Hi,
Looking for some thoughts on the following (Disregarding contract which I had to accept to get contract):
I am being asked to travel to a meeting in an office 4/5 hours drive away from my home. There is a scheduled afternoon meeting slot arranged at the destination followed by 4/5 hour drive back home.
If you are a professional driver the max hours in a day seems to be 10 hours.
The expectation is that I would drive for close to the 10 hours of a professional drivers limit plus do a 5 hour meeting - this without any breaks for food or comfort.
I am told no expenses are payable (contract as stated above) for an overnight stay.
A number of things spring to mind:
1 - It would seem that the company is shooting itself in the foot as by the time I arrive at the meeting I will already be pretty tired.
2 - It would appear that what the company is asking is very dangerous... tiredness kills as they say.
3 - Is there anything I can do?
-- Refuse to do it? - no further contract...
-- Pay for hotel myself and drive there the day before - there may well be more of these so not ideal.
-- Or stay in the hotel the night after the meeting - this would leave me being late for work the following day.
4 - Is this something that can be asked of someone legally? If time is added for comfort and tiredness breaks to journeys it might make 12 hours in total then some time added for a meal add the distant location say 1 hour it quickly adds up to near 18 hours without any real contingency for road works, accidents or other issues on the journey.
5 - Is there not a duty of care towards me regardless of contractor status?
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated...
many thanks
Looking for some thoughts on the following (Disregarding contract which I had to accept to get contract):
I am being asked to travel to a meeting in an office 4/5 hours drive away from my home. There is a scheduled afternoon meeting slot arranged at the destination followed by 4/5 hour drive back home.
If you are a professional driver the max hours in a day seems to be 10 hours.
The expectation is that I would drive for close to the 10 hours of a professional drivers limit plus do a 5 hour meeting - this without any breaks for food or comfort.
I am told no expenses are payable (contract as stated above) for an overnight stay.
A number of things spring to mind:
1 - It would seem that the company is shooting itself in the foot as by the time I arrive at the meeting I will already be pretty tired.
2 - It would appear that what the company is asking is very dangerous... tiredness kills as they say.
3 - Is there anything I can do?
-- Refuse to do it? - no further contract...
-- Pay for hotel myself and drive there the day before - there may well be more of these so not ideal.
-- Or stay in the hotel the night after the meeting - this would leave me being late for work the following day.
4 - Is this something that can be asked of someone legally? If time is added for comfort and tiredness breaks to journeys it might make 12 hours in total then some time added for a meal add the distant location say 1 hour it quickly adds up to near 18 hours without any real contingency for road works, accidents or other issues on the journey.
5 - Is there not a duty of care towards me regardless of contractor status?
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated...
many thanks
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