A friend clipped a lorry while delivering into a depot. The damage was serious, over £10k.
He kept his job, but since then the work has changed. Vehicles are regularly overloaded and the job only gets finished by pushing tacho limits. There is an unspoken expectation that he has to keep going to make up for the damage.
The operator already has a poor reputation. Since the incident, staff now stand watching while the vehicle is unloaded. It feels less like routine supervision and more like monitoring or evidence gathering.
Nothing has been put in writing, but the pressure is clear.
If he decides to leave, what could the company realistically do?
Could they later use known tacho breaches against him?
How exactly would the company use tacho breaches against him? Show them to the DVSA perhaps? Very unlikely as they’d be drawing massive amounts of attention to themselves as they clearly didn’t act upon these breaches at the time.
if he wants to stay there play by the rules. Ie strap every pallet .complain if load is over weight etc .or by sounds he’s pushed to limit every day I’d be tempted slow down a little on the speed so you then legally can’t get the work done.
If he leavves what can they do . Maybe there stop his last week’s pay.
Maybe if a new employer wants a reference though the will be within there rights to tell them about the damage caused.
But don’t think places ask for references these days although I stand to be corrected
You, sorry your friend may well have done. I’ll ask again; why would any company draw attention to themselves by allowing and encouraging certain practices and then go running to “them” once it doesn’t suit?