Employee & mates

[Fendt]

I am frequently annoyed by my main tractor driver who seems to spend a lot of time taking phone calls from his mates while at work. This also then follows on to having mates suddenly appear as soon as any field work starts to come for a ride with him on whatever job he’s doing. Tonight he was dragging land in front of the drill, mate turned up for a ride, next time I look over the mate is driving the tractor. I stopped and went over and gave him a bollocking. I just want to get other people’s thoughts because In none of my previous jobs have I ever taken the pee enough to constantly talk on the phone to mates while working, and I wouldn’t dream of letting someone else drive the machine I was supposed to be responsible for. I am basically on the verge of firing him if it doesn’t stop

 

[Lofty1984]

I am frequently annoyed by my main tractor driver who seems to spend a lot of time taking phone calls from his mates while at work. This also then follows on to having mates suddenly appear as soon as any field work starts to come for a ride with him on whatever job he’s doing. Tonight he was dragging land in front of the drill, mate turned up for a ride, next time I look over the mate is driving the tractor. I stopped and went over and gave him a bollocking. I just want to get other people’s thoughts because In none of my previous jobs have I ever taken the pee enough to constantly talk on the phone to mates while working, and I wouldn’t dream of letting someone else drive the machine I was supposed to be responsible for. I am basically on the verge of firing him if it doesn’t stop

It depends on the hours he’s doing if he’s doing daft hours with no time to socialise then it’s not unreasonable to have mates turn up if they don’t interfere with his work, however don’t agree that he’s letting them have a go and talking on the phone lots while he should be concentrating is not on either, how old is he out of interest

 

[ridger]

Similar problem here, every time I look at someone they are looking at their phone. Every time. And there isn't enough work getting done and a toilet break is half a hour and I'm ready to explode now anytime

 

[betweenthelines]

Write him (and all other staff) a letter setting out what you expect of him. Such as only using phone during agreed breaks, no passengers on tractor or machinery, friends and family only by prior agreement. Say it's an insurance requirement if you want

Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.

 

[wanton dwarf]

I wouldn't allow any mates onsite at any time. The employee is not in a position to offer any use of any equipment to any none employee at any time.

This is a place of work. Employers liability and health & safety rules apply.

However, if the people visiting are useful to the business then they could come as guests. Your guests not his.

 

[Lincs Lass]

Employers insurance will only cover your staff ,not every man and his dog that wants to play with your machinery

 

[Lofty1984]

Just for arguments sake say lad is tidy at his job and is doing 70-80 hours a week which leaves no time to see his mates or speak to them if phones banned untill breaks how long do you think you will keep him if you say no visitors and only use your phone at break time ?? Or would you rather him turn around at 5 every day and say right I’m off out with my mates

 

[melted welly]

I am frequently annoyed by my main tractor driver who seems to spend a lot of time taking phone calls from his mates while at work. This also then follows on to having mates suddenly appear as soon as any field work starts to come for a ride with him on whatever job he’s doing. Tonight he was dragging land in front of the drill, mate turned up for a ride, next time I look over the mate is driving the tractor. I stopped and went over and gave him a bollocking. I just want to get other people’s thoughts because In none of my previous jobs have I ever taken the pee enough to constantly talk on the phone to mates while working, and I wouldn’t dream of letting someone else drive the machine I was supposed to be responsible for. I am basically on the verge of firing him if it doesn’t stop

You want to nip it in the bud. Was a chap here briefly who did similar, I was younger and greener and went softly softly. He had bellends turning up and driving their cars round the fields, he finally tipped me over edge when he choked the straw remover at the carrots when on the phone and just sat finishing his conversation with pto going and burnt the belts out. Was fit to burst after running over 30 odd beds of straw.

Sort it out sooner rather than later would be my advice. Cheap company mobile phones provided for work and a ban on personal phone use out with break times.

 

[devonbrion1998]

Yes I get the same with casual staff, It's not on, probably best get shot of him and start afresh, then lay the laws down before you take anyone else on, absolutely no phone to be seen in anyone's hands at any time, unless on a break, I must have been losing an hours labor a day by calls texting and checking the social media pages, drives me nuts, starts off a quick peep at the phone and a month later they literally never put the thing away, and he should have more respect than let his mates on-site let alone drive you Tractors, sack the pri*k.

 

[Lincs Lass]

I know Ive been out of touch with tractors for a good few years but I thought with all the hitech wiz kidery guidance systems now used ,,it was a case of dropping in at the headland and put your feet up till you got to the other end ,thus leaving the driver some time to take in the surroundings

 

[ARW]

work time is for work

Put him right, if he is any good he will change and shape himself, if he leaves then he is the next mans problem.
Some people talk crap all day on the phone, they have other people who are willing to talk crap all day too.
They don’t ring me

 

[Chae1]

Sounds like a right t!t.

I don't make any personal calls at work. People probably think I'm a antisocial barsteward but i don't call others and they don't call me, they know i won't answer. My wife knows not to call unless its a emergency.

I can almost guarantee something will go wrong if I'm on phone and operating something at same time. I can't multi task. If i have to make or take a call involving work i just stop.

 

[abitdaft]

If he was employed in a factory or pretty much any other business he would not get away with it. Regarding his social life, he must have been aware of what was involved, sorry, no excuse! To allow anyone else to operate machinery surely is gross misconduct. To give the employee a chance I would issue a verbal and written warning, after that I am afraid out the door!


Unless he is super sh!t hot at his job

 

[Devil's advocate]

Just think what would happen on a building site, if this clown was a plant operator.

He is showing no respect, get rid.

 

[betweenthelines]

Just for arguments sake say lad is tidy at his job and is doing 70-80 hours a week which leaves no time to see his mates or speak to them if phones banned untill breaks how long do you think you will keep him if you say no visitors and only use your phone at break time ?? Or would you rather him turn around at 5 every day and say right I’m off out with my mates

Mobile phones have only been in common use for around 25 years.

To anyone under 40, I would point out that people actually managed to live a normal life before then. Even managed to work long hours without the need to text anyone.

Nobody has a "right" to use a mobile phone at work.

 

[Lofty1984]

I love this place threads and threads running about struggling to find good staff and the knee jerk reaction from you lot is sack him he’s a pr*ck no wonder we can’t keep people in Ag with that attitude, none of you know all the facts about this lad other than what @Fendt has written yet you all think you know best

 

[Grandad Pig]

I am a lecturer at an agricultural college. Bloody phones out during lectures, while carrying out field operations, while in the workshops. Don’t get me wrong, I often glance at my phone to read texts or emails during the day but the youngsters today seem addicted to them. Ban the things during working hours in my opinion. As for mates turning up, your insurance company would have a fit if someone got hurt. H&S executive likewise if someone got seriously hurt or killed.

 

[betweenthelines]

If he was employed in a factory or pretty much any other business he would not get away with it. Regarding his social life, he must have been aware of what was involved, sorry, no excuse! To allow anyone else to operate machinery surely is gross misconduct. To give the employee a chance I would issue a verbal and written warning, after that I am afraid out the door!


Unless he is super sh!t hot at his job

Not true, most workplaces have rules about mobile phone use during working hours especially in relation to H&S

 

[abitdaft]

I love this place threads and threads running about struggling to find good staff and the knee jerk reaction from you lot is sack him he’s a plonker no wonder we can’t keep people in Ag with that attitude, none of you know all the facts about this lad other than what @Fendt has written yet you all think you know best

I think that the worst offence is allowing someone who is not employed by the company and therefore uninsured is the biggest issue and certainly a sackable one. It would be different if permission was requested and insurance company notified to cover the company beforehand.

 

[yellow belly]

If mate got hurt in tractor the cost could bankrupt the farm health and safety take a very dim view on passengers