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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Colleague can’t drive I’m doing all the driving!!

238 replies

Gisele12 · 08/02/2018 18:00

This may be quite long. I work for a company where we travel for work. The arrangement was that I’d be the one being driven until my old partner left and the only other person who was trained in the role of my old partner cannot drive.

This girl is however taking lessons, I understand they are expensive and she is genuinely doing her best however I am just getting a little of sick of doing all the driving. I get paid probably 5x more per day than what this girl gets paid (my role is higher) so not sure if I am being unreasonable.

I am self employed and my partner is PAYE so I do sometimes feel I have no obgliations to cart this girl around. There is no one else who could replace this girl and in all honesty I love my job and our working days are always fun but I just can’t be sure if I should speak to our boss and see what he thinks?

What does everyone else think?

OP posts:
myrtleWilson · 10/02/2018 11:41

So in your scenario sell there isn’t any operational reason why OP can’t drive - it’s just her preference, which to date has been accommodated (but not clear if contractually committed) to that extent then I suppose OP has to either wait for “the girl” Hmm to pass test or test her own value as an employee by seeking alternative employment

SadieHH · 10/02/2018 11:42

You know when you read a thread and you’ve got absolutely no idea what’s going on.... Confused

Skittlesss · 10/02/2018 11:44

SadieHH

Maybe it's all euphemisms and really she is talking about something completely different?

alotalotalot · 10/02/2018 11:49

High class call girls have drivers don't they?

Mamagiraffe · 10/02/2018 11:54

Having worked in domiciliary optics (as the dispenser) and also having guessed this right at the beginning of the thread yanbu. There ARE good reasons as to why the optoms are not expected to do all the driving (it has a knock on effect to speed of work and can compromise the optometrist's confidence in testing if they are not inclined towards excessive driving. There are literally hundreds of dispensers who could do this role and millions who could feasibly be trained quickly. There is a huge shortage of optoms in some areas. She has been extremely fortunate to have been partnered with someone willing to undertake the role until now. Presuming her employee rights are protected and she has a full contract with over one year work history it would not cause her difficulties for you to state your unwillingness to continue this arrangement as the onus would be on the company to find her a job in the office until such time as she can undertake the full role (and she will be getting paid far more for her role than she would in practice which is to reflect the additional driving duties). Either way yanbu but knowing the ethics of some domi companies I'd feel like a total shit if she wasn't protected as many would just drop her like a hot stone.

VelvetSpoon · 10/02/2018 11:58

You can't be self employed working for one employer or driving a company car.

In thst situation you are an employee...

LoniceraJaponica · 10/02/2018 12:01

She could be freelance and contracted to work for the employer on a long term contract

Iluvthe80s · 10/02/2018 12:04

I would not be happy being driven by someone who has just passed their test. It takes a long time to build up lots of confidence and road sense! Plus, I'm surprised HR don;t need her to pass and then have a period of builiding experience before she can do any business miles

InspMorse · 10/02/2018 12:04

Mamagiraffe
If this is the OP's job and there is a valid reason why he/she should not drive then it would have been helpful if they had explained what effect driving has on her/his job in the OP.

VelvetSpoon · 10/02/2018 12:06

No, a long term contract for one employer breaches IR35. The rules are clear.

You also shouldn't be driving a company car as s contractor. It's likely insurance cover is limited to permanent employees.

Battleax · 10/02/2018 12:07

So OP is a travelling optometrist? And she thinks driving is beneath her? That the assistant should do it?

Is that it?

BakedBeans47 · 10/02/2018 12:10

If this is the OP's job and there is a valid reason why he/she should not drive then it would have been helpful if they had explained what effect driving has on her/his job in the OP.

Agreed. The OP has made herself come across as a bit of a numpty.

ForalltheSaints · 10/02/2018 12:10

Could not the job be done one or more days a week using public transport and taxis? Given there are two people to carry things.

Leiaorganashair · 10/02/2018 12:35

Even if the Op is an optician though, the fact remains that her colleague is the only one with the right training available to be paired with her. As OP says in her opening post. She agreed to this arrangement knowing this. I don't know what she thinks she is going to achieve by going to her boss.

Battleax · 10/02/2018 12:51

It falls firmly under "can't be helped" surely? No sense of your own importance can change facts.

Shouldileavethedogs · 10/02/2018 16:05

Bet she's an icecream lady.

Pearlsaringer · 10/02/2018 16:09

Kirby vacuum demonstrator?

rothbury · 10/02/2018 16:21

so I shouldn’t have to now as I could find other work elsewhere

Why don't you do them all a favour and just do that then? You do sound really up your own arse.

ListenToTheWords · 10/02/2018 16:24

You aren't coming across well here, OP.

If you stated that you didn't want to drive in your interview, did they agree to this? If so, then they aren't keeping their side of the agreement and you have two choices - bide your time and let your colleague pass her driving test, or seek employment elsewhere.

However, I would share the amount of driving you both do. Your colleague will be newly qualified and unused to driving.

Original poster
Gisele12 · 10/02/2018 16:50

No not an Optician, home visiting dentist.

OP posts:
Eltonjohnssyrup · 10/02/2018 16:55

So why haven't you just gone elsewhere then? Bit worried you might not get a reference?

Flowerfae · 10/02/2018 17:06

If you are putting pressure on her for her to pass her test it will take her longer because she'll be nervous incase it upsets you that she hasn't passed. When she passes her test she shouldn't be expected to do all the driving either, split it. You don't need to be chauffeured around, if for some strange reason you do, pay her extra for doing it.

(I don't think this thread is real its too weird)

DontPullThatTubeOut · 10/02/2018 17:30

So no reason why you can’t drive for some of the time? I hope you aren’t putting pressure on the woman. I plan to start learning to drive soon and I’m anxious enough as it is without someone pressuring me to learn quicker. If it’s such an issue then walk away.

kissbeforelippy · 10/02/2018 17:34

Icecream lady oh, I do hope so. This has proper made me laugh.

Even the Queen drives herself sometimes OP. Get over yourself.

princesssparkle1 · 10/02/2018 17:35

So I shouldn’t have to now as I could find other work elsewhere so they should be looking to keep me happy as people in my role are hard to find

Wow.

You sound horrible.