Delays at sorting offices stoke concern about postal disruption in run-up to Christmas

Delays at post depots have raised fears of disruption in the run-up to Christmas, as the Royal Mail confirmed that staff absences are now at twice the levels of 2018.

Postal bosses have insisted that deliveries are operating normally across most counties, despite rising staff sickness and isolation rates.

However, it has said it is experiencing difficulties at more than 20 sorting offices, including Bristol South, Farnborough in Hampshire and Warrington.

Royal Mail is facing additional pressure this year due to the boom in online shopping caused by successive lockdowns.

Earlier this year the company said it was keeping on thousands of workers it had initially taken on temporarily to help with the increased volume.

Yet, a Royal Mail source with knowledge of its operations described the situation in delivery offices as “horrific” and “much worse than a normal Christmas”.

Sickness levels higher than normal

The source told the BBC: “The combination of people off with stress or Covid, combined with increased demand to send goods by post and the build-up to Christmas, had led us here. Sickness levels are around twice the normal levels.”

Earlier this week, the Communication Workers Union warned that postal staff are now facing a “very difficult” time and blamed the current situation on “managerial capability issues”.

The Royal Mail said it was providing targeted support for delivery offices that were struggling.

A spokesman said: “Deliveries are operating as normal across most of the country.

“We aim to deliver to all addresses we have mail for, six days a week. In a small number of local offices this may temporarily not be possible due to local issues such as Covid-related self-isolation, high levels of sick absence, resourcing, or other local factors.”