A while ago now I was offered a job as a trainee train driver with a well known TOC. I knew they didn't accept applicants who had the surgery, but I wanted the job and went for it. I got through the paper sift (disclosing the surgery) got through the first lot of tests and was invited to the driver managers interview. One of the last questions was "Have you ever had laser eye surgery?" Without hesitation I answered "Yes". They said no one ever answered yes and couldn't answer me when I asked if it would end my application. A day or two later I was told I'm through to the next stage. Passed everything that followed including the medical. I handed my notice in (in a good job with a safe career) and a week before my start date, just days before I was due to finish in my job, I got a call to say they had withdrawn my offer because of my laser eye surgery.
I've since looked into it on from my understanding in the RSSB drivers can have surgery. Quote from RSSB 'European requirements
The Conventional Rail TSI Traffic Operation and Management and the Directive on the licensing and certification of drivers permits laser eye surgery for train drivers subject to annual examinations or at intervals set by the occupational doctor'.
What I want to know is 'What's the difference between me having successful laser eye surgery, and a current driver having surgery?'
'If a driver had surgery would he/she lose their job?'
'Why am I being treated differently?'
In my eyes (no pun intended) this is complete discrimination.
My eyes are healthy and to a high standard of vision and I currently do a job where you need good eyesight.
Can anyone help me on this?
Why do some TOC's accept applications from people who have undergone surgery and some don't? You still drive trains and in the same country.
I find this extremely frustrating.
How can I challenge this ridiculous decision?
I've since looked into it on from my understanding in the RSSB drivers can have surgery. Quote from RSSB 'European requirements
The Conventional Rail TSI Traffic Operation and Management and the Directive on the licensing and certification of drivers permits laser eye surgery for train drivers subject to annual examinations or at intervals set by the occupational doctor'.
What I want to know is 'What's the difference between me having successful laser eye surgery, and a current driver having surgery?'
'If a driver had surgery would he/she lose their job?'
'Why am I being treated differently?'
In my eyes (no pun intended) this is complete discrimination.
My eyes are healthy and to a high standard of vision and I currently do a job where you need good eyesight.
Can anyone help me on this?
Why do some TOC's accept applications from people who have undergone surgery and some don't? You still drive trains and in the same country.
I find this extremely frustrating.
How can I challenge this ridiculous decision?