Boss alienating staff

DestinyGamer

I work in a supermarket. Things are bad right now. Staff running out the door bad. I'm a cashier and sometimes do stock but the other day my boss found out I once, I repeat ONCE drove the delivery van. I told him I had a mental breakdown and that's why I'm in the store. He put me in the van anyway despite me saying no. I really don't want to lose my job so after him literally begging me I went. However I wasn't insured and after the first run I told him to find someone else but he went off again saying how there wasn't anyone. He kept going on about how grateful he was but he doesn't get it. He pressured me to do something not only I didn't want to do but I wasn't insured to do. I need my job so I did it. What I really wanted to do was walk out the front door. We've gone through 5-7 drivers in the last 3 months because the job is underpaid and overwhelming. I'm scared he's gonna put me in the van again. Some deliveries are 17 crates! I'm only a tiny woman. I don't know what I can do.

oh_really

DestinyGamer said:

I wasn't insured 

Care to expand on this?

DestinyGamer said:

I don't know what I can do.

Politely decline further requests to drive the van. Or collide it into his car, he'll soon get the message.

DestinyGamer said:

I'm only a tiny woman. 

Tiny women drive busses and heavies, not sure of the point your making.

coffeehound

oh_really said:

DestinyGamer said:

I'm only a tiny woman. 

Tiny women drive busses and heavies, not sure of the point your making.

Probably the bit about the 17 crates

oh_really

Your post isnt quotable to me for some reason, so...

"Probably the bit about the 17 crates"...

One at a time and take ones time, there will be no requirement to handle them simultaneously plus there is likely to be a manual handling risk assesement. Op have you had manual handling training?

TELLIT01

If you drive uninsured, even if told to by your boss, you will be the one who gets 6 points on your licence and a large fine.  Unless the manager can prove to your satisfaction that you are insured, just refuse to do it.

How long have you been with the company?

Diamandis

Did you ask about the insurance? How do you know it weren't insured? If they need you to drive it again and make sure they have it insured what would you plan to do then?

lincroft1710

It would be very unusual for a supermarket delivery van not to be insured for any driver. So unless there is a driver minimum  or maximum age limit, cannot see that the OP would be uninsured to drive

Marcon

DestinyGamer said:

However I wasn't insured and after the first run I told him to find someone else but he went off again saying how there wasn't anyone. He kept going on about how grateful he was but he doesn't get it. He pressured me to do something not only I didn't want to do but I wasn't insured to do. 

You don't need to be insured to drive the van; the supermarket needs to have insurance which covers you to drive it. 

Thrugelmir

Marcon said:

DestinyGamer said:

However I wasn't insured and after the first run I told him to find someone else but he went off again saying how there wasn't anyone. He kept going on about how grateful he was but he doesn't get it. He pressured me to do something not only I didn't want to do but I wasn't insured to do. 

You don't need to be insured to drive the van; the supermarket needs to have insurance which covers you to drive it. 

To drive a company vehicle there are normally checks first. 

Brie

Our company has a safe driver programme that people need to complete before they are allowed to drive on company business.  It doesn't matter if it's their own vehicle or the company's.  If your employer is one of the large supermarkets I would expect them to have similar as well as the manual handling training.

Marcon

Thrugelmir said:

Marcon said:

DestinyGamer said:

However I wasn't insured and after the first run I told him to find someone else but he went off again saying how there wasn't anyone. He kept going on about how grateful he was but he doesn't get it. He pressured me to do something not only I didn't want to do but I wasn't insured to do. 

You don't need to be insured to drive the van; the supermarket needs to have insurance which covers you to drive it. 

To drive a company vehicle there are normally checks first. 

Quite - but my point stands: it is down to the employer to ensure the necessary insurance is in place and is valid for whoever is driving.