Catch a company car driver on the phone?

[Sh4rkyBloke]

what did they sack him for? (i.e. what 'charge'?).

Genuine questions - not trying to bait anyone and/or troll

 

[spindrift]

what did they sack him for? (i.e. what 'charge'?).

Genuine questions - not trying to bait anyone and/or troll

Bringing the company into disrepute.

He worked with his ex, ignored her, chatted up another girl at the Xmas party then went to the bar. Turned around and his ex was bending the new girl's ear. Mate stormed over and asked if his ex was telling the new girl about the time she gave him the clap. They wrestled, pissed over, mate was carpetted the next day and sacked a week later. Took advice and was told it was grounds for dismissal.

My mate got a job at twice the salary and sent his ex a bouquet!

 

[spindrift]

Fell over, I should say.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Was it on company grounds though? If so then I can see there's no real argument, but if it's elsewhere how can they both not be cautioned for public disorder type offences as they are both involved - to sack one of them smacks of discrimination.

edit - possibly not the right word to use (discimination) but victimisation maybe?

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Here, we've all been written to informing us that driving a 'company' vehicle & illegally using a mobile phone will be treated as a disciplinary offence.

Again, company vehicle - no issue... but in your own car???

 

[spindrift]

in your own car???

yeah, sure, that's different I guess.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

That's what I'm confused about - the OP just said fired for being caught on a phone whilst driving (paraphrased) but I'm intrigued as to exactly *how* they can do this if you're in your own car and not in work time.

Sounds very dodgy to me.

Again though, I'm not defending these idiots, and if this works to get them off the phone then I'm all for it. The law certainly doesn't seem to be stopping them!

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Oh, hang on - I've just reread the OP and he says Company Drivers... which basically means they are driving for the company and probably in a Company vehicle... in which case the company has every right to fire them.

Ignore me - maybe I should learn to read a bit better!!!

 

[spindrift]

in which case the company has every right to fire them.


Mmmm, but would they?

Seriously?

Ideal Scaffolding of Woolwich hung up on me when I called them about their emplyee flicking fag butts and gum at me, I imagine their response to a mobile report would be the same...

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Ah yes, I didn't say that they *would* dismiss them, but they would (I guess) be more legally allowed to get rid of them.

In the case you mention above they were just clearly a bunch of tw@ts.

 

[spindrift]

Actually, Googling shows some companies do treat it as a disciplinary.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

The company I currently drive for have made sure all the lorries have hands free kits in (yes, I know there's a theory that talking on these is also dangerous, but they're trying), but I have worked for people who just give you a phone and expect it to be answered whenever they ring, whatever you're doing. I suspect you'd get no joy reporting a mobile incident to a company like that, sadly.

 

[hackbike 6]

I think i'd prefer hands free than some comedian with one hand on the wheel yapping and not concentrating.

Then again they aren't concentrating fully with a hands free but you know what I mean,no?

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I think i'd prefer hands free than some comedian with one hand on the wheel yapping and not concentrating.

Then again they aren't concentrating fully with a hands free but you know what I mean,no?

I do. Personally, I find I can drive happily on the motorway at three in the morning with the phone stuck to my ear, but never around town. But I am capable of talking to the dashboard (when the phone is in the hands free cradle) and still concentrating on the road. I'm well aware that this is anecdotal and is contradicted by any number of studies, but even on the hands free I check the mirrors before moving and remain alert to other road users and people on the pavement.

 

[HLaB]

I only found out the other day but our company H&S policy is that mobiles must be switched off in transit. I don't drive often enough for it to be an issue and the few times mine has rung when I'm driving I let it ring out and phone them back when I've pulled over in a safe spot. Maybe in future I'll switch it off afterall that's what the policy says.