i think my manager is being a bit unreasonable

redvision95

recently started a apprenticeship at a branch of a large automotive chain as a apprentice mechanic, at first everything was brilliant, loved it. but over the past two weeks my manager has been a bit funny with me and I have no clue as to why.
im always on time, not once been late, infact 9/10 I get there 15 minutes early and help get cars out of the workshop, sweep the floors and make him a cup of tea. Ive never missed a day yet and I always try to do the best I can when im doing a job (I occasionally have to ask for help as obviously im just a apprentice), when its quite I don't just sit around like my colleagues sometimes do, I sweep, tidy the staff room and ive even gone outside onto the car park to pick up small pieces of litter when ive run out of things inside to do. Im always polite and professional and on the rare occasion I have contact with customers ive always been polite and tried to answer questions to the best of my ability and when I couldn't id seek help from a colleague. I noticed a change in his attitude towards me two weeks ago when for the first time ever he asked me to start covering up my small tattoo on my right arm as he didn't think it looked very professional, so I did. I started wearing a black long sleeved tshirt under my company tshirt to cover up my small tattoo (something he had never had a issue with before so was a little out of the blue when he asked me to start covering it up). a few days later he asked me to shave off my short beard (always kept trimmed, tidy and clean) as again he thought it looked unprofessional, so I did. since then he has had a few little moans about my tools in my tool chest not being particularly tidy, he's moaned when ive washed a customers car after being told to do so by my colleague who does the MOTs and he has had a moan about the fact I wouldn't work on a Saturday due to my other job and me working on a Saturday was never discussed or questioned when I was interviewed or when I first started and he knew I had a part time job. today I went in as I normally would, parked my motorcycle in its usual spot, right in the corner of the car park around back out of sight and locked it up heavily as I always have (its a 2014 Honda im not going to leave it there on one lock) when I went inside he asked me to sweep up and then go into his office for a chat.. so I did, he then told me he didn't want me to ride my motorbike in anymore because "its too loud" I personally think this is being unreasonable, other than cycling this is my only transport, I do not yet possess a full car licence so cant exactly drive in, public transport would take a hour longer to get there and I personally see no issue with me riding my bike in as long as im not a nuisance with it, I simply ride into the car park and park the bike up, I don't sit there revving it like a yob or mess about with it when im on lunch break. I've tried to be adult about it and tried to compromise by putting the standard exhaust back on the bike (has a sports can) but he's told me if I don't like it I can either quit or request a transfer to another branch, I spoke to a colleague about it and they said that he's just a grumpy ***hole and to just do as he asks for a easy life. but I feel hes being completely unreasonable, should I just get a transfer to another branch as soon as a position becomes available or should I make a complaint to the powers above?

Southend1

Covering the tattoo is fair enough while at work. He can't dictate the mode of transport you use to commute (although he could potentially stop staff from parking on company property). He can ask you to quit or request a transfer but he can't make you!

Have you joined a union yet? Sounds like you might need some support in the future if your manager carries on like this. Subs are normally very reasonable for apprentices.

As to whether you should make a complaint, it's up to you. Consider the possible consequences before doing so though. Do keep (in a safe place away from prying eyes, preferably at home) a written record of any unreasonable behaviour (date, time, place, witnesses, what happened) in case you need it.

getmore4less

How far to the next 2-3 branches compared to the current one.

Do they have other compelling reasons to go like better mix of customers, better training, offer more services to customers busier so less sweeping time etc. to back up a request for a move.

A complaint on record could become a problem if this is seen as you being a problem apprentice, it might be common knowledge that this boss has issues, try to find out the staff turnover and what happened to the last apprentice.

Is the scheme just in branch or does the organization have a central team that manage the training program and allocations to the branches that you could approach at review time or earlier?

Undervalued

Southend1 wrote: »

Covering the tattoo is fair enough while at work. He can't dictate the mode of transport you use to commute (although he could potentially stop staff from parking on company property). He can ask you to quit or request a transfer but he can't make you!

Have you joined a union yet? Sounds like you might need some support in the future if your manager carries on like this. Subs are normally very reasonable for apprentices.

Well he can actually.

The OP has less than two years service so can be dismissed for any non discriminatory reason.

Even after that it would be perfectly lawful to have a clause in the OP's contract prohibiting him commuting on a noisy motorbike if the firm consider it that important. I assume there either have been complaints from local residents or the firm consider it important not to upset the locals?

This would be no different from a firm having a rule preventing staff from parking in nearby streets during working hours, which is not that uncommon.

comeandgo

Red, as an apprentice do you have a monitor or someone other than this manager who you report to? I think you need to ask them what the problem is, who was the last apprentice with this manager, how were they treated? Maybe your workmate is correct and he is just a grumpy ah but nobody should have to put up with someone's bad moods all the time.

Southend1

Undervalued wrote: »

Well he can actually.

The OP has less than two years service so can be dismissed for any non discriminatory reason.

Even after that it would be perfectly lawful to have a clause in the OP's contract prohibiting him commuting on a noisy motorbike if the firm consider it that important. I assume there either have been complaints from local residents or the firm consider it important not to upset the locals?

This would be no different from a firm having a rule preventing staff from parking in nearby streets during working hours, which is not that uncommon.

OP is an apprentice and I think therefore subject to different rules regarding dismissal (though I may be wrong). As a shop steward, if he was one of my members and the management tried to dictate mode of travel to/from work I would be seeking legal advice as to whether this is enforceable in a contract (it may be I suppose but seems unfair at face value). Sure they can argue that noisy mopeds early in the morning upset the local residents but OP has rectified this by changing the exhaust so is acting reasonably in the circumstances.

Undervalued

Southend1 wrote: »

As a shop steward, if he was one of my members and the management tried to dictate mode of travel to/from work I would be seeking legal advice as to whether this is enforceable in a contract (it may be I suppose but seems unfair at face value). Sure they can argue that noisy mopeds early in the morning upset the local residents but OP has rectified this by changing the exhaust so is acting reasonably in the circumstances.

Pretty much any employment contract will have a clause about not doing anything to bring the company into disrepute. An unnecessarily noisy arrival and departure could certainly do that!

If for some reason a job offer is made with a contract condition that you don't arrive on a moped then that is what you agree to if you decide to take the job. Imposing it later may be trickier, unless there is a clear business reason, but within two years it is generally a moot point.

Southend1

Undervalued wrote: »

Pretty much any employment contract will have a clause about not doing anything to bring the company into disrepute. An unnecessarily noisy arrival and departure could certainly do that!

If for some reason a job offer is made with a contract condition that you don't arrive on a moped then that is what you agree if you decided to take the job. Imposing it later may be trickier, unless there is a clear business reason, but within two years it is generally a moot point.

Yes, but it's the noise of the exhaust that could bring the employer into disrepute, not the mode of transport per se. OP has taken steps to address the problem when mentioned by the manager.

I'm pretty sure employers can't get away with putting just anything into a contract and trying to enforce it. the mode of transport used to commute is irrelevant unless for example the employee works for a sustainability charity which works to encourage employees not to travel to work by car.

redvision95

firstly, its not a moped, its a proper clutch and gear motorbike, not a little toy lol
ive attempted to adress the noise issue by changing the exhaust back to the original can with the baffles in, its now so quiet i cant hear it idleing at the lights but i still roll into the car park in neutral to attempt to keep the engine noise as quiet as possible anyway.
also considering the bike gets taken around the back and parked in a corner hidden out of sight of anybody (customers etc arent aloud round back) its not like customers can even see the bike during day but nowhere in my contract does it say im not aloud to commute by motorcycle.
so far ive been as reasonable and grown up about it as i can be, ive covered my small tattoo, ive shaved off my small but tidly kept beard, ive changed the exhaust back to the standard can with baffles in and i roll into the car park in neutral so theres virtually no noise at all coming from the bike.
i get somebody who comes in every other week to see how im getting on etc, hes not due round until next week. there is however another branch i could potentially ask to be transfered which is in a better area, thats another 5 miles away. so i might ask about that.
i didnt bear the brunt of his mood today, we had someone come in from another branch to cover for one of the technicians who basically told my manager to p**s off when he tried to have a go at him for supervising me doing my first ever head gasket.
going to look at transferring but as ive not been with them that long they may just say no.
its not like im being a complete idiot myself, I do everything I possibly can and when its a quiet day I get on with other stuff around the workshop so im not twiddling my thumbs.
i do actually enjoy being there, i like the people i work with and get on with them all well, its just a shame hes being a complete D**k

atolaas

As the apprentice it sounds like he's made it his mission in life to nit pick at every fault he thinks you have. You didn't say how long you've been there for? Has he been like this the whole time? You can always ask for a different supervisor, if he continues to be an ar*e!

redvision95

I've been there for around 6-7 weeks now but he only started being like this 2 weeks ago. asking for another supervisor is not really a option. ill see about the transfer to another branch tomorrow. im not working tomorrow and only doing a half day at the training centre i have to attend once a week.