iamalagerdrinker Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 Not sure if anyone is clued up and could advise me on what to do? I work for a Council and have been asking for new work boots for almost two months or so now (they're tearing my ankles apart and feet are getting soaked walking through a tiny puddle) I've been told by my boss that they didn't have a budget in place to buy anyway so decided to go over his head to the top boss who said he'd email him last week to sort it out. Still haven't had anything said about a new pair. A few of the lads have suggested getting in touch with the union which I'm not a member off but as above wondered if anyone could help me out in what I could say to either speed them up or use any tecnhiqule terms to use to scare them. Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobBobSuperBob Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 If you end up buying your own I think you'll find you can claim against tax Common sense suggests that for H&S they should provide suitable footwear but legally I have no idea whether they have to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Orns Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 Surely they have to provide you with the correct equipment to carry out your duties? Are you on twitter? There is a fellow Red who is involved in trade unions who I could point you in the direction of..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Septic Peg Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 Ok. Hubs used to do a bit of union stuff so here's what he says. 1. JOIN THE UNION IMMEDIATELY. It is at the branch discretion as to whether to support you from first payment (some union memberships don't kick in properly until 6 months membership - only basic til then) but they should still be able to advise and support no matter. 2. You've already emailed the boss. Not sure how you worded it but essentially, issue a formal complaint in writing. Include photos of boots showing wear and tear and photos of swelling/injury to your feet. 3. If injury has occurred (athletes foot for e.g. after getting leakages), a doctor's note will support your complaint. Were your work boots issued to you by your employer? If so, they have to replace as and when. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamalagerdrinker Posted September 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 1 hour ago, Woodsy said: Surely they have to provide you with the correct equipment to carry out your duties? Are you on twitter? There is a fellow Red who is involved in trade unions who I could point you in the direction of..... I am! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamalagerdrinker Posted September 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 44 minutes ago, Septic Peg said: Ok. Hubs used to do a bit of union stuff so here's what he says. 1. JOIN THE UNION IMMEDIATELY. It is at the branch discretion as to whether to support you from first payment (some union memberships don't kick in properly until 6 months membership - only basic til then) but they should still be able to advise and support no matter. 2. You've already emailed the boss. Not sure how you worded it but essentially, issue a formal complaint in writing. Include photos of boots showing wear and tear and photos of swelling/injury to your feet. 3. If injury has occurred (athletes foot for e.g. after getting leakages), a doctor's note will support your complaint. Were your work boots issued to you by your employer? If so, they have to replace as and when. Hope this helps. Thanks for that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamalagerdrinker Posted September 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 45 minutes ago, Septic Peg said: Ok. Hubs used to do a bit of union stuff so here's what he says. 1. JOIN THE UNION IMMEDIATELY. It is at the branch discretion as to whether to support you from first payment (some union memberships don't kick in properly until 6 months membership - only basic til then) but they should still be able to advise and support no matter. 2. You've already emailed the boss. Not sure how you worded it but essentially, issue a formal complaint in writing. Include photos of boots showing wear and tear and photos of swelling/injury to your feet. 3. If injury has occurred (athletes foot for e.g. after getting leakages), a doctor's note will support your complaint. Were your work boots issued to you by your employer? If so, they have to replace as and when. Hope this helps. Also yes they was supplied around last November time when i started Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taz Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 If it's needed for you to carry out your daily duties, then it should be supplied. Sometimes it's a set allowance - I know in my last place we were allowed one pair of boots per year, and anything else needed in between would either have to be replaced by yourself, or be replaced with the foremans approval. The boss wouldn't walk around with holes in his boots/shoes, or if they were causing him pain. I need safety boots for my job working in a school, and when I need them, I get them. Simple reason if I don't have them, I can't do a large part of my job. Admittedly I am in mine usually for about 12 hours a day, and probably do the equivalent of a few miles a day walking around the site. Turn up in trainers one day and see what reaction you get... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 I echo what @Taz has said. If you have safety footware supplied and chose to not wear it and you have an accident you won't be covered. Therefore if the boots are so worn they aren't fit for purpose and you are wearing them and anything happens I think the company would be liable as they have failed to protect you. As Taz says I think most companies work with a clothing allowance, once a year you can get more items or items replaced. Perhaps speak to colleagues, maybe the boots given were a lesser quality so have lasted not so long? But as Taz also says there is in most cases discression by the stores people/supervisors so replace items that are worn or lost within reason. i think if you buy your own you can claim the tax back, but when a friend looked it was a very grey area. If you could wear the clothing in your own personal time away from work they wouldn't refund the tax, they would argue you could wear boots I expect, although you should get away with the fact they are a safety item and not normally worn on an evening out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screech Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 God I hate people like that. I don't know why this person is so much of an arsehole he cannot authorise spending £35 on a pair of safety boots, If it's a requirement that you wear safety boots they have to be fit for purpose. What do these people get out of being this tightfisted when it isn't even their own money they will be spending, if the department can't afford £35 to keep you in work then you don't work, simple as. Your safety in the work place relies on you being properly equipped with the correct PPE to do your job, if it requires safety boots for the task, you wear them. No boots no work. Don't put yourself at risk for the sake of this arsehole, if something happens and it is found you have not wore the correct PPE or something is faulty you wont be backed by this manual manipulator, he'll tell everybody that you knew what was required and you took it upon yourself. This is just my opinion, not hard facts. A rant if you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Popodopolous Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 Unions? :laugh: what are they... ...my industry doesn't even have a union in it. Like literally. Being serious, yes you should contact your union. Join it too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Septic Peg Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 1 hour ago, Mr Popodopolous said: Unions? what are they... ...my industry doesn't even have a union in it. Like literally. Being serious, yes you should contact your union. Join it too. For anyone interested, if your workplace doesn't recognise a union, you can campaign to have it. There are many unions that specialise in certain areas such as the CWU (communication workers union so suitable for postal workers, telephone companies etc), USDAW (shop workers so all retail workers including distribution) or if you can't find one specific, Unite is for general workers. Just Google and have a look. One important thing to remember that even if your company doesn't recognise a union, you can still be part of one and you can have a union member sit in on any disciplinary meetings. Some good sites for perusal... https://www.gov.uk/join-trade-union https://worksmart.org.uk/tools/union-finder https://www.tuc.org.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigTone Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 2 hours ago, Septic Peg said: For anyone interested, if your workplace doesn't recognise a union, you can campaign to have it. There are many unions that specialise in certain areas such as the CWU (communication workers union so suitable for postal workers, telephone companies etc), USDAW (shop workers so all retail workers including distribution) or if you can't find one specific, Unite is for general workers. Just Google and have a look. One important thing to remember that even if your company doesn't recognise a union, you can still be part of one and you can have a union member sit in on any disciplinary meetings. Some good sites for perusal... https://www.gov.uk/join-trade-union https://worksmart.org.uk/tools/union-finder https://www.tuc.org.uk What about Western Union Peg ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laner Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 Also check your Home Insurance. You may have legal cover as part of the policy. If so you'll almost definitely have a legal advice helpline which will put you in touch with a solicitor who can talk through your employment rights. Just a further avenue to consider along with approaching a union. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CiderHider Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 Threaten with physical violence, I find that works in getting my own way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Popodopolous Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 5 hours ago, Septic Peg said: For anyone interested, if your workplace doesn't recognise a union, you can campaign to have it. There are many unions that specialise in certain areas such as the CWU (communication workers union so suitable for postal workers, telephone companies etc), USDAW (shop workers so all retail workers including distribution) or if you can't find one specific, Unite is for general workers. Just Google and have a look. One important thing to remember that even if your company doesn't recognise a union, you can still be part of one and you can have a union member sit in on any disciplinary meetings. Some good sites for perusal... https://www.gov.uk/join-trade-union https://worksmart.org.uk/tools/union-finder https://www.tuc.org.uk Hmm interesting. Cheers for that. Find it mildly surprising that my industry has none of any kind- by which I literally mean there is no union in that sector for that industry- nobody formed one. It seems-but great advice for anyone there, With I had known this at certain places I worked at before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 12, 2017 Report Share Posted September 12, 2017 As much as I hate the 'HR' department/function (assuming that you have a HR dept), just email your boss and ask him what the HR policy is on H&S. Or just contact HR and ask them what the H&S policy is and copy your boss. All depends on whether you want to keep things friendly with your boss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamalagerdrinker Posted September 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2017 All sorted lads. Thanks for your help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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