Bus driver sacked after pub lunch

[anthony263]

Just seen this:

http://www.eastbourneherald.co.uk/news/local-news/bus_driver_fired_after_pub_lunch_1_3105636

Was telling this to someone i know who works for stagecoach cymru, who is now checking the rulebook he was given as he didnt know this rule.

Hell i have had lunch in a pub during my lunchbreak in Swansea as burger king etc was packed ( Good job i am no longer working for veolia lol) - i would also like to say that the only drink i had was 1 glass of pepsi with my cottage pie

 

[Mojo]

I thought it was standard practice in most transport companies that entering licensed premises whilst in uniform or wearing a name badge was not permitted? Certainly the two railway companies I have worked for have held that policy.

 

[anthony263]

Well, i didnt know that, good job i always take a packed lunch or call into burger king etc depending where i am taking my lunch break

 

[Harlesden]

If we complain about transport staff being penalized over breaking well publicized rules, how can we then comment on passengers who break rules but then challenge the penalty despite the rule appearing common sense.
Nobody likes to see a hardworking individual lose his job, but in this case, he should have made his partner well aware of the rule if they were in the habit of meeting up during his lunch break. Only the employee himself knows why he decided on a pub toilet to use rather than an alternative.

 

[mbonwick]

From the comments on the article, it sounds like this driver got his comeuppance and had been deserving a sacking for a fair while...

 

[robertclark125]

He makes the point about licensed premises, and that cafes are licensed. The key point is that you need a license to serve food, and a license to serve Alcohol, and to me, if someone says a licensed premises, I'd assume a Pub, or Hotel.

Those commenters who critisise Stagecoach management might want to ask this question; if they were a manager of a company and they had a rule and they had staff who broke it, would they turn a blind eye?

 

[anthony263]

He makes the point about licensed premises, and that cafes are licensed. The key point is that you need a license to serve food, and a license to serve Alcohol, and to me, if someone says a licensed premises, I'd assume a Pub, or Hotel.

Those commenters who critisise Stagecoach management might want to ask this question; if they were a manager of a company and they had a rule and they had staff who broke it, would they turn a blind eye?

No i wouldnt, i would call them into the office and hear their side of the story. Also i would take in account theyr record, if this is a 1st inccident then i would give them a written warning.

I dont think we have everything as to this drivers previous record, as for the driver claiming he cant find work surely there are other bus operators?

 

[jon0844]

Very interesting to read the comments! Is this another case of trying to gain sympathy from the general public, like a certain station manager who prevented a nasty accident by moving a trolley from the track?

And then a few people come on and fill in some blanks which changes everything more than Steve Jobs launching a new shiny gadget.

 

[MCR247]

Its sooo funny ready the comments!

 

[es373]

Too right! It is company policy in MOST places that you should not be in any premises that sells alcohol or purchase alcohol while in uniform bearing the company name/logo etc.

I'm not saying he brought alcohol, before someone jumps down my neck!

Absolutely sickening that another driver reported him. In most cases you should never poo on your own doorstep or grass on your own kind!
I can understand if he thought the driver was drinking on the job but a friendly chat wouldn't go a miss!
What a jobsworth!!!

 

[ivanhoe]

Does the policy cover going to the pub after your shift ends, whilst still in Uniform?

 

[es373]

Yes it does. I know someone who was wearing the company belt bearing company logo on the buckle and he was photographed by a known problem-spotter and the picture was sent to the company!
Not a lot happened other than a quiet word but it's still procedure. Gotta cover your arse in today's world unfortunately!

 

[CarterUSM]

Yes it does. I know someone who was wearing the company belt bearing company logo on the buckle and he was photographed by a known problem-spotter and the picture was sent to the company!
Not a lot happened other than a quiet word but it's still procedure. Gotta cover your arse in today's world unfortunately!

Aye, grasses all over the shop.

 

[jon0844]

If he had a 'history', perhaps other drivers couldn't wait to grab their opportunity...

 

[CarterUSM]

If he had a 'history', perhaps other drivers couldn't wait to grab their opportunity...

I was thinking that myself as a matter of fact!

 

[davo882000]

Pub food is cheaper better and more healthy (even eating a burger or steak) than the cardboard crap mcd and bugger king serve us (and you get a smile with a pub lunch)

 

[richw]

Eastbournebusboy commenting on that article obviously has a dislike to this particular bloke.

 

[GearJammer]

Yes it does. I know someone who was wearing the company belt bearing company logo on the buckle and he was photographed by a known problem-spotter and the picture was sent to the company!
Not a lot happened other than a quiet word but it's still procedure. Gotta cover your arse in today's world unfortunately!

Well wearing a belt is covering your a*** is'nt it? lol ......sorry

Have to agree tho, you don't stitch up ya work mates.

 

[es373]

Even I'd the guy had a history, you don't grass on colleagues!! If you're not in the industry and some how manage to get in, I hope you get reported and then sacked! Proper shallow comment.
Should it have been safety critical/hazard/near miss then yeah go and report but not for this.

I wonder if it went to the press before or after he was sacked (may have been malicious threat) because if the reporting employee threatened to go to the press then the supervisor would have his hands tied and would have to protect company image.

 

[jon0844]

I can sort of see why a company fight fear a driver being seen in a pub, with people thinking the worst - but most pubs are now geared more around food than drink (simply because they don't pay loads of tax on food so there's LOADS more profit).

As a result, many more people are eating in these pubs and not necessarily drinking. Beer sales are in fact way down now, with people more likely to drink wine with a meal.

So, unless there had already been previous warnings that we don't know about (but some comments allude to) I'd have expected a private word and warning would have been it.

Being sacked may have been an embarrassment, so the person went to the media to say 'Look, they sacked me only for having something to eat' as a way of saving face, not expecting people to come on and reveal the extra detail.

 

[ivanhoe]

Christ it sounds like you bus drivers have to put up with some **** nowadays. Grassing, unless it really is safety related is not on . Are most of you guys in Unions nowadays? Or does Management frown on this basic right?

 

[mbonwick]

Grassing, unless it really is safety related is not on . Are most of you guys in Unions nowadays? Or does Management frown on this basic right?

You can possibly see where the 'snitch' is coming from though; if it's well known that he was caught with a pint while on duty previously, then if you saw him in a pub, you'd assume the worst. I certainly would.

So, although I agree that grassing for trivial things is wrong, in this case I would have done the same - how do you know he hasn't had a pint and paid cash before you saw him?

With regards unions, I do believe most drivers (up here at least) do belong to one

 

[anthony263]

If he was drinking a pint or perhaps more than 1 then yes i probably would if i knew that they were expected to be going back on duty. (This has actually happened involving a russian driver (Eastern european then) who was new to the company that used to operate where i lived) Besides tif they the went back out and have a accident and it is found out that say i knew and didnt report it then i suspect that i would be geting hauled in the bosses office and could be getting sacked.

If its something minor then i wouldnt really care and take no notice

 

[mbonwick]

Yes, but I think you've missed the point of what I was trying to say.

People are saying this was a minor incident. In isolation it may be, but given the supposed history the driver has, it's more serious.

Like I said, if I was at the company and knew that this driver had been drinking on duty before, I'd have no hesitation in reporting him - there's no way of knowing if he's had a drink (or more) that you can't see.

 

[es373]

If he was reported for drinking on shift then BY LAW he has to take a D&A test, if he refuses he is sacked and taken to court to face some nasty charges and hefty fines!

 

[ReverendFozz]

At first glance, this seems a harsh decision, but rules are rules, they are there for a reason, I personally dont see a problem with having a pub lunch, but I can see why a company doesn't want employees there.

If comments on the Eastbourne Newspaper Website are anything to go by then this fella has a history of disciplinary issues, so it was probably the final nail in his coffin as far as stagecoach is concerned.

I used to know of an inspector for Go North East(Wear Buses at the time) years ago who used to sit in a pub to try catch drivers out for all sorts of things, his favourite tactic being to sit at the window, closed curtains and minimal light, he would sometimes sit there for hours

 

[Statto]

At first glance, this seems a harsh decision, but rules are rules, they are there for a reason, I personally dont see a problem with having a pub lunch, but I can see why a company doesn't want employees there.

If comments on the Eastbourne Newspaper Website are anything to go by then this fella has a history of disciplinary issues, so it was probably the final nail in his coffin as far as stagecoach is concerned.

I used to know of an inspector for Go North East(Wear Buses at the time) years ago who used to sit in a pub to try catch drivers out for all sorts of things, his favourite tactic being to sit at the window, closed curtains and minimal light, he would sometimes sit there for hours

I agree, there's more than meets the eye in this case. Would a bus company sack any driver who's been seen in a pub, who has no previous disciplinary history?

Also what if a drivers finished there shift for the day[&/or has a few days break from work], would the bus company still take disciplinary action then, if the drivers seen in the Pub with his uniform on?

 

[mbonwick]

Also what if a drivers finished there shift for the day[&/or has a few days break from work], would the bus company still take disciplinary action then, if the drivers seen in the Pub with his uniform on?

I doubt action would be taken. An informal chat with your manager is more likely [for a first offence]. I know round here Stagecoach depot management try to maintain a good working relationship with the drivers, and use common sense.

 

[ReverendFozz]

Is there really a problem with a bus driver going to Wetherspoons or whereever for his dinner, I see Stagecoachs point in this, but surely it is no problem, as long as the driver does not have a drink and if he is suspected to have had a drink, simply brethalyze them.

This guy has not been sacked simply for that, I think that much is pretty clear.

It got me thinking, if a driver cant go in a pub, could he breaching rules if he steps into an off licence, when he, say, goes to buy his paper and a pack of fags, the offy, has a licence to sell alcohol after all

 

[es373]

If you care to have read my previous post then the answer is yes, while wearing uniform it is against company policy.