RTA- Main "A" Road Due To ICE
- Thread starter gb155
- Start date
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fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
2Loose said:
Oh Manchester Council does indeed have a green cycle friendly policy.... quote it to them GB155..........
They are pretty 'vocal' about it - http://www.cyclegm.org/ ...not that it's much good though
gb. Lots of sympathy for your little accident and I hope you are recovering.
I think you need to separate the 2 aspects; cycling to work and time off work. If you took 2 weeks of work, most organisations would start to investigate why. If you had an excessive amount of 'sick' during the year, they will warn you to improve your record. If you fail to do this, you can be warned as to your attendance record and can be sacked. A company only pay you to do a job, they do not want employees spending their time at home on the sick. If you are a member of union, I would speak to them.
With regard to cycling to work. That is your choice and as long as it does not impinge on your work or your attendance at work, there should be no linkage.
I think you need to separate the 2 aspects; cycling to work and time off work. If you took 2 weeks of work, most organisations would start to investigate why. If you had an excessive amount of 'sick' during the year, they will warn you to improve your record. If you fail to do this, you can be warned as to your attendance record and can be sacked. A company only pay you to do a job, they do not want employees spending their time at home on the sick. If you are a member of union, I would speak to them.
With regard to cycling to work. That is your choice and as long as it does not impinge on your work or your attendance at work, there should be no linkage.
OP
OP
gb155
Fan Boy No More.
- Location
- Manchester-Ish
Thanks for your comments everyone, I will look into the CTC angle with it.
Fozzy is right, MCC SAY they are big on cycling, the bike I was on was even funded by the cycle2work scheme
gavintc: although I see you point and understand, to give you an idea of my situation, before I started cycling I had 4 months off work due to my high blood pressure, heart problems etc etc, yet since then I have these 11 days off in the last 2 years.
Fozzy is right, MCC SAY they are big on cycling, the bike I was on was even funded by the cycle2work scheme
gavintc: although I see you point and understand, to give you an idea of my situation, before I started cycling I had 4 months off work due to my high blood pressure, heart problems etc etc, yet since then I have these 11 days off in the last 2 years.
stowie
Legendary Member
I guess no-one can give definitive advice since we don't know the circumstances. But the idea that they will take formal action for you being off work due to a cycle injury that obviously had you in hospital, seems ignorant and stupid.
If this is just one manager being a bit officious, and hasn't gone to HR, I doubt it will go formal - the manager might be an idiot who doesn't know employment law, but HR do. If HR are involved and it is a formal procedure, I would go straight to a union or employment solicitor, or even the CAB to get advise, as per the advice above.
I am sure the press would love the story that the guy who lost 17 stone cycling to work, and got an award from Manchester city council is now being disciplined by the same council and being told not to cycle! But I would advise caution on getting press involved - it is really the nuclear button.
BTW - I read your blog today and the BBC news story, what an inspiration! You have my admiration, if unfortunately, not your employees. I am a little overweight (1-1.5 stone) and have been procrastinating about cycling to work to lose it. Your story has motivated me to sort it out.
If this is just one manager being a bit officious, and hasn't gone to HR, I doubt it will go formal - the manager might be an idiot who doesn't know employment law, but HR do. If HR are involved and it is a formal procedure, I would go straight to a union or employment solicitor, or even the CAB to get advise, as per the advice above.
I am sure the press would love the story that the guy who lost 17 stone cycling to work, and got an award from Manchester city council is now being disciplined by the same council and being told not to cycle! But I would advise caution on getting press involved - it is really the nuclear button.
BTW - I read your blog today and the BBC news story, what an inspiration! You have my admiration, if unfortunately, not your employees. I am a little overweight (1-1.5 stone) and have been procrastinating about cycling to work to lose it. Your story has motivated me to sort it out.
ttcycle
Cycling Excusiast
Hey gbb
I'm sorry to read this. I am not going to go into my own workplace issues but I am not surprised at the horrendous treatment. Stay on the bike, the tossers cannot tell you how to get to work. Trying to discipline you for time off (if that's what they're doing) is really shady. I have employment law knowledge so PM if you need further advice- I can tell you that the law is slippery and you can be 100% in the right but they may still find a way to pursue things. I'm learning the hard and unpleasant way.
I'm sorry to read this. I am not going to go into my own workplace issues but I am not surprised at the horrendous treatment. Stay on the bike, the tossers cannot tell you how to get to work. Trying to discipline you for time off (if that's what they're doing) is really shady. I have employment law knowledge so PM if you need further advice- I can tell you that the law is slippery and you can be 100% in the right but they may still find a way to pursue things. I'm learning the hard and unpleasant way.
geez, when i first replied to the topic it hadn't clicked that it was you posting.
so they gave you an award for your weight loss due to riding the bike and then they want to bring disciplinary action against you for basically the same thing.
I'm sorry, but this would really get my goat, I'd be straight round to the local paper, open the flood gates, sit back and watch the action.
the worst thing i've heard since the invention of the mini roundabout
so they gave you an award for your weight loss due to riding the bike and then they want to bring disciplinary action against you for basically the same thing.
I'm sorry, but this would really get my goat, I'd be straight round to the local paper, open the flood gates, sit back and watch the action.
the worst thing i've heard since the invention of the mini roundabout
Sh4rkyBloke
Jaffa Cake monster
- Location
- Manchester, UK
At the risk of appearing stupid... how exactly can they take formal action against you for taking time off work?
ttcycle
Cycling Excusiast
Ok,the press issue - be very careful with that gb - basically if you are happy with people knowing about you, your name etc firstly, secondly- expect to not be able to get a job in that sector again as employers will know even if you are in the right, employers don't want someone who takes action- if you want a career change-fair enough but think that route through very carefully.
Legally, if you mention about the press your employers can use that against you legally-ie as harassment and a potential threat - it's honestly only a last resort
Legally, if you mention about the press your employers can use that against you legally-ie as harassment and a potential threat - it's honestly only a last resort
Twenty Inch
Guru
- Location
- Behind a desk
No advice to add Gaz, but just want to say don't let them get to you, and carry on with the good work. You're an inspiration.
I'm on this late and only skim read the posts so far, but I agree with jimbo et al that the CTC will eat this up like a dinner. The hassle factor plus crap publicity will have MCC backing down quick-sharp.
Word of warning ig you go to the local paper (MEN I presume). They may want to spin the story in a way that you don't like, and expect the usual nutters commenting if it goes up online.
Word of warning ig you go to the local paper (MEN I presume). They may want to spin the story in a way that you don't like, and expect the usual nutters commenting if it goes up online.
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
Gaz, it could be that you've fallen foul of one of the latest HR initiatives to combat sick leave. At the start it'll be a tick and check process with little input from a thinking brain. You'll no doubt have reached some parameters that their workflow chart directs them towards certain actions. Very few of the processes will stand up to attack or even close scrutiny. They always chuck riders in like 'individual circumstances will be taken into consideration'. What they're actually doing is trying to fast track disciplinary procedures. Sort of using a presumed guilty until proven innocent approach. I find this very negative as the 'individual circumstances' should be considered fully, pre-action not post. Just having a formal procedure to go through is very stressful for an employee. Plus mud sticks, no matter what way they dress it up.
That said you should be fine with your situation, the only thing to watch for is a little HR bod on a power trip. They hate to be disagreed with and like to patronise you fully while exerting their authority. If you can stomach it a bit of the old flannel works wonders with them. They'll suck up any old tosh if it makes them seem important.
That said you should be fine with your situation, the only thing to watch for is a little HR bod on a power trip. They hate to be disagreed with and like to patronise you fully while exerting their authority. If you can stomach it a bit of the old flannel works wonders with them. They'll suck up any old tosh if it makes them seem important.
downfader
extimus uero philosophus
- Location
- 'ampsheeeer
Just seen this and wnt to wish you luck Gaz. I think they're being pretty s*** about your situation tbh and they deserve to have a good speaking to about it.
I agree the union should be the first port of call. After that the press and the CTC if they still act up.
I agree the union should be the first port of call. After that the press and the CTC if they still act up.
As MacB says, you might have just tripped a light to flash because you took some time off work. Many organisations are trying to target sickies and it sounds like yours has a bar set too low. The difficulty is in setting "rules" (you need to have rules or someone will shout "discrimination") which captures someone being off every other Monday with a hangover, whilst still accepting that people get sick or have injuries.
The main question for me is whether they would have handled it any differently if you had been in a car accident leading to 14 days of sick leave. Or fallen from a ladder whilst painting a ceiling. Or been knocked down walking across the car park. Or tripped down the steps getting off the bus. The point is that, outside work, they have very little control over your life, habits and hobbies.
Did they conduct a back to work interview on your first morning back? This should be an integral part of any policy for managing / controlling sickness and absence and the result of that interview should have confirmed your injuries and stopped any further action.
Have they actually come down hard on you, or have they just sent a letter?
Do you have a union who can get involved?
The main question for me is whether they would have handled it any differently if you had been in a car accident leading to 14 days of sick leave. Or fallen from a ladder whilst painting a ceiling. Or been knocked down walking across the car park. Or tripped down the steps getting off the bus. The point is that, outside work, they have very little control over your life, habits and hobbies.
Did they conduct a back to work interview on your first morning back? This should be an integral part of any policy for managing / controlling sickness and absence and the result of that interview should have confirmed your injuries and stopped any further action.
Have they actually come down hard on you, or have they just sent a letter?
Do you have a union who can get involved?
