night worker, mobile phone.
Discussion
Just a quickie, i'm a hgv driver who works nights. Just been suspended from work for gross misconduct, due to not accepting a company mobile from work. I have my own mobile, but won't give work the number due to the fact that whenever I hand the number over mysteriously an ex gets it and starts hassling me again, this has been mentioned to the company many times. The nature of the work is set drops, nothing can change through the night. I've never refused to contact them if there's a problem but withhold my number.I've also said its fine to email me and I get it straight away and will respond as soon as its legal to. I'm also suffering from stress and depression due to issues at work, well documented with my own GP, works occupational health and well known in the transport office. Only just returned to work after time off due to having a major attack and had this tonight. Work have told me its a legal requirement to be able to contact me, even though there is a strict anti mobile phone usage policy. Therefore email is less of a distraction than a phone ringing. You might think its a bit pathetic that I won't accept a phone or give them my number but work has caused my stress/depression problems and I need to keep some sort of barrier in place to cope. Not once have has anyone asked why I refused a phone, just dragged in when I refused it for a second time, suspended, and escorted off the premises. I had previously gave an undertaking only last week to contact the company if i have any issues, and the trucks are fully tracked and my location and actions can be instantaneously seen on the computer. Probably not relevant but I took the cause for my stress/depression all the way through the company grievance procedure and been flatly refused any sort of help in alleviating it. Got home and work had phoned the police due to distress and had to have an interview to prove I'm not suicidal. That's the first sign of any concern from the company of my well being, and only due to the fact it was a manager from the warehouse side who dealt with me.
Have I any leg to stand on with regards this?
Have I any leg to stand on with regards this?
ks. What did drivers do in 1965?Actually I do care about the job, and like it. I've been there six years now, and if they'd just sort out the issue that's causing my mental illness it would be the perfect job. I'm not meant to use a phone even when driving even with a bluetooth due to the strict anti phone policy in place which we had to sign to say we would adhere to. So I'm contactable by email, which I'd receive straight away and i'd previously, when refusing the phone the first time, gave an undertaking that i'd contact them if any problems. So no real difference really.
If they want to provide you with a mobile phone to contact you whilst you are working for them and they accept that you can only answer the phone when safe and legal to do so, it sounds like you're being deliberately obstructive and using the 'stress' as an excuse for not wanting to tune out from BBC Radio 4's World Service programme.
Unless they're trying to give you a HTC, then I understand and sympathise greatly.
Unless they're trying to give you a HTC, then I understand and sympathise greatly.
Not been obstructive at all, as i've given them an alternative contact method. But i can see how it might appear. I'm just trying to keep what's left of my sanity intact. Did find it annoying when they said i needed a mobile phone as they had a duty of care to me, I pointed out that they didn't seem bothered about the duty of care when i asked for help from them which they have repeatedly refused. To confirm, the stress and depression is real, i'm under the gp's care, occy health are amazed that work won't cooperate in any way or offer any support. Currently awaiting an appointment to see a psychiatrist, which work are aware of, although can't see how talking about a physical problem will help at all.
I offered to take the phone to stop it all, but got told its too late. Never been warned or told why I should have it. Thought it was all over with as i'd already undertaken to contact work if any problems. The nature of any phone calls tend to be, where are you, why you taking so long, how long you going to be. All this information is already on the computer on front of them due to the tracking systems in the trucks.
Ex used to get free sims so blocking numbers didn't really work. Now if someone at work stopped passing my number on.....
Ex used to get free sims so blocking numbers didn't really work. Now if someone at work stopped passing my number on.....
Tell them again that you will take the phone - explain it was an error of judgement due to the previous history. Only answer to numbers you know and trust.
Edited to add : I'm not a HR expert but I'd be fairly humble and apologetic (you can't prove how your ex is getting your number so be careful about making accusations). I think they could try to build a case based on refusing a reasonable instruction and I can see why they'd want to be able to reach you by phone.... Have another chat, be humble and most of all.... Good luck, I hope it gets sorted for you.
Edited to add : I'm not a HR expert but I'd be fairly humble and apologetic (you can't prove how your ex is getting your number so be careful about making accusations). I think they could try to build a case based on refusing a reasonable instruction and I can see why they'd want to be able to reach you by phone.... Have another chat, be humble and most of all.... Good luck, I hope it gets sorted for you.
Edited by Hungrymc on Friday 10th October 00:04
what are the rules on rest breaks for truck drivers?
I was under the impression you could not be expected to be doing other work during the rest breaks, taking work phone calls would be included in this
so if you are not allowed to use the phone while driving, and not allowed to take work calls while on a rest break, what exactly is this phone for ?
also if the issue was that your ex might phone you, have you never heard of call barring?
I was under the impression you could not be expected to be doing other work during the rest breaks, taking work phone calls would be included in this
so if you are not allowed to use the phone while driving, and not allowed to take work calls while on a rest break, what exactly is this phone for ?
also if the issue was that your ex might phone you, have you never heard of call barring?
Hungrymc said:
Tell them again that you will take the phone - explain it was an error of judgement due to the previous history. Only answer to numbers you know and trust.
Edited to add : I'm not a HR expert but I'd be fairly humble and apologetic (you can't prove how your ex is getting your number so be careful about making accusations). I think they could try to build a case based on refusing a reasonable instruction and I can see why they'd want to be able to reach you by phone.... Have another chat, be humble and most of all.... Good luck, I hope it gets sorted for you.
+Edited to add : I'm not a HR expert but I'd be fairly humble and apologetic (you can't prove how your ex is getting your number so be careful about making accusations). I think they could try to build a case based on refusing a reasonable instruction and I can see why they'd want to be able to reach you by phone.... Have another chat, be humble and most of all.... Good luck, I hope it gets sorted for you.
Edited by Hungrymc on Friday 10th October 00:04
Try again. Just bite your tongue and appear very apologetic. Tell them you made an error of judgement because of the stress you felt you were under.
Why didn't you just take the phone, turn it off, sling it in the glovebox and claim you were out of range?
Or divert all calls to voicemail and answer them at your convenience, (bit like email)?
Hate to sound unsympathetic, but all the talk of stress, depression, and the need for barriers between you and the company etc. makes me feel we're only hearing a quarter of the story here....
Or divert all calls to voicemail and answer them at your convenience, (bit like email)?
Hate to sound unsympathetic, but all the talk of stress, depression, and the need for barriers between you and the company etc. makes me feel we're only hearing a quarter of the story here....
ging84 said:
what are the rules on rest breaks for truck drivers?
I was under the impression you could not be expected to be doing other work during the rest breaks, taking work phone calls would be included in this
so if you are not allowed to use the phone while driving, and not allowed to take work calls while on a rest break, what exactly is this phone for ?
ALthough a driver can't be expected to take a call whilst driving, nor take calls during a break, there's nothing to say he can't stop, park, and then make phone calls.I was under the impression you could not be expected to be doing other work during the rest breaks, taking work phone calls would be included in this
so if you are not allowed to use the phone while driving, and not allowed to take work calls while on a rest break, what exactly is this phone for ?
You seem to be assuming that it's a case of either driving or being on a break with nothing in between.
Crossflow Kid said:
ALthough a driver can't be expected to take a call whilst driving, nor take calls during a break, there's nothing to say he can't stop, park, and then make phone calls.
You seem to be assuming that it's a case of either driving or being on a break with nothing in between.
He said there is a strict anti phone policy You seem to be assuming that it's a case of either driving or being on a break with nothing in between.
He's already said that he phones in to them when he needs to on his own phone
How are they going to use this new phone to tell him to stop and take/make a phone call, without breaking the anti phone policy to tell him to stop
I can see why the company weren't happy. They are paying you to work and understandably might require to contact you during work, about work.
Emails aren't a good method of quick communication. There is lots of data drop outs all over the country, email servers are often slow and your phone won't be checking every second for emails either.
It's also slower to even type a message out that would take seconds just to talk over.
I don't think it is unfair for your company to expect to be able to contact you by phone during the time you are working for them.
I think email communication isn't good enough.
It reads as if you've had troubles in the past with the company. That says to me that maybe your company maybe have had enough, feeling you are being unnecessarily difficult to deal with.
Suspension seems extreme after you did agree to the phone, but I can't help but feel there is more to the story.
Emails aren't a good method of quick communication. There is lots of data drop outs all over the country, email servers are often slow and your phone won't be checking every second for emails either.
It's also slower to even type a message out that would take seconds just to talk over.
I don't think it is unfair for your company to expect to be able to contact you by phone during the time you are working for them.
I think email communication isn't good enough.
It reads as if you've had troubles in the past with the company. That says to me that maybe your company maybe have had enough, feeling you are being unnecessarily difficult to deal with.
Suspension seems extreme after you did agree to the phone, but I can't help but feel there is more to the story.
Edited by Driver101 on Friday 10th October 02:51
ging84 said:
Crossflow Kid said:
ALthough a driver can't be expected to take a call whilst driving, nor take calls during a break, there's nothing to say he can't stop, park, and then make phone calls.
You seem to be assuming that it's a case of either driving or being on a break with nothing in between.
He said there is a strict anti phone policy You seem to be assuming that it's a case of either driving or being on a break with nothing in between.
He's already said that he phones in to them when he needs to on his own phone
How are they going to use this new phone to tell him to stop and take/make a phone call, without breaking the anti phone policy to tell him to stop
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 10th October 05:14
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