Advise Needed

[Lp541487]

I’ve been offered a trainee driver role by 2 different toc’s. One starts this month and the other in September.

If I started with the first one and wanted to leave when the other one started, would there be a fee you would have to pay back?

 

[driver9000]

Depends on the contract you sign which you should read carefully before accepting if you plan on jumping in 8 weeks time. If you would rather work for the company that is giving you a start date in September then don't bother taking the job at the other company. You're wasting their time and your time.

 

[SouthernStar]

I’ve never heard of paying “a fee“ when leaving a job, usually the TOC will request all company issued items to be returned and you wouldn’t be expected to serve notice whilst training. It’s certainly a privileged position to be in choosing between two trainee driver jobs! Surely it would be better to just pick the one that suits your needs If they’re only a month apart! By signing up to the first TOC and then pulling out a month latter, would only disappoint your DM by denying someone else a place on that course.

 

[Miky_G]

Take the job that starts sooner. On a few occasions I've read on here that a toc has pulled the job at the last moment only for the new starter to be left jobless.

 

[Twotwo]

I’ve been offered a trainee driver role by 2 different toc’s. One starts this month and the other in September.

If I started with the first one and wanted to leave when the other one started, would there be a fee you would have to pay back?

Why bother starting with one if your going to jump ships after a few weeks. It's waste of your time and their time?

 

[Bubba]

It isnt uncommon for companies to deduct from the final salary any training costs an employee has recently had. When putting an employee through training, the company is investing in this person for the longer term benefit of the business. So it wouldnt surprise me if they did similar with you.

 

[Juliet Barvo]

I’ve been offered a trainee driver role by 2 different toc’s. One starts this month and the other in September.

If I started with the first one and wanted to leave when the other one started, would there be a fee you would have to pay back?

If you left a job on the railway there would only be a fee to pay back if you had signed a training agreement and they're not enforced in law anyway.

 

[Lp541487]

Take the job that starts sooner. On a few occasions I've read on here that a toc has pulled the job at the last moment only for the new starter to be left jobless.

This is what I’m worried about, I have seen on here that job offers have been pulled

 

[Galleon]

This is what I’m worried about, I have seen on here that job offers have been pulled

Years ago I had similar. TOC suddenly postponed the start date and kept postponing it, final offered start date came in nearly two years after the initial one. Take the bird in hand.

 

[Val3ntine]

Lets put it this way, you clearly have an interest in both companies hence applying for them right? So lets say hypothetically you do what you suggest, start with the one that starts sooner and then leave. What if in say 5/6/10 years time the company you originally started with has a ridiculously massive pay rise; something stupid like 10% and you now wish to apply there as a qualified driver. And again to be even more hypothetical, what if the company you are with has had a pay freeze for the last couple of years with no prospect of a pay rise in the distant future. An unnecessary burnt bridge in my opinion.

 

[PudseyBearHST]

I’m all for “no such thing as loyalty” and doing what’s best for yourself etc… but I don’t think that’s right to join a company with the intention to start with another company within a couple of months for a trainee driver’s job that takes approx a year to complete training. Someone else could have had that place but won’t be able to by then as it’s too far into the course

 

[Samzino]

Take the one that starts soonest as others have said. If you're going to jump ship for any reason then you take the one that starts later. No point hoping out of a course 2 months and wasting both your time and others. Someone else more willing could have that place.

 

[Twotwo]

I'd actually be careful if I was you because based on your previous comments it's not hard to figure out which tocs you are referring to and depot etc

 

[bouff34]

If I was the hiring manager for the second role and found out what you had done or what you were planning...I personally would withdraw the offer for the second role... just my viewpoint and probably won't be shared by others..

Your biggest risk is any pre-employment checks which will clearly show you employed by the first TOC or alternately your P45 will also clearly show your last employer...

 

[Lp541487]

If I was the hiring manager for the second role and found out what you had done or what you were planning...I personally would withdraw the offer for the second role... just my viewpoint and probably won't be shared by others..

Your biggest risk is any pre-employment checks which will clearly show you employed by the first TOC or alternately your P45 will also

Your 100% right, totally unethical, I will choose what’s best for me and let the other toc that I won’t be accepting the offer

 

[Bubba]

If you left a job on the railway there would only be a fee to pay back if you had signed a training agreement and they're not enforced in law anyway.

They are, if its stated in the contract and signed by the employee.

 

[AverageJoe]

If I was the hiring manager for the second role and found out what you had done or what you were planning...I personally would withdraw the offer for the second role... just my viewpoint and probably won't be shared by others..

Your biggest risk is any pre-employment checks which will clearly show you employed by the first TOC or alternately your P45 will also clearly show your last employer...

Agreed.

Starting off on the wrong foot if you ask me, even entertaining the idea isn’t a good sign and I’ve seen plenty of people in the rail industry who look after no1 so much that they will happily screw over the toc and colleagues without a second thought.

I would suggest the OP doesn’t become one of those people as they are not liked or respected and often the toc are happy to find a way to move them on.

 

[skyhigh]

While it varies by TOC, your notice period will almost certainly be longer than 8 weeks. So you'd either have to give less notice than is contractually required, or just not turn up one day and send in a message that effectively says "I've resigned, bye".

Either way taking a valuable and limited training course position when you know you're not going to stay is hugely selfish and hurts others in the talent pool and the company who agreed to train you.

While the railway industry is reasonably large, people know people and you'd probably find your reputation followed or even preeceded you to the new TOC.

Short answer - don't do it.

 

[NWLad]

The fact that you have even had to come on here and ask for this advice is quite alarming.

You’re in a very privileged position to be able to pick and choose what TOC you start your training with.

In my opinion I’d pick the one that suits me best and I like the sound of more and let the other position go.

 

[transportphoto]

I think we’ve offered the OP sufficient food for thought. I’ll bring the thread to a close.