AIBU to not want to do this?

[MsMarvel]

I work in a bar, and every 3/4 weeks we get our gas delivery. It always comes during the day when there is only one member of staff on, and they always expect us to help them with the delivery.

They are meant to do it all themselves, we are not meant to touch it until it's in the pub so that any damage etc is still their responsibility until I have signed for it. Also more importantly, it involved being in the cellar for 5/10 mins while the bar is open.

AIBU to tell him to either come before the pub opens or bring someone with him?

I would say to him that you can't leave the bar apart from the 1min when you check all is as it should be to sign.

We are sort of in a bind though. Because we need the gas delivery. Ideally I would tell him to come back with someone to assist him, but we are usually running pretty low when it arrives. And usually at that time of the morning there aren't any customers yet, so I seem petty, but that's not the point. I need to be available for any potential customers.

I ended up helping him today but when I was signing for it, told him that he needs to either arrive before the pub opens and/or bring someone with him to help him. He seemed annoyed and all I got in return was 'we have to deliver when we deliver'. What the hell does that even mean??

Presumably though, there are other suppliers of gas so if they don't do it someone else would. He is being paid to deliver it himself. You probably are not insured to be helping him. Raise it with your manager and find out what they want to do about it and stick to that - if your manager says do it, confirm in writing that they've said that and ask for confirmation that you are covered by insurance doing this as its not part of your normal job description.

I've mentioned it to the manager before, and he has agreed that we shouldn't be doing it, but basically said it makes things easier if we do. He did however day he would phone them and tell them to come before 11am. Which he obviously hasn't done.

Why does he need help? I've only ever known one person to deliver gas and they've always done fine by themselves.

OK, well go down the 'please confirm that I am still insured if I do this' bit and see where that gets you.

What do you have to do - is there any lifting etc that you have to do that you don't normally do in your job? Why does it take 2 people to deliver?

Whoever is in charge needs to contact the company & infirm them that the pub staff are not able to assist with the delivery do unless they can manage alone an alternative supplier will be found.

Our cellar is pretty awkward. We have a windy staircase down, and they always seem to hate carrying all the empty ones up then all the full ones down, either one or two at a time.

We have a delivery hatch/chute but that needs two people because someone needs to catch/move the cylinders as they come in. Which is what I was stuck with doing today. As well as hooking all the empties onto a rope one by one for him to pull up. It's not my job.

Last time I did it one of the full cylinders fell on the cellar floor and he shouted down to be careful. It's not my fucking job!!

Do you know approx when it will arrive?

If so, why doesn't the manager make sure he's there to help??

I don't think there's any set time when it arrives. It doesn't even seem to always be the same day of the week. Seems to be just when they can be bothered.

We are unfortunately tied to this company though because we are a brewery pub and they supply all the pubs.

I'm thinking of lying to my manager and saying I pulled a muscle in my shoulder (not a total lie, I have a sore shoulder that I've had for over a year now, and it's a lot spree after that) and using that as my reason for me not doing it any more.

I think the main argument is that you can't leave the bar for that long. A minute or two, sure, but down in the cellar for 10 minutes is not really on.

I'm not sure you can force them to deliver at a certain time, but you can say that if they deliver during opening hours then you can't help them. So that leaves it up to them: do it on their own or get there earlier.

If it's a problem next time ask your manager to be there for it. It's only once a month, he should be able to sort that.

Oh right.

That's not very helpful then.

I thought you might at least know for example monday before 12 iyswim.

If you're not supposed to help though then I agree that you shouldn't.

Don't do it. Let them run out of gas. They will learn.

I know that if I refuse then my manager will think I'm totally over reacting and being a jobsworth.

I've just emailed the gas company asking for clarification on delivery procedures. When I get that I will have a better idea of what is expected and can then go in with a firmer stance with my manager.

I'm pretty sure I'm not meant to help, but there is a little niggle in my mind in case my manager has said to the guy that we are happy to help.

So if the manager thinks that you shouldn't, but it makes things easier, he needs to make sure that someone is there doesn't he, so that there's also someone there for customers?

Or he needs to decide what you should be doing.

Helping, not helping, helping until/unless there's a customer.

Manager and then area manager.

Your area manager will have more clout and will be able to tell your manager to pull their finger out, as well as the delivery company.

You should not help get any deliveries in, for reasons you have posted. Never! They are insured, you are not. It is their job, you have yours.

If the brewery owns the gas company then they need to know so that they can stop one hand bothering the other. If it is bought in they can use such stupidities as leverage for better service/price negotiations.

Don't let it lie.

It's quite good to get the clarification that it isn't standard. We should not be helping with any deliveries, part of the contract is for them to deliver the products into the building isn't it?

"part of the contract is for them to deliver the products into the building isn't it?"

Well that would make sense, would't it?

What about beer etc?

Beer delivery is done by two delivery men, the put all the kegs in the cellar in the right place, and put all the spirits, soft drinks, bottles etc in a pile in the middle of the cellar which we then put away. But they deliver it all into the building before we even touch it.

I've just had a phonecall from the gas company. They said that the driver should be delivering himself, but that he might not have enough allocated time for the site, so the guy on the phone is going to get the driver's manager to come out to do a site visit to see what improvements can be made for everyone. I also offered the option of arriving between 10-11, which we could assist with.

I'm now however really worried that I've totally gone over my managers head with this! I am assistant manager so not totally without authority but this seems quite official now!

When the delivery men/man arrives, say "I'm just off to the loo and then I have some stock to do" and disapear. If they ask for help say "I'm tied up at the moment"

And peruse a stock book or go on the phone. Do this every time.

You'll be fine. Your manager should say thank you! Remember to let your area manager know how clever you have been .

Now you know you have been taken advantage of by a delivery man who hasn't managed his route properly, or has been given too many deliveries to do. A check has been arranged to see what can be done to correct it. DO NOT REPEAT YOUR OFFER OF HELP!!! They need to get their contract right, not you! The guy on the phone has told you this. Let them sort it out for themselves.