UK Royal Mail managers to help clear Christmas postbag

Thousands of Royal Mail managers have been asked to work in sorting and delivery offices or even drive postal vans in the busy run-up to Christmas in a bid to cut costs, it was revealed today.

The organisation said it wanted managers to spend 10 days or more helping clear the expected huge festive postbag so it could cut back on the number of casual staff it employed.

Senior officials worked in sorting and delivery offices last year and the practice will be encouraged again in the coming months.

“This is about making Christmas a success for our customers,” said a Royal Mail spokesman. “Our managers have always been very willing to volunteer.”

The postal group is trying to make £50 million worth of savings in the next six months to hit profit targets which will trigger bonus payments of £400 per employee.

Operations director Tom Melvin has written to managers asking them to volunteer to sort or deliver post.

The Royal Mail spent £15 million last year hiring 22,000 casual staff in the run up to Christmas.