Stop The Buses, I Wanna Get Off..

[Jomlett]

The boss of a Somerset bus company has taken his fleet off the road without warning and sent a note to staff saying: “I have had enough and realise I cannot work with you a moment longer.”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/nov/01/sydney-hardy-nippybus-boss-fires-bus-drivers-with-blunt-note

[sapelesam]

How do we know he hadn't been looking for a buyer..

[Ellipsis]

Yes, it's a Green Mile quote - an expression I really like ...

> Could you point to specifics which lead to that diagnosis, Eddie?

The way he abandoned not only his staff but also his suppliers and customers, including schoolchildren.

[ummmm]

He could be barking mad for all we know. I doubt it though. Just sounds like a man who no longer gives two hoots. Going by the memo it sounds as if his staff helped him get to this point.

[albaqwerty]

maybe it wasn't a financially viable route he had?

I have no idea and to speculate about his mental health isn't fair.

From what I read in the link, he didn't have enough drivers and trying to recruit drivers in Somerset is hard (apparently) and the drivers were having to work long shifts.
Don't all drivers, whether they be lorry/bus have to have some breaks in their shift?

[ummmm]

And what if they regularly phoned in sick. It's not the kind of job the rest of the team can help with.

[douglas9401]

The guy's done what many would like to do, whether employee or employer.
He's told them to shove it where the sun don't shine, nothing to do with mental illness.

[albaqwerty]

that is very true ummm, forgot about the phoning in sick scenario.

Hope something can be done to sort this mess out.
Have no idea what tho, unless a different company takes on the routes or a buyer can be found.

[murraymints]

his business to do with as he wishes.. clearly there have been operational difficulties with the current staff...and he has had enough !

[EcclesCake]

Lunchtime radio covered this story and there is apparently a nationwide shortage of bus drivers. They can also be extremely militant in their demands/expectations resulting in calling in 'sick'.

If this is the case I can understand the owner saying 'stuff this for a game of soldiers'! The council have fond a sticking plaster to solve he short term problem, hopefully a long term solution will be found soon.

[Ellipsis]

He may hate his employees - his failure at least as much as theirs - but in his place I would find it difficult to justify my treatment of hundreds of passengers, including schoolchildren. More than 300 students were affected across four schools. His response? "F*** it".

[237SJ]

Shame he couldn't think about the consquences for his customers instead of himself. Rural bus routes (sometimes just one bus into a village per day) can be a lifeline for some people - especially the elderly. Selfish git

[ummmm]

It was an incredibly selfish act and he should have acted when he started to feel that way.

Still doesn't mean he's suffering from mental illness.

[Cloverjo]

Surely the employees would be entitled to redundancy pay. I know that doesn't help them right now though.
Lots to sort out, and lots we don't about what happened to lead him to this.

[DTCwordfan]

the general bus community at large is amazingly helpful - we had a major incident down here with arson burning out 23 (I think it was) buses at Summercourt (almost three years ago, a very windy night not helping). The UK bus companies stepped into the gap and, despite First going under, helped support local services. I bet the same happens here.....