruption. Management are supposed to ensure controls are in place so that staff are kept apart as much as possible. They have a duty to their staff to keep them safe."

Councillor Owens then turned to the impact on mail deliveries, saying “Now, through the knock-on effect, residents are contacting me expressing concern that they haven’t received any post for 10 days.

"Not everyone uses email or looks at social media. Many older people in particular could have critical mail relating to health matters held up in the post.

"It’s time the local management at Ormskirk Royal Mail employed additional temporary staff to clear the backlog. It’s not fair on those staff still at work or returning shortly from illness or isolation to shoulder the whole burden and residents need to receive a half-decent service.

“I have written to complain to the Royal Mail. I understand some residents have also complained to our MP and I trust that she will investigate fully what is going on and get Royal Mail to get their act together”, he concluded.

Originally Posted by rogerblaxall

Royal Mail bosses need to 'get a grip' of the situation at the local Ormskirk office says a councillor for the town.

Coun. Adrian Owens was speaking after residents contacted him about the Covid outbreak in the office and the resulting lack of post deliveries.

This morning the OWL councillor told QLocal: "My first thoughts are for the staff who have come down with Covid-19 at the Ormskirk Royal Mail office and for their families; also for their colleagues who have had to self-isolate as a result.

"Several numbers have been mentioned to me, but whatever the precise figure, it seems that a very large percentage of the mail staff at the office are now off work as a result of this cruel virus.”

“Bosses need to ask how so many staff had to self-isolate after the first cases were announced. Other Royal Mail offices haven’t seen the same disruption. Management are supposed to ensure controls are in place so that staff are kept apart as much as possible. They have a duty to their staff to keep them safe."

Councillor Owens then turned to the impact on mail deliveries, saying “Now, through the knock-on effect, residents are contacting me expressing concern that they haven’t received any post for 10 days.

"Not everyone uses email or looks at social media. Many older people in particular could have critical mail relating to health matters held up in the post.

"It’s time the local management at Ormskirk Royal Mail employed additional temporary staff to clear the backlog. It’s not fair on those staff still at work or returning shortly from illness or isolation to shoulder the whole burden and residents need to receive a half-decent service.

“I have written to complain to the Royal Mail. I understand some residents have also complained to our MP and I trust that she will investigate fully what is going on and get Royal Mail to get their act together”, he concluded.

how long does it take to train these temporary staff ?
by which time the regular staff are back and could do with the over time
which would be a far better conclusion

Originally Posted by rogerblaxall

Royal Mail bosses need to 'get a grip' of the situation at the local Ormskirk office says a councillor for the town.

Coun. Adrian Owens was speaking after residents contacted him about the Covid outbreak in the office and the resulting lack of post deliveries.

This morning the OWL councillor told QLocal: "My first thoughts are for the staff who have come down with Covid-19 at the Ormskirk Royal Mail office and for their families; also for their colleagues who have had to self-isolate as a result.

"Several numbers have been mentioned to me, but whatever the precise figure, it seems that a very large percentage of the mail staff at the office are now off work as a result of this cruel virus.”

“Bosses need to ask how so many staff had to self-isolate after the first cases were announced. Other Royal Mail offices haven’t seen the same disruption. Management are supposed to ensure controls are in place so that staff are kept apart as much as possible. They have a duty to their staff to keep them safe."

Councillor Owens then turned to the impact on mail deliveries, saying “Now, through the knock-on effect, residents are contacting me expressing concern that they haven’t received any post for 10 days.

"Not everyone uses email or looks at social media. Many older people in particular could have critical mail relating to health matters held up in the post.

"It’s time the local management at Ormskirk Royal Mail employed additional temporary staff to clear the backlog. It’s not fair on those staff still at work or returning shortly from illness or isolation to shoulder the whole burden and residents need to receive a half-decent service.

“I have written to complain to the Royal Mail. I understand some residents have also complained to our MP and I trust that she will investigate fully what is going on and get Royal Mail to get their act together”, he concluded.

I think Coun Owens just likes moaning and seeing his name against everything
It wouldn't bother me to receive my mail every other day to help them through difficult times. Leave our posties alone and go and pick some litter

UPDATE: Royal Mail have confirmed this afternoon that additional temporary staff are being hired. That will support existing postal staff and help to get postal deliveries back closer to normal.

Self isolation is 10 days, we havent had any mail for well over 2 weeks so management should have sorted something out by now surely, the poor staff returning will now be overwhelmed!!

Originally Posted by Adrian Owens

UPDATE: Royal Mail have confirmed this afternoon that additional temporary staff are being hired. That will support existing postal staff and help to get postal deliveries back closer to normal.

So we can give it 1/2 days before we see a plethora of bottom licking articles with OWL taking full credit for this then.