Employee refusing to do training

[AitchDee]

Wherre does an employee stand if he refuses to do training his boss is asking him to do?

Person works in a factory and doesn't want to undertake a fork lift training test. 8-10 other employees are fork lift trained.

Nothing in contract to say training is mandatory.

Boss is now saying employee is facing a - what's they word?- disciplinary?

Employee has worked for company for 25 + years if that makes a difference.

[stowsettler]

Doesn't he need a refresher / re-test for forklift driving anyway? I thought that was the law...

[PseudoBadger]

Well if FLT driving is needed for the role then he can't fulfil the role.

[PseudoBadger]

www.hse.gov.uk/workplacetransport/personnel/lifttrucks.htm

[AitchDee]

He's never done a fork lift test before, nor ever driven one.

In his opinion it isn't necessary for his job (he's been doing it 25+ years) and there are always other trained members on site anyway.

He thinks his employers are looking for reasons to get rid of him.

[PseudoBadger]

But surely it will only enhance his career prospects and be good for his CV?

[flowery]

Who are you in this scenario/who are you posting on behalf of? The employee or the employer?

Employer doesn't have to list everything they might ever ask the employee to do in a contract.

Why is he refusing, what's his concern with doing the training? Refusal to obey a reasonable management instruction would normally be a disciplinary offence, yes.

[ByTheWay1]

I would be unhappy being forced to take a forklift driving test if driving a forklift had never been part of my role -

I have issues with co-ordination which mean I am unable to drive full stop.

Why can't someone refuse to do something which sounds like it has NEVER been part of the job, when it is a BIG something like that...

[Ellypoo]

If it was due to disability/H&S then that would be fair grounds to refuse the training, as long as the employer is aware of the situation.

Maybe the business needs have changed, or the way that things work need to be updated and that is why they are requesting the training - the employer shouldn't need to justify it, IMHO any opportunities for training should be grabbed!

Just because the worker has done that job that way for 25 years, doesn't mean things shouldn't/can't change - unless there are valid reasons for not wanting/being able to undertake the training.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

If it were me, I would simply do the training, rather than facing the disciplinary action. Refusing to do it seems like 'cutting off your nose to spite your face' in this instance.

Other than not feeling it is neccessary to his role in the company, does the employee have any other reason for not wanting to do the training?

[AitchDee]

The employee is my dad. There is no reason he doesn't want to do the training, other than he is very shy and hates looking a prat when he gets things wrong. He just doesn't want to do it.

Career enhancement isn't really relevant, he only has a few years work left as he is already in his 60's.

Yesterday morning things took a change anyway. He went into work, they obviously mentioned either training or disciplinary and it escalated into an argument with him telling them they can stick their job and verbally gave four weeks notice.

The crux of it is, he is a stubborn old man and feels forced into doing something he doesn't want to do.

To be fair to him, he has been under a lot of stress the last two days, as on Wednesday my mother's wedding ring was stolen. but the refusal to do the test has been going on for a while, he just lost his rag because of his home being burgled. But he's a very private man, so won't have told anyone about it.

[Finallygotaroundtoit]

That's sad he's worked there for so long and now given notice just before retiring.

Hope someone can advise if he can undo this, cos I suspect he's put himself in a terrible financial position

[OneHandFlapping]

Well I think your father really has cut off his nose to spite his face now. He's also forced himself into an early retirement he may not want - and may not be able to afford.

And career enhancement in your early 60s is an issue when many of us will be working until we are 70 and even later.