Actually, I also have no licence, and I can tell you that back in my jobhunting days I'd pass on plenty of want ads that I knew would, sooner or later, expect me to drive.

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I was always able to be where I needed to be in terms of responsibilities involved in my position.

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Then I really can't imagine why you'd need to hold a driver's licence. Are changes planned for your position?

I remember a sort of similar situation once where everybody at work had to get their paycheques by direct deposit. One hold-out refused to divulge her banking information.

Why did they think you need a car? Are there meetings that you have been unable to make it because of transportation? Are there any examples that they could bring up your lack of car ownership negatively affecting your job performance? Did they cite any other reasons when dismissing you?

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The job specified a driver's license, but when I went to the interview, the question never came up, and when I submitted a cover letter and resume, I did not state I had a license, nor did I state I didn't have one.

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Mind you I would hazard a guess that the best outcome of an unjust dismissal suit would be that they be required to pay out the full three months of the contract.

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Um then you applied for the job under false pretenses. Since it specified in advance you had to have one, by showing up to a interview its safe to assume you have one. Essentially you lied about a item of your resume

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Originally posted by EFA:
I remember a sort of similar situation once where everybody at work had to get their paycheques by direct deposit. One hold-out refused to divulge her banking information.

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Of course, the holdout could have opened a different account at a different bank solely for the direct deposit. A good manager should have explained how she could comply and keep her banking info secure. In the same way, a good employer should assist zazzo to meet the travel requirements, which is what the license is really all about. Or is it?

Some companies automatically poll the Provincial Driver's Abstract as a way of checking up on employees. Not finding a driving record, they may think that zazzo is a fraud.

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Originally posted by Cougyr:
Of course, the holdout could have opened a different account at a different bank solely for the direct deposit. A good manager should have explained how she could comply and keep her banking info secure.

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Employers put all kinds of requirements on job postings these days

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Very true, but if you dont have the requirements, you dont apply or you state your willingness to acquire the ones you have missed.

When I was working form a headhunter we would get tons of resumes for positions and they would not have the requirements (especially when a few were underlinded as must have). They got shredded.

Now on the other hand, the employer should be clear when advertising

Must have xxx
should have xxx
would be good if they knew xxx

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But the holdout didn't want to divulge any banking information, nor could her employer force her to.

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Originally posted by Bacchus:
Did they keep their job? Or were they let go for other reasons or the first laid off?

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I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I'm also in the process of looking for work, and although I've kept my licence valid, I haven't driven for many years, for reasons of convenience, cost, and conscience.

While I wouldn't put it in quite the same terms as Bacchus (e.g. "false pretenses"), I agree that by not raising the topic in your cover letter, resume, or interview, you entitled the employer to assume that you satisfied the qualification of having a driver's licence. (This isn't a legal opinion, more an ethical / etiquette opinion.)

A driver's licence was one of the qualifications, and even if there was no mention of why it was a qualification, the employer saw fit to raise it as a matter of some importance.

The topic not coming up in the interview or elsewhere wasn't entirely your fault - if it was so important to the employer, it would have made sense for them to confirm whether you had a licence, rather than to assume so.

But I don't think they were obliged to do that. If you wanted to ask them why a driver's licence was a requirement, or if you felt you could explain that you could perform the job without a driver's licence, the logical place to do so would have been in the cover letter, in the interview, or when you were offered the job.

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The job specified a driver's license, but when I went to the interview, the question never came up, and when I submitted a cover letter and resume, I did not state I had a license, nor did I state I didn't have one.

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Originally posted by Bacchus:

Since it specified in advance you had to have one, by showing up to a interview its safe to assume you have one.

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Originally posted by Granola Girl:
Sometimes I even suspect its a class issue (Cars, licences, insurance, gas - it all costs more than some can afford)

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I hadn't thought of that. I hope that's not the reason but anything's possible. I did take a job once where the interviewer wanted to know which part of town I was from. I called him on it and he waffled, said something like it was more convenient if we were all from Place X. Yeah, sure, I thought, especially if we own there and don't rent.

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Originally posted by Granola Girl:
I don't have a licence either, and it really creates a lot of preoblems when job searching. I wish employers would explain why they want me to have a licence.

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As I posted above, I'm suspicious about the employers' motives. A license makes the task of checking up on employees so much easier.

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Originally posted by EFA:
Yes, she kept her job. She was a truly excellent employee who just didn't want go the direct deposit route for whatever reason.

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Did she also demand to be paid in Euros?

[Edited to add...]

Sometimes, it makes sense to flag things that might be an issue. At the end of an interview, you could say, "I don't drive and I realize that you've asked for someone who does. I don't anticipate that being any barrier to my being able to do my job successfully ("I recognize that you've asked for someone with a Master's Degree, which I don't have. I'd like to point out that my extensive experience in this area is likely just as valuable as having an M.A.").

Particularly since two of the interviewers knew of your car-free status, you might have a case for wrongful dismissal.

Now, if I wanted to seriously drift this thread, I'd ask what people thought about an employer (say, an environmental organization) requiring employees not to drive a car

[ 13 July 2005: Message edited by: Scott Piatkowski ]

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Now, if I wanted to seriously drift this thread, I'd ask what people thought about an employer (say, an environmental organization) requiring employees not to drive a car

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