Conduct for no longer wanting to drive?

makingsounds · Post by **makingsounds** » 09 Apr 2017, 14:06

Can you be taken down the Conduct Code for no longer wanting to drive for the company. DOM says HR have stated its a reasonable request and you can't refuse. Can I with hold the license or say driving stresses me out. I do a walk but have driven before to help out, DOM says that as I've driven for the business before I can't refuse. I do not want to drive for the company anymore. Please, any guidance on this.

rubberbond · Post by **rubberbond** » 09 Apr 2017, 14:10

I suppose it depends on your contract,were you taken on as a driver?

makingsounds · Post by **makingsounds** » 09 Apr 2017, 14:56

no, signed for a walk recently in a unit revision and as I was helpful covering drives a few times, its become to frequent and the DOM says now that if I refuse he'll conduct me. I do not want to drive anymore.

Post by **Judgee** » 09 Apr 2017, 15:03

I've come off driving with no come backs. Nothing in my contract says I have to drive so why should I. RM used to pay extra for driving , now they don't. Might be in new contracts but my one only says I may need to ride a bike. Fair enough if they want me to ride a bike I'll do it but driving for RM is extra aggro for no extra reward! Not sure that it could be classed as a reasonable request either, surely driving is an additional skill outside of standard duty skills. Not every delivery postman can drive and RM didn't pay for you to learn, so forcing someone to do so just because you have that skill would be victimisation. Unless of course you have a new contract that specifically states that you have to drive as part of your duty? Look at it this way, say for instance you used to be an accountant prior to joining RM. Would it be a reasonable request for someone on deliveries to work on RM accounts just because you have the skill to do so even though your duty makes no mention of it?

rehabron · Post by **rehabron** » 09 Apr 2017, 15:04

makingsounds wrote:no, signed for a walk recently in a unit revision and as I was helpful covering drives a few times, its become to frequent and the DOM says now that if I refuse he'll conduct me. I do not want to drive anymore.

As your signed duty has no driving content but you have assisted when drivers in short supply I would have expected your DOM to have the decency to ask you if you are willing to help out again by driving giving you the right to accept or refuse. You have made it clear that you want to remain on your signed duty of a walk and that should be the end of it unless your contract of employment states different.

rubberbond · Post by **rubberbond** » 09 Apr 2017, 18:04

The other point is,what is a reasonable request and who decides what is and what isn't "a reasonable request"

feduppostie · Post by **feduppostie** » 09 Apr 2017, 19:46

Presumably you have had a changeover - therefore the company could insist that they have invested money in training you - the changeover does cost money - not saying this is right just trying to show the other side

Why as a company would they spend money to train you only for you to turn around and refuse to do it - not many companies would put up with to be fair

Not sure whether doing the changeover makes you employed as a driver????

makingsounds · Post by **makingsounds** » 10 Apr 2017, 09:21

Change over was done a few years back but it's only recently that I am being pressurised into covering drives on sick or annual leave and I don't want to. Am I within my rights to simply not give over my licence when the DOM updates his yearly records?

Exrep · Post by **Exrep** » 10 Apr 2017, 16:12

Wouldn't it be a pity to inform your DIM that you haven't renewed your license, they expire every 10 now when was the last time they saw it.

Post by **Judgee** » 10 Apr 2017, 18:17

Exrep wrote:Wouldn't it be a pity to inform your DIM that you haven't renewed your license, they expire every 10 now when was the last time they saw it.

Only the new ones. If you have one of the old paper ones they don't need renewing!

k979aaa · Post by **k979aaa** » 10 Apr 2017, 19:43

Judgee wrote:
Exrep wrote:Wouldn't it be a pity to inform your DIM that you haven't renewed your license, they expire every 10 now when was the last time they saw it.
Only the new ones. If you have one of the old paper ones they don't need renewing!

Even photo licences the paperwork is de funked now you have to go online to get your latest driving record and if your licence is not produced to said manager and he does not take you off driving he will get a bollocking.

Post by **Lincox** » 11 Apr 2017, 21:12

When you are in the yard and doing a manouver it is very easy to ACCidentally reverse into another vehicle. A couple of these should see you taken off driving duties. I did it on my changeover and never got passed for driving. Just a little bump reversing into a parking space at a supermarket did the trick. The assessor changed from a nice pleasant guy to a ranting nervous wreck in the space of a few seconds.

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 12 Apr 2017, 15:09

Lincox wrote:When you are in the yard and doing a manouver it is very easy to ACCidentally reverse into another vehicle. A couple of these should see you taken off driving duties.

However with the proposed increase in delivery spans and the consequent reduction in HCT duties, invalidating your ability to drive, may also invalidate your ability to remain in gainful employment with RM. Just a thought.

Post by **Lincox** » 13 Apr 2017, 10:51

You may have a valid point there Clash. However vans are never going to be a quick way of delivering in built up areas without a walking member and RM will soon realise that 7 hours a day on delivery is a physical impossibility and will look to faster means of delivery covering greater areas with less staff. That may mean the use of electric scooters with more modern alternatives that are able to carry the number of packets you guys are handling these days. Drones are also the theme of the day for the likes of Amazon and click and collect an ever growing method of distribution. There is no doubt that over the next five years Royal Mail will be made much leaner in respect of delivery staff and the ability to earn a decent living wage will become less likely.