Hi there, quick question.

So I currently live 3 miles from my workplace. I should note that I work for Starbucks. I am a shift supervisor, and because of my job title, I sometimes have to take the money deposit to the local bank. The bank is 2 miles from the store. After discussion with my store manager and a brief talk with my district manager, I was told that I cannot commute to work by bike because I need "reliable" transportation to take the deposit to the bank. Is this legit? I challenged my manager to a race stating that I could in fact make it to the bank faster than by car.. thus ruling out the judgement that it would be too time consuming riding my bike.

Any thoughts or feedback would be great. I have a car.. I just feel that I would not only benefit myself by actually getting in some exercise commuting a whopping 6 miles to and from work, and in the chance that I need to take the deposit I could do that as well..

I could also bring up the fact that Starbucks is all about helping the environment... being "green" yadda yadda yadda.. hope to hear from some people soon!

I would think you largest concern would be about getting robbed.
You boss should contract an armored courier service for the bank deposits.

You do have reliable transport... haha you can always WALK if there is an emergency. Unless walking is no longer reliable.

Yeah i think your boss means he thinks you're gonna get rolled. on your bicycle... which is possible

Just keep ranting about them online and eventually it wont be a problem b/c they will fire you.

So... do they compensate you for the miles you drive in the car they are requiring you to have?

You could always quit. Don't let them drag down your lifestyle!

I do understand the possibility of being robbed... however I believe the same risk exists while in a car.. Just another guy on his bike with a backpack. As far as the armored courier goes... I doubt Starbucks would be all for contracting one out for each store. I did mention the fact that my bike is more reliable on my car.. I average about 150 miles a week on the bike in my spare time.. so fitness isnt the issue. I have tried not to make this a huge issue with them because I would like to keep my job lol... but at the same time I believe that I have every right to commute by bike.. one day they'll get it.. one day

You have a bossy boss huh?
I could see a concern for you handling store money by bike, making you a possible target.So why cant the store have a bank branch a short walk away to make the deposit? Then you could come back and get ready for the ride home.
Is that ride pretty easy, and without you arriving sweaty? I would have to keep my uniform in my pack if I did that here in CT during the summer, because you do sweat when its 85 deg with 80 % humidity.

Drive to work.
Organize for your buddy to car jack you on your drive to the bank.
Sue your employer for the trauma.
Split the take with your buddy.
Settle with your employer with the condition that they must not prohibit you from riding to/from work.
Use your share of the take to buy a nice new commuter bike.

looks like we've reached the answer. All of your problems solved

Doesn't sound like they've given you any reason yet that sounds legitimate. A decently maintained bicycle should be more reliable for short distance transportation than most cars and neither would be immune from robbery attempts. So continue to ask for their rationale - but try to do so in a tactful, non-pushy way. I'd also pitch the environmental angle. Their website proclaims a 'Shared Planet' philosophy and says "Environmental Stewardship:
In 1992, Starbucks adopted an environmental mission statement that ensures that environmental stewardship will play a role in all facets of our business. ..." Seems like letting their employees use environmentally friendly means of transport would be one of the facets of their business.

+1 million

Now *that* is a plan !

More seriously, I don't think the money is safer in a car than on a bike. In an urban environment it would probably be easier to attack someone who is, very predictably, trapped in a car than someone who is flowing between cars.

I guess the real question is : how is the money *insured*, on the way to the bank ? Your boss just doesn't want to loose the money, and if the insurance is OK with you riding a bike to the bank, who cares ?

Being denied the right to commute by bike to work is some what a factor in making me a mildly militant cyclist rights type.. At my old plant - security guards who were paid minimum wage had this same problem with management . Would they pay them more so that they could get a more reliable car.?- When they could very well bike to work... If Americans could have the right to strike, that would be cause... ...
Still, in the example above. If a job requirement demands security in taking deposits to the bank, that does sort of change the situation since it is a valid concern in one's job description .

I do. There's a certain amount of inherent security being enclosed in a lockable container, and also more power available to elude many situations. Short of being stuck in gridlock traffic the car IMHO would be safer.


I think the biggest error was the employers description of "reliable". Had the phrase been "more secure" many here wouldn't have questioned it. Well, some would get their panties in a bunch, but it's still pretty hard to argue.

I have three thoughts:

1. First, keep in mind that 'cycle commuter' is certainly not a protected class of worker (such as workers protected by gender or race) so frame your approach within the view that you are not asserting a 'right' here.

2. Consider that your boss has a legit point. Personally I would be unhappy having to be the guy risking a violent robbery for what I assume Starbucks pays you. Being on a bike makes you an easier mark. If I was a criminal and I knew you carried the bank deposit then it would be pretty easy to simply run you over and take it.

3. The appeal to Starbucks environment stewardship commitment is probably your best bet. But do not be surprised if Starbucks asserts that your safety is a higher concern (but not high enough to use an armored car service).

Yeah, but lets look at what happens in the real world. In the real world the District manager pegs him as a kook and a troublemaker and he shoots his career path in the foot and at worse case is unemployed "for cause" since it was a requirement of the job. Yeah, he can make a stink and run it up the flagpole, but it's not going to make anyone happy except a bunch of anonymous cyclists on the internet and maybe some tree huggers. In the meantime there's that pesky thing called eating and paying the light bill that pops up

Well if you are feel bold enough about it to risk getting fired then ask him to show where your employment was based on having a car to be used for work purposes. Are they paying you mileage to use your car for business purposes?

Fact is if it is not clearly stated on your contract (and you did signe one) that you would have a car available for work purposes they have no leg to stand on but they are a corporation and can outspend you on lawyers. Might be able to get a lawyer to go for it with the potnetial of a major suit.

So a requirement of your job is that you have a motorized vehicle?

Well, the employer worries that you may get robbed more easily on the bike which is legitimate concern. However, the employer has no right to tell you what to do once you leave work, so they should require you to drop the money off during your working hours, not on your way home, that's your personal time, you may even walk, go shopping, go to the movies and get robbed too. Unless, they pay you for that time so in that case they have the right to tell you how to get to the bank.

So, I would bring up the fact that your commute time is not paid, personal time so if they want you to drop the money off in a safe manner they need to do this during the working hours and provide a car or pay for a taxi cab. Was having a car required for the job? What if you didn't own a car? I don't know your situation, I know getting fired is not fun so you need to decide how much you want to stick to your rights, but as it is right now it's wrong.

Adam

Dunno how many people actually sign employment contracts, especially in at will employment states, but I've rarely seen a job description that didn't say "Other duties as required".. the ultimate catchall.

Just take your car.

I used to work at a rite aide that was only about three blocks from the bank, and we had a manager get robbed while he walking there to make a deposit.

How likely is it? Not very. But your employers have a point. They're in charge of the money, so let them make the decisions about how it is handled.

If you REALLY have to bike to work, you could always leave a car parked there and use that to go to the bank to calm their fears, but commute to work by bike.

Ride your bike to work and take the bus to the bank. Explain that the bus is your reliable transportation. If your boss has a problem with that, ask them to provide you with their own reliable transportation.

Park your car at starbucks and leave it there. That way it is there if you need it, and you can still commute by bike. Then if you need the car some other time, its only 3 miles away.

The thing everyone overlooks is the employer likely would be covered by insurance if there is a robbery. However the insurance company likely wouldn't pay citing the employer didn't take adequate protections allowing someone on a bike to make the deposit.