Hi, I´m quite new to this and during an interview received a drivers manual of a company. FYI, I recently moved to the UK.
Whilst reading, I was getting more and more unpleasantly surprised, 30 gbp fine for this, 50 gbp penalty for that, 500 if no show or too late, 2,500 own risk for the insurance excess when causing an accident. And, on top of that, literally it stated that every human error would get variably fined.
And I was thinking, well, I will go bankrupt working there, because I am not allowed to make one single human error and I am not a robot, I will lose more money than I will earn.
I was used to an excess of 200, I thought that is reasonable, but 2,500 will get me out of income for more than two months, how will I pay rent if that happens to me? I can’t take that risk and jeopardise my family!!!
Also, you can only take a week off, not a single day? If I have to go to the dentist or GP, I would have to take the whole week off■■?
Are these rules normal? Is this how UK employers treat their drivers or is this the exception and I should look for other companies?
It also made me wondering, if the planner makes a mistake, will he be fined 1,000 also? Can’t imagine that, so why only pick on the drivers.
Well, curious for any responses if this is the typical employee ´benefits´ package…
Thanks!
No its not typical.
Some companies in specialised work such as car transporters offer a damage free bonus to be paid quarterly or yearly, with any damages you cause or miss when checking a vehicle over eating into said bonus, usually these are very well paid jobs anyway and the bonus is the icing on an already good cake.
If this is the standard terms on a job paying normal wages then walk away, if its a seriously well paid job where you’re averaging £15 an hour or more on the books then its possible they are searching for drivers who know their competence and are prepared to put their money where their mouth is so to speak.
Seeing how so many drivers where i work (it is very well paid) damage vehicle and equipment without the slightest concern i can understand where companies that write terms like this are coming from.
Yes it might appear wrong in principle, but the rewards might be worth the gamble if you are a good driver.
We’ve never fined anyone, nor do we ask anyone to pay excess.
They sound a terrible company - if you work so that your drivers can do their job properly, they shouldn’t be making any more than the occasional mistake.