Demand from manager - for total silence?

Pete111

teabelly wrote: »

I'd assume some HR person would justify it on the grounds of it being 'theft of company time' or some such nonsense. Why the guy with the noise issue just can't wear noise canceling headphones is beyond me.. perhaps everyone should club together and get him some??

They might try but it isn't so they would struggle...it's 'work related' talking remember!

It is also not in a million years a reasonable definition of gross misconduct.

Anyway - looks like the Op's manager has returned to put things right....

teabelly

It's mostly work related talking but I'm sure someone soft headed would argue that it degenerates into general banter or there is a cost associated with disturbing the big I am...

spugzbunny

oooo what happenned - he sounds like a reet [EMAIL="tw@t"]!!!!!![/EMAIL]! I'd be putting laxatives in his coffee if it were my office and waiting to see how much he like a quiet office when it echoes his farts around the room!

caz2703

Tygermoth wrote: »

2. Our manager was confused as we have all come in workwear today as New Manager told us he disapproved of 'dress down' and anyone who came in wearing Jeans/Casual would 'feel the sharp side of his tongue' despite the company handbook stating we are allowed to do this. he feels it promotes a lackadaisical attitude and negatively effects productivity (undemonstrated)

3. There was no toast this morning - our years old Friday tradition of toast at the desk for the whole unit was kyboshed because he 'cant stand the smell' (this was the last straw as our TL LOVES his Friday toast)

Are you serious? Only one company I have worked for had dress down Friday and if anything it increased morale and people felt more comfortable with no loss in productivity. And as for toast .... if anyone dared tell me I couldn't eat toast at my desk they'd get the sharp end of my tongue. As long as I'm at my desk I'm working & eating thus company isn't losing any time with tea breaks.

This guy sounds like a total :mad: with a serious issue with anyone looking remotely happy. Hopefully as said before, he will be the former I am! Good luck and glad your boss has your back.

axomoxia

So, if he is not in your chain of command, I would assume he would therefore have no authority over you. Since he seems to have a seriously bad impact on the bottom line, I suggest you politely tell him to butt out and let you get on with your jobs. As for the "sharp edge of my tongue comment", I wonder if fancies being on the "sharp end of a formal greivence procedure" might cause him to change his mind.

CFC

Pete111 wrote: »

They might try but it isn't so they would struggle...it's 'work related' talking remember!

It is also not in a million years a reasonable definition of gross misconduct.

Anyway - looks like the Op's manager has returned to put things right....

I thought the OP said he was the new Unit manager.

Pete, failure to obey a reasonable instruction can easily go as GM. Obviously this manager is a miserable so and so, and certainly sounds as if he has gone too far with the the dress code for my taste, but that still doesn't mean that it's OK to ignore a direct instruction from a superior. I'm curious as to why you believe that this wouldn't be construed as failure to follow a reasonable instruction. On the face of the poster's OP, the noise levels are high as a result of the team make up - normal work related talk does not need to involve high noise levels. Any potential GM is not for talking, it is for failing to follow a reasonable direct instruction. We do not know the full facts; it may even be that talking about cases is usual practice but is not actually necessary.

Failure to follow a direct instruction on the basis of a poster on t'internetz is a dangerous game to play....

wuckfit

CFC wrote: »

I thought the OP said he was the new Unit manager.

Pete, failure to obey a reasonable instruction can easily go as GM. Obviously this manager is a miserable so and so, and certainly sounds as if he has gone too far with the the dress code for my taste, but that still doesn't mean that it's OK to ignore a direct instruction from a superior. I'm curious as to why you believe that this wouldn't be construed as failure to follow a reasonable instruction. On the face of the poster's OP, the noise levels are high as a result of the team make up - normal work related talk does not need to involve high noise levels. Any potential GM is not for talking, it is for failing to follow a reasonable direct instruction. We do not know the full facts; it may even be that talking about cases is usual practice but is not actually necessary.

Failure to follow a direct instruction on the basis of a poster on t'internetz is a dangerous game to play....

I've highlighted the key word above.
Would a tribunal accept that an outright ban on talking through work issues with colleagues is a reasonable instruction?
I doubt it.

Also, I would expect that custom and practise would cover 'Friday morning Toast' as it is a 'years old tradition'
Since dress-down Friday is in the company handbook, it might also be deemed contractual as well as C & P.

chuckley

HAHA i had a boss like that. they even timed how long it took to use the toilet and how many times a day u went. LOL!!!!!!!!

id say play their silly no talking game. if they ask a question, answer them by email and ull see how long the 'no talking' rules lasts. TWONKS!

yorkshirekev

I think that soon that this guy will realise why he is the former manager of a unit. There is a reason why his lot are gone and yours are not.

CFC

wuckfit wrote: »

I've highlighted the key word above.
Would a tribunal accept that an outright ban on talking through work issues with colleagues is a reasonable instruction?
I doubt it.

Also, I would expect that custom and practise would cover 'Friday morning Toast' as it is a 'years old tradition'
Since dress-down Friday is in the company handbook, it might also be deemed contractual as well as C & P.

Why would you say that a ban on talking in the office is not a reasonable instruction? After all, it only becomes an issue if an individual is warned or negatively affected by a loss in productivity. Granted it is an unusual request (and quite possibly counter productive) but why do you feel it is an unreasonable request, it is for the managers concerned to set workplace practices?

The company dress down potentially could be t and c, but only if the employee handbook is contractual. Custom and practice is not always an easy one to use as a defence, I don't think it would cover making toast!