Royal Mail has confirmed it will 'no longer' deliver second class post on Saturdays, marking a significant change in its service. The announcement was made via a social media post, stating that over the coming months, second class mail will be delivered every other weekday instead of six days a week.
New Delivery Schedule and Rationale
According to Royal Mail's statement, 'Your 2nd Class letters and cards will be delivered every other weekday. While we’ll no longer deliver your 2nd Class mail on Saturdays, we’ll aim to get it to you within three weekdays.' The company framed the change as part of an effort to offer 'a more reliable and sustainable service shaped around how our customers send today.'
Royal Mail acknowledged the importance of mail in keeping people connected but noted that 'fewer letters are being sent these days,' which allows the company to focus on delivering 'in a more consistent and dependable way.' Customers are directed to royalmail.com/futureofletters for more information.
CEO Pay Controversy
The service change comes amid scrutiny of executive compensation. Martin Seidenberg, group chief executive of International Distribution Services (IDS) – Royal Mail's parent company – received £6.9 million in pay, bonus, and long-term incentive scheme awards in the year to 29 March. This is more than triple the £2.1 million he received the previous year, despite group profits slumping by a fifth.
Ofcom Investigation and Fine
In October, Ofcom fined Royal Mail £21 million for missing annual delivery targets, the third-biggest financial penalty the regulator has ever issued to any company. In June, Ofcom launched an investigation to determine whether Royal Mail has been prioritising parcel delivery over letters, a practice alleged by whistleblowers and unions but denied by the company.
Ofcom stated, 'In deciding whether Royal Mail breached its regulatory obligations, we will consider all relevant factors. This will include the question of parcel prioritisation, as well as identifying whether there were any exceptional events beyond the company’s control that may have affected its performance. Where we determine a breach of Royal Mail’s obligations during our investigation, we will consider whether to impose a financial penalty.'
