Employee wanting to borrow machinery

[Pond digger]

Under no circumstances would I be covered on my farm insurance to let an employee borrow any machine for their own gain. It would make no difference if I charged him for the use. I wouldn’t even be covered if I went and did the job for him as our insurance policy only covers me/the business for use in connection with the nature of the business, eg farming.

He could take out his own insurance on the machine for the day, but this apparently is also a very grey area. It is likely that it would cover him for accidental damage to our machine or to a third party’s property but they said that I would still be responsible for the condition of the machine as the owner and were something to happen that would cause this to be questioned or an accident happened with an injury to somebody where the potential claims can be huge, then our own insurance company would not be in any position to honour a claim as the machine is not being used in connection with our own business.

I’m absolutely astonished that this should be a surprise to anyone!

 

[mf298]

Under no circumstances would I be covered on my farm insurance to let an employee borrow any machine for their own gain. It would make no difference if I charged him for the use. I wouldn’t even be covered if I went and did the job for him as our insurance policy only covers me/the business for use in connection with the nature of the business, eg farming.

He could take out his own insurance on the machine for the day, but this apparently is also a very grey area. It is likely that it would cover him for accidental damage to our machine or to a third party’s property but they said that I would still be responsible for the condition of the machine as the owner and were something to happen that would cause this to be questioned or an accident happened with an injury to somebody where the potential claims can be huge, then our own insurance company would not be in any position to honour a claim as the machine is not being used in connection with our own business.

If you were to explain your reasons not to lend it, based on your post above he may then understand better why you said no?

 

[holywell farmer]

Either lend it to the lad, or sack him, 1 of the 2

He hasn't done anything to be sacked

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

Your right, he has done nothing to be sacked

He hasn't done anything to be sacked

This really should not of arrived at this situation, it was the lads father that wanted the job done not the lad, and it's the father that should of done the asking, not the lad,

However it has happend it will now be seen as soure grapes, the lad will think he is not as good a worker as he thought for the OP, I take it he lives at home with his father, and as his father will now think the OP is a tight git, and may come over it in the house from time to time, while the lad is present, in turn this will inevitably lead to a downward relationship between the lad and the OP, and through time will let the OP down from time to time, and may not give 100% while at work due to being put down on this matter,
The OP may be a really good boss on the whole, but with what has happened the father and lad may not think this,

It was badly thought out on the fathers side, yet he may not portray the OP in the best light to the lad,
So for that reason I would let him go, before he goes and leaves the OP at a busy time when the lad can get work elsewhere,

Yes I know the OP posted his insurance would not cover it, but there is not one on here can say they do everything by the book, me included,

 

[2wheels]

Your right, he has done nothing to be sacked


This really should not of arrived at this situation, it was the lads father that wanted the job done not the lad, and it's the father that should of done the asking, not the lad,

However it has happend it will now be seen as soure grapes, the lad will think he is not as good a worker as he thought for the OP, I take it he lives at home with his father, and as his father will now think the OP is a tight git, and may come over it in the house from time to time, while the lad is present, in turn this will inevitably lead to a downward relationship between the lad and the OP, and through time will let the OP down from time to time, and may not give 100% while at work due to being put down on this matter,
The OP may be a really good boss on the whole, but with what has happened the father and lad may not think this,

It was badly thought out on the fathers side, yet he may not portray the OP in the best light to the lad,
So for that reason I would let him go, before he goes and leaves the OP at a busy time when the lad can get work elsewhere,

Yes I know the OP posted his insurance would not cover it, but there is not one on here can say they do everything by the book, me included,

far better to sit down with them and a drink and explain the reasons for refusal.

 

[ajcc]

A storm in a teacup thread......some bosses are good blokes, some not so.

 

[Spud]

Your right, he has done nothing to be sacked


This really should not of arrived at this situation, it was the lads father that wanted the job done not the lad, and it's the father that should of done the asking, not the lad,

However it has happend it will now be seen as soure grapes, the lad will think he is not as good a worker as he thought for the OP, I take it he lives at home with his father, and as his father will now think the OP is a tight git, and may come over it in the house from time to time, while the lad is present, in turn this will inevitably lead to a downward relationship between the lad and the OP, and through time will let the OP down from time to time, and may not give 100% while at work due to being put down on this matter,
The OP may be a really good boss on the whole, but with what has happened the father and lad may not think this,

It was badly thought out on the fathers side, yet he may not portray the OP in the best light to the lad,
So for that reason I would let him go, before he goes and leaves the OP at a busy time when the lad can get work elsewhere,

Yes I know the OP posted his insurance would not cover it, but there is not one on here can say they do everything by the book, me included,

Blimey Charlie, chill out man!!

 

[InsuranceLadyAmanda]

Worth pointing out that insurance doesn't normally cover HSE fines.

Hi this is correct - insurance can't cover any fines however we do have a policy that covers any HSE investigation fees. They charge £154 an hour now per advisor so if they come in pairs it can quickly mount up!

 

[7610 super q]

Just on a side point...
One of our potato buyers mentioned the other day that a farm had received notice from their insurers of a claim being put through by a casual worker on their grader. They had caught their hand in a roller, no broken bones, just minor skin grazing and bruising. The insurance company had made the point that the total cost of that claim was going to be in excess of £120,000. So you can see why they get very fidgety.

Not much use getting £100/ton for spuds then.....

 

[ollie989898]

Just on a side point...
One of our potato buyers mentioned the other day that a farm had received notice from their insurers of a claim being put through by a casual worker on their grader. They had caught their hand in a roller, no broken bones, just minor skin grazing and bruising. The insurance company had made the point that the total cost of that claim was going to be in excess of £120,000. So you can see why they get very fidgety.

Absolute nonsense, the world is going mad. We just as well all give up and go home now and forget doing anything for anyone or employing anyone. 120K for soft tissue injury only... mental.

 

[Smith31]

I think some are missing the point I'm with the OP here, he could easily lose his farm if something went seriously wrong.

Folk including family become funny creatures when there is a chance of compensation etc to be had.

 

[michael N123]

Absolute nonsense, the world is going mad. We just as well all give up and go home now and forget doing anything for anyone or employing anyone. 120K for soft tissue injury only... mental.

I have a soft tissue injury on a Daily basis that normally get wrapped up with a hoody or oily rag

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

I have a soft tissue injury on a Daily basis that normally get wrapped up with a hoody or oily rag

ha there was a joke at work about something like that,

Farmer goes into A&E with a woolly jumper wrapped around his arm and carrying a wellie,, says to the nurse " I have cut me hand lass" the nurse say " Oh dear lets have a look" and starts to unwrap the jumper, "oh there is a lot of blood and hard to see your hand" she says, farmer says "me hand is in the wellie"

 

[7610 super q]

ha there was a joke at work about something like that,

Farmer goes into A&E with a woolly jumper wrapped around his arm and carrying a wellie,, says to the nurse " I have cut me hand lass" the nurse say " Oh dear lets have a look" and starts to unwrap the jumper, "oh there is a lot of blood and hard to see your hand" she says, farmer says "me hand is in the wellie"