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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

intrusive questions from employer...are they BU?

24 replies

lololizzy · 29/04/2012 21:48

Got a phone call yesterday morning from my cluster manager. She apologised for making the call but had a message to pass on from our area manager...
Could all staff who drive, let them know ALL the details on our driving licences inc details of any endorsements (with dates of the endorsements)
Is this normal to ask this? I should stress, it is NOT a driving job. Driving is NOT a part of the job and will not be. No one drives during work time (apart from, if we attend a meeting and drive to it, we are allowed to claim petrol expenses).
The cluster manager asked why they needed to know but they would not tell her. They said if anyone had a problem, to speak to the AM ourselves and explain why.
I am meant to ring back tomorrow morning with all the details. I don't have them as i simply cannot find my license, I have been out all day (Sunday my one day off at the moment), it could take hours weeks months! to find, it may not even be in my home (I moved house 3 times in last 2 yrs. Have a feeling could've left it with parents for safe keeping). So...if a policeman asked me for it, I couldn't immediately come up with it either. That would be my fault, and a problem, I admit. But surely it's nothing to do with my employers? I do need to find it (it's just in one of numerous 'safe' places, I reckon) but I don't like this pressure from them (they don't know it's 'missing' anyway).
By the way, all staff have police checks when start the job, which I didn't have problem with. I just don't know why they need this info but don't tell us why they need it.
Or am I BU?

OP posts:
Original poster
lololizzy · 29/04/2012 21:49

I'm in a retail job

OP posts:
verytellytubby · 29/04/2012 21:50

How bizarre. Could you not just say you haven't got any?

squeakytoy · 29/04/2012 21:50

If you dont drive a company vehicle, or use your own vehicle on company time/business then they have no rights to ask anything about your driving licence.

An0therName · 29/04/2012 21:52

my employer asks for a photo copy of our driving licence - I think its reasonable to ask if you go on business travel - eg meetings - also insurance companies are getting much stricter - I had to send a photocopy of my driving lience to the insurance company when I renewed - so it could be around this
I think they should tell you why though

TheCrackFox · 29/04/2012 21:52

Tell them you can't drive. Nosey buggers.

madmouse · 29/04/2012 21:52

I would say if the AM needs it they can ring you during working hours and explain why they need it.

GreenEyesAndHam · 29/04/2012 21:54

Is it for some business insurance thing maybe?

I know if you use your own car to attend meetings etc not in your usual place of work, you might not be covered by your own insurance

comedycentral · 29/04/2012 21:58

Is it part of verifying your identity for the right to work in the UK?

Original poster
lololizzy · 29/04/2012 22:00

the phone call came when i was at work. The cluster manager really hated asking doing the AM's dirty work as they wouldn't tell her why they need the info. They do know I drive, and I have recently claimed petrol expenses to attend a meeting (sometimes go to meetings by car, sometimes by train) and that's never been a problem. It COULD be that...then again, I'm outer London and most of us don't use cars..and only me and one other drive to the meetings. Most get train.
If it's for business insurance, why can't they just say. After all, they explain why they have to do the police checks (as we work with vulnerable adults, disabled volunteers, etc)

OP posts:
HateBeingCantDoUpMyJeans · 29/04/2012 22:00

Are you covered on business insurance seeing as you are using it for business by claiming montage back? I know that a previous employer of mine asked for certain details due to taking reasonable steps to ensure staff were covered.

You could try asking in the employment section if you really are that bothered.

Springforward · 29/04/2012 22:01

If you claim mileage for driving to meetings etc. I would say it's reaonable. I present mine to my line manager periodically as it's written into our travel expenses policy. I think it's to do with endorsements as my job description says I must drive and have access to a car.

Original poster
lololizzy · 29/04/2012 22:01

I don't think so Comedycentral as they do thorough checks before we start the job? and some have been with them for years.
It's just the attitude...'we can't tell you why we need the info but if you have a problem with it you can't just refuse, you must explain yourself' that kind of thing...

OP posts:
AChickenCalledKorma · 29/04/2012 22:04

I have to show someone in HR my driving licence and insurance on an annual basis. It is to prove that I am properly covered to drive to meetings (i.e. have a current licence and insurance covering business travel).

Until you said that you have claimed mileage for business travel, I would have said they were being unreasonable. But if you drive to business meetings, that could be why. No idea why it would be a big secret though!

tyler80 · 29/04/2012 22:04

yabu

if you are claiming petrol money then i think it's perfectly normal to provide these sorts of details.

Original poster
lololizzy · 29/04/2012 22:05

well...let's see what her attitude is tomorrow when I can't supply the details.

OP posts:
Original poster
lololizzy · 29/04/2012 22:05

I agree I would be U if they had given a reason...but....

OP posts:
An0therName · 29/04/2012 22:06

I should say that my employer only asks for the details if you claim driving expenses - they also ask for confirmation of your insurance and that includes business travel on it as well

Original poster
lololizzy · 29/04/2012 22:07

they didn't want insurance details just the license and endorsements. Now the insurance confirmation, I DO have to hand!

OP posts:
MooBaaWoofCheep · 29/04/2012 22:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nospringflower · 29/04/2012 22:15

We (in NHS) all have to provide details of insurance, mot and licence because we claim travel expenses so not that unusual or unreasonable I think.

AnneTwacky · 29/04/2012 22:16

If you drive to a meeting that's not at your usual place of work, it's counted as driving as company business, which is why you get petrol expenses.

Your company has to make sure that anyone driving on their business is safe and legal to do so and the only way they can do that is check your licence.

It would also be worth checking that you're insured to drive on company business through their insurance as most domestic policies don't cover this and it's not counted as commuting.

Lindax · 29/04/2012 22:17

we have had an email out recently saying anyone planning on using the company pool cars must give all their driving licensne details into HR before using and keep them informed of any changes. We never had to do this before, maybe the insurance companies are asking for more info now.

We aren't allowed to use our own cars for company business ie. travelling to meetings.

redwineformethanks · 29/04/2012 22:17

Think the law changed a year or two ago, something about employers being liable if employees caused an accident whilst driving on company business but turned out not to have a licence / insurance etc. That's probably why they're checking, but think they should tell you the reason

bogeyface · 29/04/2012 22:29

I would be pissed off that they are refusing to say why they want it. If its nothing major then why not explain?

Could it be that they are looking into instigating a "floating staff" arrangement whereby if one unit is understaffed then they can insist on you (or whoever) working there instead of your normal unit? ex's work did this and he was fuming but it turned out that it was actually in his contract that they could do it but worded in such a way as to not be immediately obvious Angry

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