2nd class | Bah, humbug! Staff 'disappointed' as Royal Mail downgrades Christmas perk

It may feel like a Blue Christmas for some Royal Mail workers this year, after the postal service downgraded a seasonal perk given in thanks for their hard work over the festive period.

In previous years, such as 2024, Royal Mail gave staff a book of 50 or 100 first-class stamps. But for 2025, the gift has been downgraded to a second-class book.

Staff are reportedly “disappointed” with the decision, which comes ahead of the first Christmas season after parent company International Distribution Services (IDS) was taken over by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský.

Scrooge! Workers ‘disappointed’ by perk downgrade

Royal Mail’s quiet decision to downgrade the end-of-year perk has gone down poorly with staff, who received the book earlier than expected.