"mcp" wrote in message
...

Until about 5 years ago they were allowed to knock off early when they
finished their rounds. As a result many of them started well before
their official starting time.

.... and that was the "couldn't organise a ****-up in a brewery" indication
of the management, who, by putting a stop to that practice and insisting
that a full shift was worked, at a stroke removed the customer-friendly
aspect of the postal service, because now that there was no motivation
to get the work done early, it no longer is.