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Driving & work meetings

16 replies

Dove6FromAbove · 14/12/2024 13:40

Informal team meetings take place remotely. General updates, that sort of thing. Manager asked people to join even if driving.

OP posts:
Glittertwins · 14/12/2024 13:41

Nobody should be requested to join a work meeting whilst driving, even if it is hands free.

Cheepcheepcheep · 14/12/2024 13:46

Are these 1) calls taking place during contracted hours and 2) is the driving also work related?

Only reason that I could think of for manager being reasonable here is if there’s eg a 5pm meeting, employee is contracted until 5.30pm but drives 5pm-5.30pm to pick up a child. In that case it’s very generous of the employer to let person join while driving (although arguably it’s not a good idea).

We have a regular 9.30am meeting (contracted from 9.30am so it’s first thing) and if people have transport issues they often join from the train, but that’s their choice and not a frequent occurrence.

MrsPinkCock · 14/12/2024 14:19

I’m not sure it would be any more dangerous than a phone call from the car. But I do a lot of calls from my car so travel time isn’t wasted.

obsessedwithfreshbread · 14/12/2024 14:25

Our company has mandated that nobody is to take work calls when driving

Microgal · 14/12/2024 14:29

Health and safety would be very against that in my workplace. We are not even allowed to walk and talk in the phone on site or text while walking!

Dove6FromAbove · 14/12/2024 15:49

@Cheepcheepcheep yes the meeting is during contracted hours.

Those driving are usually commuting to the office, sometimes not their usual office or to a meeting.

If you're on the train, I think that's understandable.

I think it's the fact you're driving and also trying to concentrate on the info discussed in the meeting that doesn't make it sit right with me.

OP posts:
Dove6FromAbove · 14/12/2024 15:50

Thanks to those who have posted so far. I mentioned it to my manager, their view is that it's like taking a call but took it on board.

I think there's a difference between being asked to join and someone deciding to without a mandate from above.

OP posts:
RosesAndHellebores · 14/12/2024 15:55

No. Just No. I am pretty sure the corporate insurance wouldn't cover in those circumstances. Or the driving insurance.

UndeniablyGenX · 14/12/2024 15:59

yes the meeting is during contracted hours.
Those driving are usually commuting to the office, sometimes not their usual office or to a meeting.

Slightly confused - surely they shouldn't be commuting during their contracted hours, barring unexpected circumstances.

Schoolchoicesucks · 14/12/2024 16:29

UndeniablyGenX · 14/12/2024 15:59

yes the meeting is during contracted hours.
Those driving are usually commuting to the office, sometimes not their usual office or to a meeting.

Slightly confused - surely they shouldn't be commuting during their contracted hours, barring unexpected circumstances.

I don't think people should be asked to join a work meeting while driving. I don't think people should be commuting during working hours.

Musicaltheatremum · 14/12/2024 16:53

When we were doing telephone consultations during COVID our medical defence unions said we had to ask the patient to pull over and not have a conversation whilst driving as it wasn't considered safe.

Whijfif · 14/12/2024 17:25

We have to pull over to take a call when driving for work. There's no way we'd be allowed to join a meeting while driving! If we were in the car during such a meeting, as people are at my work, would be expected to park up and join/contribute to the meeting.

I'm another one confused why people are commuting during working hours.

WorkCleanRepeat · 14/12/2024 17:31

We'd be expected to pull over. It absolutely would not be acceptable to join a Microsoft teams call whilst driving during business hours.

I know some people that will dial in and listen to town hall style events whilst driving but nothing they would need to participate in.

Microgal · 14/12/2024 18:05

Plenty of people commute during work hours for various reasons I do it a few times a week because I log on at 7 and then log back off at 8:25 and drop my dc to school and then get to site for 8:50.

Cheepcheepcheep · 14/12/2024 18:54

Microgal · 14/12/2024 18:05

Plenty of people commute during work hours for various reasons I do it a few times a week because I log on at 7 and then log back off at 8:25 and drop my dc to school and then get to site for 8:50.

If that’s an established set up then you’re not commuting during work hours, it’s a meeting that’s happening outside your work hours. I don’t work Mondays, so Mondays are not my contracted hours, and I couldnt be expected to dial in any more than I would be expected to at 8am or 8pm on a workday.

Just because the rest of the workplace is working then, doesn’t mean it in your working hours.

Spirallingdownwards · 14/12/2024 18:59

Why are people commuting in their contacted hours? As much as I would say no to should you log in to zoom meetings if yiu are commuting when you should be working then it's a yes.

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