Any incident that involves INJURY to an Operations employee, damage to property, or had the potential to do so, must be reported to the appropriate Supervisor/Manager by completing the Accident/Incident – Employee's Initial Report. This must be accomplished for every incident, even if there are no injuries sustained, as soon as possible, but no later that the end of your shift.
- 1.39 Employee Reports
All reports must be true, honest and factual, based upon the occurrence. Employees will not purposely mislead their coworkers, supervisors and/or any other Operations employees in the performance of their duties by making false or misleading statements in their reports, or through verbal and/or written communications.
|
0 Comments
You would think that common sense would prevail, but you may not realize the reach of this rule. It says: 1.29 Willful or Negligent Property Damage 1.28 Weapons Do I really have to mention that Indecent Exposure will get you fired? Especially since the only reasons people might find themselves exposed indecently are Sexual Activity or Relieving the Call of Nature. 1.25 Indecent Exposure 1.23 Sexual Harassment Driving a bus, according to an article in SLATE, is a "potent stress cocktail." It is also one of the most hazardous occupations for your health. For this reason, drivers should support each other and make life as pleasant as possible. This includes harassing and teasing co-workers--anything that might make them feel uncomfortable. The company feels so strongly about Sexual Harassment that they made it a Level 5 infraction. Rule 1.23 Sexual Harassment Can they really fire me for pocketing a quarter off the floor of the bus, or taking someone's food from the refrigerator? Rule 1.20 Larceny or Theft says yes. Theft, pilferage, or unauthorized removal of Hampton Roads Transit property or the property of others will result in the termination of an employee from the service of Hampton Roads Transit. But reality says not without proof. And if you do find loose change on the floor of your bus, contact the Dispatcher for guidance. Refer to Rule 1.10 Lost and Found Items
1.17 Insubordination This is the reason we have to sign for every new change, we are acknowledgi...ng receipt and understanding of the rule. Or, if it is a verbal order, the Supervisor will ask, "Do you understand," or "are you refusing to do it?" These are keywords that they use to set you up for a charge of Insubordination. Officially, insubordination is when you have received and understood a direct order, but refuse to obey. Either you specifically say you refuse or simply do not complete the task. Even if you think it is unfair or improper, it’s still your responsibility to comply, you should be prepared to first complete the work, then file a formal grievance later. If you believe that fulfilling the order is illegal or will immediately endanger yourself or others, you should contact your Union Representative.
Everyone makes mistakes, even supervisors. An employee with a grievance over orders and procedures has the right to voice it without retaliation as long as you follow correct procedures. You should not hesitate to report anything illegal or discriminatory. However, protected activity does not give you the right to openly taunt your supervisor or refuse to follow orders. Never act upon emotion, and substantiate any report with evidence. Alcohol and drug use is another Level 5 infraction. In practice it's easy--the use of illegal drugs is prohibited at all times. Illegal drugs include, but are not limited to: marijuana, narcotics, stimulants, depressants and hallucinogens. The confusion is caused by legal medications. Bus and LRV Operators as well as Mechanics are considered safety sensitive positions, but as long as the medication is prescribed and used properly, and you inform your supervisor, you have nothing to worry about. But if you are using over-the-counter medications you must not use ones that may affect mental functions, motor skills or judgment. Additionally, no employee may use or possess alcohol while on duty or on Hampton Roads Transit property. The Federal Transportation Administration says you cannot consume alcohol: 4 hours prior to beginning your shift, while on call or while performing safety sensitive functions. At HRT a Blood Alcohol level of 0.04 will result in termination. With a level of 0.02 to 0.039 you will be removed from the safety sensitive duty and retested 8 hours later. Any Bus Transportation or Maintenance employee reported or suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol when reporting for duty or while on duty, will be required to submit to a Reasonable Suspicion drug/alcohol test. For more information refer to Hampton Roads Transit Substance Abuse Policy. 1.14 Alcohol and Drug Use and Possession Imagine what a car bomber could do with a company Parking Pass. He could detonate a suicide bomb in the lower garage and create a chain-reaction explosion. Or plant bombs on several buses and detonate them remotely when the bus is on the Naval Base or inside a tunnel. The same could happen if an unauthorized person gained access to an interior office. This is the reason Rule 1.11 is a Level 5 infraction. 1.11 Employee Identification and Parking Pass 1.8 Cell Phone Usage The Bus Transportation & Maintenance Rules & Regulations book has always included Mechanics, but in the last revision this rule was explicitly amended to include them by adding the following sentences: "and must be kept in a closed bag until you are at a point where it is permissible to use it." And, "or the performance of maintenance work is strictly forbidden".
Combined with Rule 1.26 (above) this rule includes all electronic devices. The Company has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward cell phone usage, and has never wavered. They even fired two drivers who had worked here for more than 15 years. The Company found out because a passenger took a picture of the driver while he was using it. So please keep your phone in your bag, and don't use it while sitting in the drivers seat. This goes beyond what the rule states, but you should leave no room for doubt. |
Rule 1.5 Ignorance of RulesIgnorance of rules, General Notices, Memorandums, Alerts, and / or any instructions will not be accepted as a valid excuse for non-compliance. Archives
April 2017
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
