PPE as PAYE

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

Should you be given it on day 1?

I have been offered a very well paid driving job, with great conditions. And have decided to take it for a while for personal reasons. I went for an assessment/interview on Thursday, on Friday HR called me saying they wanted me to work for them badly. And could I start the week long induction on Monday. I agreed. I was told to bring along my boots and high viz etc even though I would be in a classroom for the first 5 days (I know what you are thinking, but it’s not a normal curtainsider type job).

Now… as someone who has only known Ltd agency driving I’ve always got my own boots. But I thought PAYE types should have them provided? I have no problem wearing my own boots etc - however, I was a bit shocked that they don’t give me a pair on day 1. Even though I am in the classroom I need them to walk on site.

I had a good feeling about this company. The assessment was very professional. I even needed to do a tightish blindside reverse. But I am wondering if they are a bit of a cowboy firm now as they seem to be scrimping (it’s a well-known name but I won’t say it on here). Perhaps it’s just because it’s last minute and they have not had time to order some for me. I just wondered what you experience paye company men would expect?

2

I thought you were giving up driving? You made such a drama about " hanging up your keys " etc. Now you driving again at the same time as dozy and uktramp start posting again :bulb: …just saying mate .

Anyway enjoy your thread about your boots :unamused:

3

And this all reminds me of a song …

No, I don’t know where I’m goin’
But I sure know where I’ve been
Hanging on the promises in songs of yesterday
And I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
Though I keep searchin’ for an answer
I never seem to find what I’m lookin’ for
Oh Lord, I pray you give me strength to carry on
'Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
And here I go again on my own
Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
And I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time

[emoji3][emoji3]

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4

Yeah you’re right! Bloody cowboy companies. Don’t bother turning up Monday, that’ll learn 'em!

5

spike78:
I thought you were giving up driving? You made such a drama about " hanging up your keys " etc. Now you driving again at the same time as dozy and uktramp start posting again :bulb: …just saying mate .

Anyway enjoy your thread about your boots :unamused:

Spike people have feelings.

Can you imagine if you were dozy or tramp and you were accused of being like myself? It’s enough to cause mental health problems.

In all seriousness - I’d like to meet either of them (they seem like a laugh rather than some of the bores with their super serious internet persona and online friends) but I’m in fact my own man.

I was not going to drive. I didn’t want to. I lost my confidence. You know what… Some stuff happened in my life and I needed to earn a semi-honest living. So here I am.

I’ve not done paye before. I wouldn’t but this pays significantly more than Ltd agency driving for me. And it has benefits I would never have gotten on agency. 33 days holiday. My cpc will be topped up for free and I’ll even be paid for it. But obviously I don’t know the score with regards to ppe and other such things. Which is why I’m asking.

6

the maoster:
Yeah you’re right! Bloody cowboy companies. Don’t bother turning up Monday, that’ll learn 'em!

Being serious for a second moast. With the current firm you work for (don’t wanna say the name) did you get your ppe on day one? And generally what are they like to work for? I shall be turning up as I need the money.

Cheers

7

dcgpx:
And this all reminds me of a song …

No, I don’t know where I’m goin’
But I sure know where I’ve been
Hanging on the promises in songs of yesterday
And I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
Though I keep searchin’ for an answer
I never seem to find what I’m lookin’ for
Oh Lord, I pray you give me strength to carry on
'Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
And here I go again on my own
Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
And I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time

[emoji3][emoji3]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SO HERE I GO AGAIN ON MY OWN
WALKING DOWN THE ONLY ROAD I’VE EVER KNOWN
LIKE A DRIFTER I WAS BORN TO WALK ALONE

:smiley: :smiley: :smiley:

8

Depends. My lot will provide bog standard ones but will also pay you back if you want better quality ones.

9

Proper companies often don’t issue full uniforms until you’ve passed the probationary period, though if it involves things like specialist boot needs (eg heat/foundry type protection) safety helmets, goggles, ear defenders, things specific to their operation that the typical driver would not be expected to already have, they will provide.

Not offering boots from day one is not unusual, nor is one or two days in a classroom followed by a 5 day 10 day or month long initial training period unusual, but 5 days sat in a classroom is unusual.

Maybe they’ve learned through experience that not everyone is capable or or can cope with the job they do, dishing out new boots and full uniforms to every tom ■■■■ and igor who might only be there 3 days or 3 weeks would help ensure mean the very good pay downgraded to only good pay, a good company doesn’t throw good money after bad, if they find good people who prove themselves and who look like they intend to stay then they are prepared to foot the serious costs involved.

10

sammym:
Should you be given it on day 1?

I have been offered a very well paid driving job, with great conditions. And have decided to take it for a while for personal reasons. I went for an assessment/interview on Thursday, on Friday HR called me saying they wanted me to work for them badly. And could I start the week long induction on Monday. I agreed. I was told to bring along my boots and high viz etc even though I would be in a classroom for the first 5 days (I know what you are thinking, but it’s not a normal curtainsider type job).

Now… as someone who has only known Ltd agency driving I’ve always got my own boots. But I thought PAYE types should have them provided? I have no problem wearing my own boots etc - however, I was a bit shocked that they don’t give me a pair on day 1. Even though I am in the classroom I need them to walk on site.

I had a good feeling about this company. The assessment was very professional. I even needed to do a tightish blindside reverse. But I am wondering if they are a bit of a cowboy firm now as they seem to be scrimping (it’s a well-known name but I won’t say it on here). Perhaps it’s just because it’s last minute and they have not had time to order some for me. I just wondered what you experience paye company men would expect?

If you’ve made it clear you’re already an experienced working driver, they might just assume you already have boots and a hi-viz to be going on with - which are, after all, bread and butter items.

If you didn’t have a hi-viz then I imagine they’d oblige you on the day since it only costs buttons. You can always take the old one as proof of a need for replacement, or as backup if they don’t have any spare.

Footwear meanwhile is a highly individual fit and most people prefer to buy their own. Over the years I’ve actually thrown out many firm-issued shoes and boots, because the vast majority are unpleasant to wear and inferior to what I have already had at the time, and my attitude to footwear when I do find something comfortable is usually to wear it until the soles fall off.

If of course your boots are coming up for replacement, it may be worth enquiring what expenses are available in due course to cover a new pair.

That is likely to be a better indication of whether they are skinflints, than whether they offer you boots up front, which as I say are invariably poor quality anyway (even in firms that weren’t afraid to spend a pretty penny overall on new starters).

11

Pretty much as Juddian and Rjan say.

It could take 6 weeks to get a full uniform with us, give it a couple of weeks in case either party decides the job is really not right, then a few weeks for the order to be processed and delivered.

We never provided boots, people got their own and we paid on production of a receipt. Footwear can be tricky to get right, we tried providing footwear but it just didn’t suit everyone.

12

Juddian:
Maybe they’ve learned through experience that not everyone is capable or or can cope with the job they do, dishing out new boots and full uniforms to every tom ■■■■ and igor who might only be there 3 days or 3 weeks would help ensure mean the very good pay downgraded to only good pay, a good company doesn’t throw good money after bad, if they find good people who prove themselves and who look like they intend to stay then they are prepared to foot the serious costs involved.

“Foot the cost”? :laughing:

As I said in my direct reply, truth be told is that issued boots have never been of good quality in my experience.

The best firms just let you get on with what you have, and if you need a replacement then they set an allowance and tell you to hand the receipt it. It’s the simplest and most sensible approach in my view, unless they’re recruiting from a pool of people who can’t be expected to have boots - taking on apprentices or whatever.

13

There is a legal requirement for necessary PPE to be provided from the outset - but no requirement that it be on personal issue. IOW they could (and indeed probably do) have a couple of pairs of boots and a hi-viz vest knocking around for the use of any visitor etc who doesn’t have their own.

I know our lot do.

I’d expect to be issued with my own within the first couple of weeks if starting a new job.

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14

I agree about the standard of footwear most companies get from their suppliers, utter garbage mostly.

Where i used to work they would re-imburse you for footwear, and i bought high quality DeWalt Challenger 2 boots which used to last longer than anything else and were bliss to wear (the new Challenger 3 is not in the same league sadly), unfortunately as always stupid money grubbers would get receipts for £80 odd for footwear that was worth £10 on a good day, hence the expenses claim back system was dropped.

15

When I signed up to my agency I was given 3 polo shirts, 3 pairs of driver’s trousers, pair of boots, a couple of hi-viz vests and a few pairs of gloves as soon as I signed on the dotted line so I’d expect a company to at least check you have boots and hi-viz and give you some.

16

My new company don’t issue ppe,until I’ve served 3 months probation.

17

Any driver who doesn’t come equipped with the basics of boots, hi-vis and gloves should be sent packing out the door and sent to work in Aldi.

Its like going to work on an office and expecting them to provide the smart wear, shoes etc as appropriate for the office.

18

Even if you don’t get the kit in the first few weeks the first thing they should have asked you is you size so if still in job they have your size
This sounds like a Walter Mitty post its too much of a like for like post
I would say he has a few other names here it sticks out a mile

19

Roymondo:
There is a legal requirement for necessary PPE to be provided from the outset - but no requirement that it be on personal issue. IOW they could (and indeed probably do) have a couple of pairs of boots and a hi-viz vest knocking around for the use of any visitor etc who doesn’t have their own.

I know our lot do.

I’d expect to be issued with my own within the first couple of weeks if starting a new job.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

In practice with any “loaners” you have the problem of disinfecting them between each use, the risk of transmitting infections, and monitoring them for subtle defects (bearing in mind no single user will be familiar with the history of how a particular piece of shared PPE has been used).

Spreading infection may be a remote risk in any single case, but so also is the risk of injury which the PPE is supposed to guard against.

Shoes designed for multiple users, such as bowling shoes, are probably designed for the particular challenges of multiple use (e.g. non-absorbency), and are sprayed with disinfectant after each use.

Also, any firm that is more than merely sharing PPE, but is also providing it in a condition that a reasonable person would consider contaminated, filthy, or offensive, may well be in breach of their obligations to provide it. You can’t just provide a person with boots full of dog ■■■■■ and say you’ve provided him with PPE.

20

Company I work for issue everything after a few weeks and never an issue getting more clothing whenever you need it as they keep a stock. I do buy my own boots though as the issued ones are not good, I get DeWalt builder boots which are light and comfortable and last well.

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