Is this employer request unreasonable?
Discussion
Just refuse, retail management take the piss out of young staff because they won't push back.
They can't sack her for refusing to pick up another staff member and I'd say it was questionable that they could discipline her for not working at another store, unless cover is part of her contract.
Worst comes to the worst get another job, it's not like brick and mortar retail is likely to give someone a long and satisfying career at this point.
They can't sack her for refusing to pick up another staff member and I'd say it was questionable that they could discipline her for not working at another store, unless cover is part of her contract.
Worst comes to the worst get another job, it's not like brick and mortar retail is likely to give someone a long and satisfying career at this point.
cashmax said:
Thanks for the replies - They are one of the larger high street chains. They will pay mileage and parking. The issue I had was not these areas of even the potential insurance issue - it was the fact that her manager said she couldn't say no - it wasn't optional. It's not like she has ever spoken to this guy and doesn't know him, she is uncomfortable with picking up a strange man and having him in the car - nothing else.
I have suggested she ask her manager to make the request in writing - although I like the HR suggestion too.
Thing is when she puts in an expense claim they will say can we see your insurance and if it ain’t got business on it they won’t pay.I have suggested she ask her manager to make the request in writing - although I like the HR suggestion too.
As she is 18 assume business insurance may be a fair whack, Even if not the insurance will still charge their admin fee.
Even as a 45 year old I had this with work and yeah for me it was like £50 more insurance wise but I was claiming 60 miles at 50p each week.
Thing is if it’s a one off she may be out of pocket.
ZedLeg said:
Just refuse, retail management take the piss out of young staff because they won't push back.
They can't sack her for refusing to pick up another staff member and I'd say it was questionable that they could discipline her for not working at another store, unless cover is part of her contract.
Worst comes to the worst get another job, it's not like brick and mortar retail is likely to give someone a long and satisfying career at this point.
They take the piss out off all staff.They can't sack her for refusing to pick up another staff member and I'd say it was questionable that they could discipline her for not working at another store, unless cover is part of her contract.
Worst comes to the worst get another job, it's not like brick and mortar retail is likely to give someone a long and satisfying career at this point.
Gareth79 said:
Is the share policy dictated by the company or arranged between employees? If OP's daughter had arranged to give the person a lift as part of their commutes it would not be business use, but the employer required them to do it is quite different.
No organisation I have worked with or for have dictate, however its sometimes the only way to get parking onsite. There was one office that if you wanted a space you had to meet the The Green Travel Policy and liftshare was a way as long as you were over 10 miles away you would get allocated a space. If it was just me I didn't qualify, my firm at the time had the FM contract as well and I was getting our staff to book visitor until they caught on.
In terms of 2021 engagement I was happy to lift share with a colleague again there wasn't parking for all to bring cars. It was suggested by my section lead that I could speak to the chap, I got on well with him he worked in my section/team he would give he a contribution to fuel.
I did in one roll have a lady who worked in a different organisation and side of the building who didn't want to share with a strange guy. In that case I would have to use the city park and ride and walk 1/2 mile. 2012-14.
Now I am more senior I make it clear I want parking, I finished working on a major national project in Dec and I got a space out front and was friendly with security.
My current role is agile I have a decent car allowance but I often get the train as my work is with ports, border force and they pay the train instead.
Edited by surveyor_101 on Wednesday 15th March 13:37
Making the request - reasonable.
Saying "it's not optional" - unreasonable.
It's not the shop's car. She's not employed to be their transport service.
IMO it's a polite "don't feel comfortable" and if that gets pushback a firmer "when i said "i don't feel comfortable doing it", it means i am not doing it." clarification.
Saying "it's not optional" - unreasonable.
It's not the shop's car. She's not employed to be their transport service.
IMO it's a polite "don't feel comfortable" and if that gets pushback a firmer "when i said "i don't feel comfortable doing it", it means i am not doing it." clarification.
Probably need some clarity on the 3rd hand statement that it is "not optional" and the wider context.
There is a big difference between someone saying sure you can have Friday off I'll cover your shift but you've got to do my Sunday shift in another store and you'll need to pick up the guy i had agreed to pick up
And someone demanding you do stuff that's not part of your normal job for no good reason.
There is a big difference between someone saying sure you can have Friday off I'll cover your shift but you've got to do my Sunday shift in another store and you'll need to pick up the guy i had agreed to pick up
And someone demanding you do stuff that's not part of your normal job for no good reason.
Surely the easiest way to resolve this is to say. "I'm 18, I've only got SDP&C/Black Box Cover and I can't get business cover on my insurance, so I shouldn't even be travelling to a separate place of work, let alone give someone a lift."
That puts the ball very much in the managers court.
That puts the ball very much in the managers court.
OP - Get her to check her contract. It should have a clause in there about being asked to work elsewhere and should specify a max time or distance she may be asked to travel. If it's outside of this, she can refuse. I'd be surprised if it doesn't reference it at all given she works in retail and this is a common request.
In regards to picking up other members of staff, it's her personal vehicle there for she is well within her rights to decline to pick up someone and take them to another location. The business has no right to request she does this.
Lastly, in her employee handbook it should cover travel expenses when being asked to work away from her "base" location. If she's driving it'll be reimbursed at a rate of pence per mile. She needs to be claiming this, unless it states they can ask her to work at any store and it's all at her own expense (highly unlikely).
Bottom line is she needs to have a read over her contract and handbook. As has been said already said it's very common in Retail for people to ask you to do something as if you have to and make you feel guilty because everyone else does. She's not doing them a favour working there, she's selling them her time. They need to pay for it, including anything extra she's being asked to do.
I'd suggest if she does find out the requests are unreasonable as per her terms of employment she asks to speak to her manager and discusses her concerns and what she expects going forward as per her contract. If the requests are reasonable but she just isn't being reimbursed, again a polite conversation with her manager to highlight that she'll be claiming the expense she's entitled to would be expected.
In regards to picking up other members of staff, it's her personal vehicle there for she is well within her rights to decline to pick up someone and take them to another location. The business has no right to request she does this.
Lastly, in her employee handbook it should cover travel expenses when being asked to work away from her "base" location. If she's driving it'll be reimbursed at a rate of pence per mile. She needs to be claiming this, unless it states they can ask her to work at any store and it's all at her own expense (highly unlikely).
Bottom line is she needs to have a read over her contract and handbook. As has been said already said it's very common in Retail for people to ask you to do something as if you have to and make you feel guilty because everyone else does. She's not doing them a favour working there, she's selling them her time. They need to pay for it, including anything extra she's being asked to do.
I'd suggest if she does find out the requests are unreasonable as per her terms of employment she asks to speak to her manager and discusses her concerns and what she expects going forward as per her contract. If the requests are reasonable but she just isn't being reimbursed, again a polite conversation with her manager to highlight that she'll be claiming the expense she's entitled to would be expected.
It turns out that the guy they want her to pick up works at a different store again. The store they need cover for always seems to be struggling for staff. So they want her to go to the struggling store, pick up this other guy who had been drafted from a 3rd party store on the way. They could of course pay for a taxi for the other guy, rather than telling her that this is not optional and she must pick this guy up on the way.
Where on earth does this boss think he can enforce a liftshare on a female employee? Tell him to f
k the fk off, the cheeky tt!
Jesus. Why can't this clown at this other shop make his own way to work? I'd be embarrassed at having to rely on an 18yo girl to ferry me to work.
If this was me I would be emailing the HR department with a full breakdown of what she had been instructed to do and asking to see where in their company policy this is "not optional".
fk me there are some entitled fking tts in the world.
k the fk off, the cheeky tt! Jesus. Why can't this clown at this other shop make his own way to work? I'd be embarrassed at having to rely on an 18yo girl to ferry me to work.
If this was me I would be emailing the HR department with a full breakdown of what she had been instructed to do and asking to see where in their company policy this is "not optional".
f
k me there are some entitled fking tts in the world. I'm a stubborn tt if it was me, I'd be telling the boss that if I had wanted to work at the other store regularly, I would have applied to work at that store from the get go and not the current one I work at, and also that I'm not their companies personal taxi service. Probably not get you far in the employment game, but I'm too pigheaded now to be pushed around by absolute whoppers like this manager.
t if it was me, I'd be telling the boss that if I had wanted to work at the other store regularly, I would have applied to work at that store from the get go and not the current one I work at, and also that I'm not their companies personal taxi service. Probably not get you far in the employment game, but I'm too pigheaded now to be pushed around by absolute whoppers like this manager.Downward said:
As she is 18 assume business insurance may be a fair whack, Even if not the insurance will still charge their admin fee.
Many years ago when I worked for a consultancy (I think I was 23), they required me to visit client sites. As well as paying a mileage rate they paid the cost of upgrading my car insurance to business use. C5_Steve said:
OP - Get her to check her contract. It should have a clause in there about being asked to work elsewhere and should specify a max time or distance she may be asked to travel. If it's outside of this, she can refuse. I'd be surprised if it doesn't reference it at all given she works in retail and this is a common request.
They can ask, but not make it a condition of employment.Problem here is due to under 2 years service, she can politely decline and see if this is to the determent of her employment as its quite easy to get rid of her at 6 months.
I'm going to shout the OP's last response in bold because people don't seem to be getting it. It is nothing to do with insurance or mileage allowance
SHE IS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH PICKING UP A STRANGE MAN AND HAVING HIM IN THE CAR - NOTHING ELSE
This lad might turn out to look like Harry Styles and she'll be falling over herself to offer him a lift but the point is that decision should be hers and hers alone.
SHE IS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH PICKING UP A STRANGE MAN AND HAVING HIM IN THE CAR - NOTHING ELSE
This lad might turn out to look like Harry Styles and she'll be falling over herself to offer him a lift but the point is that decision should be hers and hers alone.
okgo said:
Out of principle of some dick manager telling me what to do in that manner I’d not be doing it.
As a young woman picking up a random bloke I don’t know from Adam I’d also be saying no.
If he can’t get to work tomorrow how will he ever?
Exactly this. How long before you're expected to do this every day. Talk to HR.As a young woman picking up a random bloke I don’t know from Adam I’d also be saying no.
If he can’t get to work tomorrow how will he ever?
PurpleTurtle said:
I'm going to shout the OP's last response in bold because people don't seem to be getting it. It is nothing to do with insurance or mileage allowance
SHE IS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH PICKING UP A STRANGE MAN AND HAVING HIM IN THE CAR - NOTHING ELSE
This lad might turn out to look like Harry Styles and she'll be falling over herself to offer him a lift but the point is that decision should be hers and hers alone.
Agreed it should be her choice if its someone she already knows through work.SHE IS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH PICKING UP A STRANGE MAN AND HAVING HIM IN THE CAR - NOTHING ELSE
This lad might turn out to look like Harry Styles and she'll be falling over herself to offer him a lift but the point is that decision should be hers and hers alone.
If the manager is a Gary Lineker type I might be looking for alternative employment.
cashmax said:
It turns out that the guy they want her to pick up works at a different store again. The store they need cover for always seems to be struggling for staff. So they want her to go to the struggling store, pick up this other guy who had been drafted from a 3rd party store on the way. They could of course pay for a taxi for the other guy, rather than telling her that this is not optional and she must pick this guy up on the way.
Christ that really is taking the mic. Tell them to fro. If she gets sacked, she's probably dodged a bullet.Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff