Basically, I’ve been having some problems with a manager at work for the last few months. Below is a post I made on another forum on Friday, I just want peoples views and opinions on its content. Its a load of small, mostly petty problems, but when added up, becomes a bigger problem. I’ve taken advice from Unite, and will be starting the grievance process, but if you could just have a read and tell me what you think?
Oh, and does anyone know how to write a grievance letter?
My job is Collection Driver for a large well known delivery company. I drive to a collection, return to depot, off load some stuff, then drive from our depot to a sort centre. Start at 4pm, supposed to finish at 2am, Mon to Thurs.
Started the job in May 10, everything was fine til just after Christmas, then the hassle started. Started off giving me grief that I was hitting overtime nearly everyday. Now, when I started and was taking a van every night, picking up, at most, 3 parcels, I could get back within my basic hours. Since I’ve been taking the lorry, picking up upto 6 pallets, with tacho break etc, I’ve been hitting an hour o/t a day. Just to put it in perspective, I do at least 8.5hrs driving a day, add split tacho break, 50mins, waiting at my collection, 30mins, and tipping and reload, upto an hour, total 10hr 50, thats with a straight run, no roadworks or incidents.
Then my hours were changed, from originally half 3 start to 4pm, hardly any notice, told day before. Just last night he decided it would be better if I started at half 4 or 5pm starting Monday. I’ve had to justify my hours, how I do my job, time taken at collection, time spent driving. I’ve had my job cancelled at least 3 times at the last minute, 1 of them last night, twice sent home because of it, 1st time I lost the little overtime I had done, and had my pay docked, on this managers instruction, until it was reinstated after an HR manager found out when he was visiting the depot. Or, I’ve been taken off my duties, put in a van and sent out with parcels, last time I went out at 5.30pm, with 60 drops, to an area I dont know, then bollocked for bringing some back, bearing in mind, company policy being no deliveries after 9pm, I was 50miles from the depot, so had about 3hrs to do the drops. I’ve had issues with the vehicle and tacho, mainly my digi card not being downloaded, and lack of digi paper, the same manager being responsible for both, went from Dec 10 til Mar 11 without card being downloaded, despite requesting it numerous times. I even went as far as asking the Depot manager if he could do it, all that resulted was the manager I’ve got problems with telling me not to go over his head again, that nothing would be done about it and that he was working closely with the depot manager and he has the backing of the depot manager. This was the day after I was sent home and had pay docked, so naturally I’d asked depot manager what was going on, hence supposedly going over my managers head. The only reason I went to depot manager was because I went in to work early, before my manager started, to find out if I still had a job as I’d been given the impression it had been stopped.
Because I’m friendly with one of the office girls, nothing going on, and used to sit with her in office while I done my paperwork, because of that I’ve been banned from the office. Doesn’t apply to any other driver, just me.
I do my daily checks everyday when I start my shift, taking upto 10mins to do so. I’ve been told I take the ■■■■ taking that long, and that by grabbing a coffee from the vending machine, to drink whilst doing my checks and some paperwork, that I’m obviously on a break straight away.
When the vehicle has run out of digi paper, I’ve been instructed to drive the vehicle without it until I get some from the sort centre, despite asking numerous times over 6months for the depot, via my manager, to order some. When I’ve questioned it, and mentioned its not legal to drive without it, I’ve been told no choice, just do it.
I’ve been singled out as the one that has damaged the vehicle, despite no proof it was me, yet when I’ve reported damage, no action has been taken against the other driver.
Despite having been working there for nearly a year, I still have no contract, and never had an Offer Of Employment letter, so have no idea about my hours etc.
Its getting to the point that when my manager speaks to me, with some other grief or hassle, I clench my fists, bite my tongue and walk away, otherwise I’ll say something or lump him, and I’m starting to dread going into work.
Other members of staff have commented that this manager has a problem with me, 2 of them being other managers, so its been noticed.
I also had a text from my friend in the office, regarding a conversation she had with another colleague, the office manager, about it, basically saying that my manager wants me out, but is going the wrong way to do it, but he is trying to push me out.
Where I’ve been singled out for causing damage to the vehicle, I’ve been blamed for cracking the step, I honestly didnt do it, and pointed out that I’d noticed it for a week previous til the day driver reported it, which fair enough, I should have reported. Now, this other driver may have caused some damage, which I have reported, but where I’ve got a disciplinary for failing to report it and a possible breach of H&S, and had to fill out accident claim forms, the other driver has had nothing.
There is more, but those are the main points.
