Customers see red over sacking of Hawick white van woman

For the past four years, Mary Hill, 64, has distributed packages on behalf of Hermes, but she’s now been dismissed for what the German-based courier company describes as a “consistent failure to comply with service requirements”.

That falling-out centres on Mary, of Hillend Drive in Hawick, failing to provide customers with photographs of locations their deliveries have been left in.

Though that misconduct isn’t disputed, Mary’s sacking has enraged townsfolk used to seeing her over the years dropping off packages in Bonchester Bridge, Chesters, Bedrule, Cavers and parts of Weensland.

Many have contacted Hermes calling for its decision to be reversed.

Self-employed Mary says she is unlikely to appeal against her sacking but is grateful for the outpouring of support she’s been shown since.

She was helped by her husband Raymond, 65, with deliveries to Chesters and Bonchester Bridge and admits he had difficulties using the photographic equipment supplied by Hermes and failed to supply the pictures required.

Mary only took up the job after the state pension age for women was raised from 60 to 65, explaining: “My husband was doing Bonchester, and Hermes was wanting a picture of every place you left a parcel.

“He’d never used the camera before and he found it quite difficult, and because all the pictures were not being taken, they finished me. They took some of the ones I’d done, but not the ones he’d done.

“I’ve known the customers for years, and they were happy with our service, and I have the local knowledge to know where all the places are. We’ve done it that long now.

“The customers are up in arms. I’ve had a lot of messages of support, and I was nearly in tears reading them.

“They were happy with the work and I can’t see why it has to change, but Hermes insist it has to.

“I got a phone call at the end of May saying I had to improve. I said I couldn’t do it because he couldn’t use the machine. He’s 65 and not up on this technology.

“It was done one way successfully for years and I don’t see why it had to change if the customers were so happy with the service.

“I took this job when the pension age was raised for women. If the government hadn’t changed the pension age, I wouldn’t have been working anyway.

“I was looking for something simple to do but it has become quite hard in the last few months.

“We would deliver here, there and everywhere.

“I was thinking about an appeal but I don’t expect to get anywhere. I would take the job back as long as it was the same round.”

Supporters of Mary angered at her sacking have taken to social media to protest.

Lynn Archibald posted: “It’s terrible, Mary. You were one of the good, reliable couriers.”

“I’m so sorry to hear this. I have never had a problem with you getting things to me always on the day or even earlier. You were one of the best. I will be emailing Hermes,” added Wendy Johnstone.

Lyn Irvine wrote: “I think this is awful. We, as a family in the Weensland area, always got delivery of our parcels and even in the current situation, you always knocked on the door and made sure we had received them. This is absolutely shocking. You worked very hard and don’t deserve this.”

A spokesperson for Hermes said: “We can confirm that this self-employed courier will no longer be delivering on behalf of Hermes following a consistent failure to comply with service requirements such as providing customers with safe place photos of their deliveries.

“It follows a warning and several discussions, and the courier has been informed of the appeals process for this decision.

“There will be no impact on customer deliveries or collections as a new courier has now taken over this round.”