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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to say something to manager

45 replies

IronFists234 · 27/11/2017 07:54

...about the fact I'm 95% sure he's using his phone to contact employees whilst in crawling motorway traffic?

He's supposed to be opening the store. He can't due to the traffic he's stuck in and has been sending pictures of the traffic, saying he's still on the motorway and ringing us to ask us to come in early to replace him. Whilst driving a car, albeit quite slowly.

So AIBU to be really annoyed he's so obviously using his phone on the motorway?

OP posts:
AlternativeTentacle · 27/11/2017 07:58

So AIBU to be really annoyed he's so obviously using his phone on the motorway

Huh? Really?

Slarti · 27/11/2017 08:00

YANBU for feeling annoyed. You feel what you feel. Not sure what you think you'll achieve by saying anything to him though. After being stuck in traffic and stressing about the store not being opened on time and having the responsibility of drafting in reluctant cover it will probably be akin to poking a bear with a stick, so I wouldn't.

juxtaPostion · 27/11/2017 08:03

The question I always ask myself is what is the outcome I want from an action, how likely is this outcome and, most importantly, what is likely to happen if I do nothing.

I suggest you do nothing. What do you hope to achieve?

ZigZagandDustin · 27/11/2017 08:08

I think that if you feel strongly enough about this you need to have a quiet word warning that you will need to report him if he is.

Hulababy · 27/11/2017 08:11

Well he shouldn't be using his phone to take photos or text. But as for ringing - maybe he's doing this hands free, which is legal.

Collaborate · 27/11/2017 08:12

There's nothing illegal about him phoning people provided he's using a hands free system. So don't mention that, as that will invalidate the other part of it, which is him taking photos.

If he's in traffic that has actually stopped it's technically illegal for him to take photos and text or email them. If he's on company time the company may be vicariously liable for him. If however he's only doing it when traffic has stopped dead, I wouldn't bother.

EBearhug · 27/11/2017 08:14

If he's using hands free, it's fine, but I'm guessing if he's taking photos, he's not. Phning people on hands free to ask them to open the store is reasonable, but the photos aren't.

Maybe you could remind him of the law on using mobile devices while driving and that as manager, he should be setting an example of good practice. If it were me, I'd also be reminding him of a recent safety briefing, but as I'm pretty sure we don't work for the same employer, you may not have had a safety briefing like that.

juxtaPostion · 27/11/2017 08:14

If he's on company time the company may be vicariously liable for him.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Love it!

BillywilliamV · 27/11/2017 08:25

If hes driving in then the company has nothing to do with it. If the traffic has stopped then hes not doing anything dangerous. If hes sending photos then hes obviously very stressed and worried that you might not believe him. Make him a cuppa when he gets in and seriously, find something else to worry about...

Happyemoji · 27/11/2017 08:26

He could always manage you out. I would tread carefully as there is a long que of people waiting to take your job.

Happyemoji · 27/11/2017 08:27

Poor bloke

FitBitFanClub · 27/11/2017 08:29

What has this got to do with you?

Sallycinnamum · 27/11/2017 08:31

Have you got too much time on your hands OP? You're being petty and this won't end well for you. Find something else to worry about.

Maursh · 27/11/2017 08:32

What he is doing is illegal and if he is caught he will be sanctioned in accordance to the law.
But under these circumstances it doesn't sound as if what he is doing is dangerous since he is in stand-still traffic.

So, why do you feel the need to interfere?

extinctspecies · 27/11/2017 08:33

How do you know he's not using hands-free?

He's trying to sort out a tricky situation. Sounds like you don't like him and are deliberately trying to find fault.

LunasSpectreSpecs · 27/11/2017 08:35

Have you heard of hands-free?

user4321 · 27/11/2017 08:38

If I were you I wouldn’t interfere. He was in the situation and would have been able to judge if it was safe to use his phone (I.e. maybe it was stopped at times). If I was stuck in heavy, non-moving traffic and I needed to let someone know I would make the call.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 27/11/2017 08:45

He’s in stationary traffic.

Do everyone a favour and do something far more bloody useful than reporting such a non event.

Ragwort · 27/11/2017 08:49

You sound really unkind, the manager is probably very worried about not opening the store and is doing his best to arrange cover, why aren't you offering to go in and open the store if you have so much time on your hands.

I work in retail and managing key holders, people to open/close on time is not easy.

Auspiciouspanda · 27/11/2017 09:06

Whilst it is illegal if he's stopped in standstill traffic then there's a low chance of any danger so I feel that this a mind your own business situation.

SillyMoomin · 27/11/2017 09:07

Op is probably just annoyed she’s been asked to go in

steff13 · 27/11/2017 09:12

This feels like something that doesn't really affect you. What is your desired outcome? What he's doing may be illegal, but it didn't sound particularly dangerous, and is also an unusual situation.

EmilyChambers79 · 27/11/2017 09:13

What would you like work to do when you tell them? What would be a satisfactory outcome for you?

Oliversmumsarmy · 27/11/2017 09:17

If he's in traffic that has actually stopped it's technically illegal for him to take photos and text or email

What if he isn't actually in the car.
I was stuck in traffic that was at a standstill. Police we could see were trying to clear a pile up from the road. A lot of people had got out of there cars and were on their phones stood by the side of their cars. The cars were effectively parked. I don't see the issue.

Collaborate · 27/11/2017 09:26

Oliversmumsarmy I seriously doubt he's got out of the car. The taking of the photo might not be technically unlawful but the getting out of the car will be. Think about what would happen if a motorbike was passing the parked cars at the moment a car door is opened.

JuxtaPosition not sure whether your post is doubting the principle of vicarious liability or celebrating it. Just in case it's the former: www.cms-lawnow.com/ealerts/2003/12/new-mobile-phone-laws-employers-liability?cc_lang=en