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[tyreburner]

Hi all .Just after your advice/opinions really.

I have a gold sleeper (round gold earrings)  in each ear and a silver eyebrow bar.

I had my ears done since about 18 and the eyebrow bar 4 years ago.

I have since had numerous jobs, was a transport planner, a multidrop driver, an agency driver, Stagecoach ( very pubic image company), a local coach firm, then i went to work for a "posh" coach firm in Bracknell, then moved back and worked for a tour firm, then a local bus firm, when i moved to my curent house i started work for the county's biggest "private" coach firm but to be honest, they are all school buses, whatever work we get is school or army related.
When i went for my interview i had my earrings/eyebrow bar in and was given the job.
Since then another guy has started with one earring and the bit under his lip pierced.
He also went for the job with his piercings in , and since then has been refused private hire work due to the piercings.
The boss has him up the yard cleaning coaches all day after his morning school run and then sends him on an afternoon school run, because he wont take his piercings out.

I however have not had a problem before today and have been regularly going to Newcastle's "elite" schools (R.G.S, central high - the private ones where its 2k + a term ) i have also been lucky in that i rarely go to the yard ( our coaches are parked about 35 miles away) as i have been granted the job of "70 seater driver" lol and theres only 3 so i am busy most of the time (although i get loads of stick i.e golden balls bosses pet etc!!)

Today however i had to go to the yard and was greeted by the old fella who owns the firm  (his Mrs is the boss from hell and 25 years younger than him and in it for the money !) and told that all this "stuff" (pointing at ears and face) will have to go.

He has apparently told me in a nice way (as he likes me) which i respect as i think he is a sound old bloke - its his wife thats the ball busting, sarcastic, nasty,bad tempered evil bitch ( she really is she got me to put a teacher on the phone who was late for their return journey and proper shouted at her making her nearly cry - and this to a customer!!!) as supposedly the private schools complain about it - please bear in mind one of the "older drivers" has a swallow and other things tattooed on his hands and smokes on his coach 5 mins before pick up (yes i smoke on the coach but spray it/give it long enough for the smell to go).
Yet when i was down south i wore a short sleeved shirt always that showed a latin phrase on my inner arm and a chineese symbol on the other, i also had my piercings in at all times and as going to schools that had boarding kids from south africa (kids were flown over and educated here) and schools that were 10x more exclusive, i was also taking people on private hires, to theatres etc and not once did anyone complain about any of the aforementioned!
Bear in mind i ALWAYS have a shirt /tie on and ALWAYS have a clean coach - smells clean , looks clean, is clean and always behave in a professional manner.
All i want to know is what should i do, i can either "comply" and do something i really dont want to or i can lose the status i have gained and be a school run driver who spend 5-6 hours every day cleaning buses ?? or i could get another job - which aint too easy due to the financial climate , and the fact i could POSSIBLY  get another job but it would be away for a month at a time ( not a bad idea as i would be away from swmbo  ).
I really want to stand my ground but i know the bosses mrs will make my life hell - example she sent the wrong sized coach to a job and blamed the driver!!!

I know its their problem, but they still think statuatory holiday is 20  days thats how behind the times they are!

Sorry for the waffle but i wanted to give the whole picture

Thanks
Mick

P.s sorry for the waffling but i have had beer!

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I am afraid that all employers have a right to demand a certain image of their employees if in a face to face public service role.  This has been true for years and still is.  Your choice is either to give them what they want, or go for another job.

As for smoking in the work place, in your case the coach - a works vehicle - that is now illegal as it affects members of the public that use it and other employees.

Sorry to be direct on this and seemingly unsympathetic, which I am not, but just stating it as it is as a business manager.

As for the holiday entitlement, print off the following and wave that under their noses!

http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/employment/holidays/index.html

 

[tyreburner]

I am afraid that all employers have a right to demand a certain image of their employees if in a face to face public service role.  This has been true for years and still is.  Your choice is either to give them what they want, or go for another job.

As for smoking in the work place, in your case the coach - a works vehicle - that is now illegal as it affects members of the public that use it and other employees.

Sorry to be direct on this and seemingly unsympathetic, which I am not, but just stating it as it is as a business manager.

It has always been illegal to smoke on a coach,( i know that and make sure it dont smell ) , just as it is illegal to drink alcohol or be in possession of alcohol lol

As for the work thing, surely if they employed me with the peircings in they could see what image i would give and therefore should have advised me of this when they offered me my job???

As for hols, we have mentioned it, advised of the government website  etc but they "insist" we are all wrong lol

Wouldnt care the job was a two week stop-gap when i started  

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I am afraid that all employers have a right to demand a certain image of their employees if in a face to face public service role.  This has been true for years and still is.  Your choice is either to give them what they want, or go for another job.

As for smoking in the work place, in your case the coach - a works vehicle - that is now illegal as it affects members of the public that use it and other employees.

Sorry to be direct on this and seemingly unsympathetic, which I am not, but just stating it as it is as a business manager.

It has always been illegal to smoke on a coach,( i know that and make sure it dont smell ) , just as it is illegal to drink alcohol or be in possession of alcohol lol

As for the work thing, surely if they employed me with the peircings in they could see what image i would give and therefore should have advised me of this when they offered me my job???

As for hols, we have mentioned it, advised of the government website  etc but they "insist" we are all wrong lol

Wouldnt care the job was a two week stop-gap when i started  

I noted that in your first post, and that point just may go in your favour.  However the "rights" of the employer to "improve standards" still remains.  I would seek advice from the Citizens Advice Burea in the first instance, or go direct to an solicitor specialising in employment issues.  See what they recommend.

As for the smoking / drinking; if you know that why do it?  You are playing right into the employers hands to dismiss you for "gross misconduct".

[Vamps]

I am afraid that all employers have a right to demand a certain image of their employees if in a face to face public service role.  This has been true for years and still is.  Your choice is either to give them what they want, or go for another job.

As for smoking in the work place, in your case the coach - a works vehicle - that is now illegal as it affects members of the public that use it and other employees.

Sorry to be direct on this and seemingly unsympathetic, which I am not, but just stating it as it is as a business manager.

It has always been illegal to smoke on a coach,( i know that and make sure it dont smell ) , just as it is illegal to drink alcohol or be in possession of alcohol lol

As for the work thing, surely if they employed me with the peircings in they could see what image i would give and therefore should have advised me of this when they offered me my job???

As for hols, we have mentioned it, advised of the government website  etc but they "insist" we are all wrong lol

Wouldnt care the job was a two week stop-gap when i started  

No mate, I well remember driving a coach and smoking, used to be the norm...

[tyreburner]

I am afraid that all employers have a right to demand a certain image of their employees if in a face to face public service role.  This has been true for years and still is.  Your choice is either to give them what they want, or go for another job.

As for smoking in the work place, in your case the coach - a works vehicle - that is now illegal as it affects members of the public that use it and other employees.

Sorry to be direct on this and seemingly unsympathetic, which I am not, but just stating it as it is as a business manager.

It has always been illegal to smoke on a coach,( i know that and make sure it dont smell ) , just as it is illegal to drink alcohol or be in possession of alcohol lol

As for the work thing, surely if they employed me with the peircings in they could see what image i would give and therefore should have advised me of this when they offered me my job???

As for hols, we have mentioned it, advised of the government website  etc but they "insist" we are all wrong lol

Wouldnt care the job was a two week stop-gap when i started  

I noted that in your first post, and that point just may go in your favour.  However the "rights" of the employer to "improve standards" still remains.  I would seek advice from the Citizens Advice Burea in the first instance, or go direct to an solicitor specialising in employment issues.  See what they recommend.

Well i think its discrimination, if i was an ethnic majority  minoritie they couldnt stop me wearing a turban or a face mask for example .

As for the smoking / drinking; if you know that why do it?  You are playing right into the employers hands to dismiss you for "gross misconduct".

NO NO! drinking is for the passengers
The reason is (obviously you dont smoke ) but if you have a 3 hour journey home with no passngers on board i dont reckon any smoker could resist the urge
I never did it when i was down south though - as people WILL complain - quite rightly too
Think its a northumbian thing in general , whatever you do  .... as long as no-one catches yoiu dont worry about it  

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Tell your boss's wife that you have a Prince Albert ................and if she is a good girl ............you'll show it to her. ....that should solve the problem.

[tyreburner]

Tell your boss's wife that you have a Prince Albert ................and if she is a good girl ............you'll show it to her. ....that should solve the problem.

PMSL, they are already calling me the bosses pet and golden balls etc, so i dont wanna risk it ..... what if she says go on then  

[tyreburner]

I am afraid that all employers have a right to demand a certain image of their employees if in a face to face public service role.  This has been true for years and still is.  Your choice is either to give them what they want, or go for another job.

As for smoking in the work place, in your case the coach - a works vehicle - that is now illegal as it affects members of the public that use it and other employees.

Sorry to be direct on this and seemingly unsympathetic, which I am not, but just stating it as it is as a business manager.

It has always been illegal to smoke on a coach,( i know that and make sure it dont smell ) , just as it is illegal to drink alcohol or be in possession of alcohol lol

As for the work thing, surely if they employed me with the peircings in they could see what image i would give and therefore should have advised me of this when they offered me my job???

As for hols, we have mentioned it, advised of the government website  etc but they "insist" we are all wrong lol

Wouldnt care the job was a two week stop-gap when i started  

No mate, I well remember driving a coach and smoking, used to be the norm...

Apparently it has always been illegal..... but check this out, until the recent anti smoking laws, you could hire a coach and with the owners permission the hirer and their party could smoke but you couldnt smoke in charge of a coach ??

[tyreburner]

Tell your boss's wife that you have a Prince Albert ................and if she is a good girl ............you'll show it to her. ....that should solve the problem.

PMSL, they are already calling me the bosses pet and golden balls etc, so i dont wanna risk it ..... what if she says go on then  

P.s have hjust had such a slapping as Tina read that and said i knew it, go on then and then started slapping me???
Made worse by me laughing at her

[Vamps]

I am afraid that all employers have a right to demand a certain image of their employees if in a face to face public service role.  This has been true for years and still is.  Your choice is either to give them what they want, or go for another job.

As for smoking in the work place, in your case the coach - a works vehicle - that is now illegal as it affects members of the public that use it and other employees.

Sorry to be direct on this and seemingly unsympathetic, which I am not, but just stating it as it is as a business manager.

It has always been illegal to smoke on a coach,( i know that and make sure it dont smell ) , just as it is illegal to drink alcohol or be in possession of alcohol lol

As for the work thing, surely if they employed me with the peircings in they could see what image i would give and therefore should have advised me of this when they offered me my job???

As for hols, we have mentioned it, advised of the government website  etc but they "insist" we are all wrong lol

Wouldnt care the job was a two week stop-gap when i started  

No mate, I well remember driving a coach and smoking, used to be the norm...

Apparently it has always been illegal..... but check this out, until the recent anti smoking laws, you could hire a coach and with the owners permission the hirer and their party could smoke but you couldnt smoke in charge of a coach ??

I am going back a good few years but all the bus drivers and coach drivers smoked when driving, even when driving the school bus. I am not saying it is right, but I used to do it, even as recently as 10 years ago. Still, just cos we did it does not mean it legal I guess.
 

[gsdtrainer]

Wot sort of image is that at Stagecoach?pubic

[tyreburner]

I remember 18 month ago, a bloke route learned me a service run, we had 3 people in the bus, he pulled over poured a coffee and lit a tab , then drove on picking up fares.... it was ignored as "he'd always done it "  

I beleive it should be allowed aslong as we dont interfere with passengers comfort( i.e spray etc to get rid of the smell)

[tyreburner]

Wot sort of image is that at Stagecoach?pubic

Part of your contract is to be clean shaven at all times lol, only allowed 2 days growth - bloody itchy i know  

[gsdtrainer]

Nice-watery eyes lol