Threat of sack for sweating!

stevewilliams_2

Apologies if this is posted in the wrong area - I tried posting in the CAB thread, but it wont allow me.


My son in law has been out of work for sometime but finally started a warehouse job for a large supermarket on Monday.


He has already won a bottle of champagne and been told he is their best picker, but today he received a text telling him not to go in tomorrow because he is sweating too much and that if he cannot control it they will have to let him go.


Apart from ruining his confidence surely this is illegal?


He knows he has a recently acquired sweat issue (thankfully he does not smell of BO) and has seen a doctor about it. He is also very nervous about the job which doesn't help.


Does anyone have any advice?


Thanks in advance

HappyMJ

He can go to his GP and ask about it. There are remedies. Can he wear any clothes? White or black clothes don't tend to show sweat marks and are better for those that sweat a lot. Colours go dark and aren't a good idea.

Tigsteroonie

Removed as issue now clarified.

whitewing

I would take the supermarket name out of your post.

I can imagine excessive sweating may seem unhygienic in a (wrapped) food environment. I think it is unreasonable to text him and not give him time to sort the issue. Get a GP appointment first thing tomorrow and show the text to the GP (threat of job loss makes it an urgent appointment to me).

Excessive sweating can be a sign of a medical problem so it is a good idea to see the GP about the cause as well as the remedy.

stevewilliams_2

He is making another appointment with the doctor tomorrow to see if there is anything short term they can give him. They have only given him until Saturday to sort it out!


He can wear his own clothes so I will mention that, thanks. I have also told him to wear sweat bands (not a great look, but hey ho!)


He has just rung the shift supervisor who has said that it breaches health & safety rules to sweat around food stuffs. Not sure how correct this is as it's all packaged and he isn't directly touching any of the packaging.

stevewilliams_2

whitewing wrote: »

I would take the supermarket name out of your post..

Thanks, now amended

[Deleted User]

stevewilliams wrote: »

Apart from ruining his confidence surely this is illegal


Does anyone have any advice?


Thanks in advance

It sure should be, I know a lot of underhand stuff goes so full sympathies
Tell him to get a new job and then quit in same lovely method if the text received isn't a wind up?

Does he wear a high vis?
We had someone sweat profusely but then decided job wasn't their cuppa, didn't help we've not the luxury of air-con, me, I'm trying to squeeze into my small chair if I wern't losing weight I soon would be stood up!

whitewing

It's good that they are giving him some time to sort it. Here are some ideas from NHS Choices:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hyperhidrosis/Pages/Treatment.aspx

stevewilliams_2

whitewing wrote: »

It's good that they are giving him some time to sort it. Here are some ideas from NHS Choices:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hyperhidrosis/Pages/Treatment.aspx

Thanks, we'll take a look

sh0597

Seems a bit odd tbh. Everyone sweats. Do they have a procedure for determining who has sweated too much?


Of course at the end of the day they are perfectly entitled to dismiss someone without giving a reason anyway.

whitewing

I would guess there is dripping or wiping on the packages while he is handling them.

I know it feels bad to be told but they could have let him go without telling him. They haven't handled it particularly well but they do sound like they are giving him a chance now.