Definition of "Reasonable management request"

[akacheesy]

Surely this is a grey area in certain cases?

I am an HGV driver and yesterday refused to take on a job as I felt, in my professional opinion that insufficient legal working time was available for me to carry out the instruction.

Twice I was asked if I was refusing to carry out a reasonable request, to which I replied "no, I disagree that it is a reasonable request". I was then summoned to the operations office and discussed it further with my line manager. He was called to a meeting partway through our discussions so I don't know what, if any course of action will follow. But, if proved I refused a "reasonable request" then surely they have grounds for sacking me for gross misconduct?

My question is, how is this defined? Surely, sometimes this can be very difficult?

Any help gratefully received.

[nemesis45]

Re: Definition of "Reasonable management request"

Hi, "reasonable" in this situation I would suggest it is what would be the normal practice needed to do complete the task required without any rules/laws being broken and/or any risk to the employee.

[teaboy2]

Re: Definition of "Reasonable management request"

Hi, "reasonable" in this situation I would suggest it is what would be the normal practice needed to do complete the task required without any rules/laws being broken and/or any risk to the employee.

Yep, and the managers/employer have a responsibility to ensure they have considered such risks thoroughly when making such requests and take account of any factors that might effect the completion of the task. In your case traffic etc. Also if you truly in your professional opinion believed that in doing what they asked would put you in breach of the law/regulations etc. Then their request is not a reasonable request as they are in effect asking you to risk not only breaking the law, but also work additional overtime that if you had more driving time available to you, you would not have had to work said overtime or spend the night in your lorry parked at the side of a road, when you should have been at home!