Company demanding personal information
Discussion
under threat of sanction.
So there's a delivery point, let's refer to it as 'Alan'.
Drivers making deliveries to their distribution centres are required to provide their full name and date of birth, confirmed by ID. This is then compared with an internal database, to confirm that the driver has completed a mandatory training course* on operating the necessary equipment required to make such a delivery. They have a data protection policy and everything.
Trouble is, no-one else does it this way. I have had to complete many 'site induction' courses, and in every other case the result is a card with my name and a confirmation that I've watched their boring video and/or passed their simple test. I have quite a collection - and most are from far more sensitive operations than a supermarket DC. Their direct competitor (we'll call them Leon) requires a tick in a box marked "I know what I'm doing" at most.
Now I don't work for this company. And I don't have much of a choice about whether I go to their site(s). So I don't see why it could be acceptable for them to collect personal information on me, for the convenience of the system that they alone choose to operate. And if I object, I am "rejected as a driver on the system", which means I cannot make a delivery to any of their sites in the UK, regardless of which haulier or supplier I happen to be working for. This has the potential to make working as a driver for any employer difficult.
I don't know if this behaviour is illegal, but it feels as if it ought to be. Any comment?
* watch a five minute video and answer ten questions. There is no practical demonstration on how to operate the three pieces of equipment involved.
So there's a delivery point, let's refer to it as 'Alan'.
Drivers making deliveries to their distribution centres are required to provide their full name and date of birth, confirmed by ID. This is then compared with an internal database, to confirm that the driver has completed a mandatory training course* on operating the necessary equipment required to make such a delivery. They have a data protection policy and everything.
Trouble is, no-one else does it this way. I have had to complete many 'site induction' courses, and in every other case the result is a card with my name and a confirmation that I've watched their boring video and/or passed their simple test. I have quite a collection - and most are from far more sensitive operations than a supermarket DC. Their direct competitor (we'll call them Leon) requires a tick in a box marked "I know what I'm doing" at most.
Now I don't work for this company. And I don't have much of a choice about whether I go to their site(s). So I don't see why it could be acceptable for them to collect personal information on me, for the convenience of the system that they alone choose to operate. And if I object, I am "rejected as a driver on the system", which means I cannot make a delivery to any of their sites in the UK, regardless of which haulier or supplier I happen to be working for. This has the potential to make working as a driver for any employer difficult.
I don't know if this behaviour is illegal, but it feels as if it ought to be. Any comment?
* watch a five minute video and answer ten questions. There is no practical demonstration on how to operate the three pieces of equipment involved.
Lidl and Aldi have had this system in place for probably 20 years now and it was Netto before that. Everyone doing general haulage has been through this at some point and dug their heels in. No-one has been successful because a) the haulier doesn't want to lose the work and b) there is an endless line of Bogdans and Krzysztofs who will fill your place and do it without question. It's entirely your choice whether you want to make it your hill to die on but I can tell you from personal experience that you'll either have to comply or you'll be sacked/managed out. It's not right but that's just how it is and the reality.
handpaper said:
under threat of sanction.
So there's a delivery point, let's refer to it as 'Alan'.
Drivers making deliveries to their distribution centres are required to provide their full name and date of birth, confirmed by ID. This is then compared with an internal database, to confirm that the driver has completed a mandatory training course* on operating the necessary equipment required to make such a delivery. They have a data protection policy and everything.
Trouble is, no-one else does it this way. I have had to complete many 'site induction' courses, and in every other case the result is a card with my name and a confirmation that I've watched their boring video and/or passed their simple test. I have quite a collection - and most are from far more sensitive operations than a supermarket DC. Their direct competitor (we'll call them Leon) requires a tick in a box marked "I know what I'm doing" at most.
Now I don't work for this company. And I don't have much of a choice about whether I go to their site(s). So I don't see why it could be acceptable for them to collect personal information on me, for the convenience of the system that they alone choose to operate. And if I object, I am "rejected as a driver on the system", which means I cannot make a delivery to any of their sites in the UK, regardless of which haulier or supplier I happen to be working for. This has the potential to make working as a driver for any employer difficult.
I don't know if this behaviour is illegal, but it feels as if it ought to be. Any comment?
* watch a five minute video and answer ten questions. There is no practical demonstration on how to operate the three pieces of equipment involved.
Where do Alan and Leon fit in in all of this?So there's a delivery point, let's refer to it as 'Alan'.
Drivers making deliveries to their distribution centres are required to provide their full name and date of birth, confirmed by ID. This is then compared with an internal database, to confirm that the driver has completed a mandatory training course* on operating the necessary equipment required to make such a delivery. They have a data protection policy and everything.
Trouble is, no-one else does it this way. I have had to complete many 'site induction' courses, and in every other case the result is a card with my name and a confirmation that I've watched their boring video and/or passed their simple test. I have quite a collection - and most are from far more sensitive operations than a supermarket DC. Their direct competitor (we'll call them Leon) requires a tick in a box marked "I know what I'm doing" at most.
Now I don't work for this company. And I don't have much of a choice about whether I go to their site(s). So I don't see why it could be acceptable for them to collect personal information on me, for the convenience of the system that they alone choose to operate. And if I object, I am "rejected as a driver on the system", which means I cannot make a delivery to any of their sites in the UK, regardless of which haulier or supplier I happen to be working for. This has the potential to make working as a driver for any employer difficult.
I don't know if this behaviour is illegal, but it feels as if it ought to be. Any comment?
* watch a five minute video and answer ten questions. There is no practical demonstration on how to operate the three pieces of equipment involved.
Nose and face spring top mind.
I don't see what the problem is.
If i understand this correctly they are asking for a drivers identity to be confirmed with ID and to complete mandatory training before being allowed on their sites. Why is this such a difficult thing to comply with?
They are just ensuring that you are who you say you are and covering their backsides with regard to operating machinery on their sites. Nothing illegal in that.
How good or bad the training is is a different matter.
As said above, either.
1. Suck it up and carry on
or
2. Fight it and probably end up looking for alternative employment.
If i understand this correctly they are asking for a drivers identity to be confirmed with ID and to complete mandatory training before being allowed on their sites. Why is this such a difficult thing to comply with?
They are just ensuring that you are who you say you are and covering their backsides with regard to operating machinery on their sites. Nothing illegal in that.
How good or bad the training is is a different matter.
As said above, either.
1. Suck it up and carry on
or
2. Fight it and probably end up looking for alternative employment.
98elise said:
This
Giving your name and date of birth is hardly a big issue.
This. Giving your name and date of birth is hardly a big issue.
Having a crappy card with no proper link or verification to the person sounds utterly useless and would likely expose the supermarket should someone die as a result of training failure.
Linking the training to the person via minimal personal data is an appropriate solution.
It protects both parties. You should be more concerned about the crappy card outfits, not the ones doing it properly.
handpaper said:
under threat of sanction.
So there's a delivery point, let's refer to it as 'Alan'.
Drivers making deliveries to their distribution centres are required to provide their full name and date of birth, confirmed by ID. This is then compared with an internal database, to confirm that the driver has completed a mandatory training course* on operating the necessary equipment required to make such a delivery. They have a data protection policy and everything.
Trouble is, no-one else does it this way. I have had to complete many 'site induction' courses, and in every other case the result is a card with my name and a confirmation that I've watched their boring video and/or passed their simple test. I have quite a collection - and most are from far more sensitive operations than a supermarket DC. Their direct competitor (we'll call them Leon) requires a tick in a box marked "I know what I'm doing" at most.
Now I don't work for this company. And I don't have much of a choice about whether I go to their site(s). So I don't see why it could be acceptable for them to collect personal information on me, for the convenience of the system that they alone choose to operate. And if I object, I am "rejected as a driver on the system", which means I cannot make a delivery to any of their sites in the UK, regardless of which haulier or supplier I happen to be working for. This has the potential to make working as a driver for any employer difficult.
I don't know if this behaviour is illegal, but it feels as if it ought to be. Any comment?
* watch a five minute video and answer ten questions. There is no practical demonstration on how to operate the three pieces of equipment involved.
But the ones who issue you a card with your name on are also collecting your pesonal information so why doesn't that bother you too?So there's a delivery point, let's refer to it as 'Alan'.
Drivers making deliveries to their distribution centres are required to provide their full name and date of birth, confirmed by ID. This is then compared with an internal database, to confirm that the driver has completed a mandatory training course* on operating the necessary equipment required to make such a delivery. They have a data protection policy and everything.
Trouble is, no-one else does it this way. I have had to complete many 'site induction' courses, and in every other case the result is a card with my name and a confirmation that I've watched their boring video and/or passed their simple test. I have quite a collection - and most are from far more sensitive operations than a supermarket DC. Their direct competitor (we'll call them Leon) requires a tick in a box marked "I know what I'm doing" at most.
Now I don't work for this company. And I don't have much of a choice about whether I go to their site(s). So I don't see why it could be acceptable for them to collect personal information on me, for the convenience of the system that they alone choose to operate. And if I object, I am "rejected as a driver on the system", which means I cannot make a delivery to any of their sites in the UK, regardless of which haulier or supplier I happen to be working for. This has the potential to make working as a driver for any employer difficult.
I don't know if this behaviour is illegal, but it feels as if it ought to be. Any comment?
* watch a five minute video and answer ten questions. There is no practical demonstration on how to operate the three pieces of equipment involved.
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