r/antiwork • u/PlatypusDream • Feb 18 '25

Know your Worth 🏆 Had the pleasure of telling a recruiter "if the company wants to control my time, it has to pay for it"

I'm currently driving a school bus part-time. Have been looking for more work, especially over the summer.

Today, within an hour of each other, I had calls from a place I'd interviewed in person mid-December AND a place I'd done a phone interview with a couple weeks ago. Both had been silent since then.

[ETA: for both, I'd be driving a motorcoach, think tour bus or Greyhound. The first company also has smaller passenger vehicles. The second company also has school buses.]

I accepted PT for the first company, easing into that as I ease out of school bus while school ends. Boss there is OK with that.

When the second one called, I told her I had moved on with other options because I hadn't heard back... but I was willing to try to juggle all 3 PT jobs. She asked if the other was with a bus company, "because that would be a conflict of interest and we can't allow it".

I explained that I need to pay bills, so her company can control whatever time they pay for. She didn't like that, but didn't really have a response.
So we agreed this probably wouldn't work.

Damn, that felt good!!

.

ETA: I was willing to juggle the USA Federal hours of service among all jobs, being totally honest with all of them. That wasn't the objection from company 2.

4.9k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

76 comments sorted by

3.7k

u/balangaz Feb 18 '25

I think that conflict of interest is ovetsold in these people's heads. Are they afraid you'll spill valuable bus driving secrets to the competition?

Some places are just too far gone to make sense

1.3k

u/PlatypusDream Feb 18 '25

As a basic bus driver, I would have no knowledge of rates, nor any clients other than my own (or if I overheard other drivers talking), so it's really odd to claim a conflict of interest.

Managers, yeah.

336

u/Toddw1968 Feb 18 '25

And op says they’re driving a SCHOOL BUS so what kind of conflict of interest could that be? Unless…they are also a school district but they don’t pay as much as op’s current job and they don’t want op telling their folks they could make more at another district. But that’s a stretch.

157

u/PlatypusDream Feb 19 '25

Currently on school bus yes

The second company, that I turned down, does school bus & coach (the big tour buses, which is what I'll be driving).

The first company has everything from a luxury sedan to coaches

44

u/Fixes_Computers Feb 18 '25

I also drive school bus. I work for a private company which contracts to school districts. There are several such companies in the USA and likely elsewhere.

I can see someone at one company having an issue if you also drive for another. District run fleets don't seem to have that issue.

I know it's doable as I once had a coworker who worked for a district fleet that only ran four days each week so she was available to us on Fridays. Any other time, I can't see driving bus for multiple fleets as school times are fairly consistent across the area.

41

u/query_whether Feb 19 '25

potential scheduling challenges ≠ legitimate bases for noncompetes lol

21

u/mechwarrior719 Feb 19 '25

An actual instance of non-compete would be working for Dart Container/Sweetheart/Solo Cup and trying to get a job at Georgia Pacific (aka, Dixie Cup). Those are actual competitors with different manufacturing processes and proprietary methods.

9

u/Necessary_Action_190 Feb 19 '25

Its more they would be learning about how the work environment can be. Who knows maybe they find out from one job that something other job is doing is illegal. Other job wouldnt be able to keep taking advantage of the practice.

4

u/MarginalOmnivore Feb 20 '25

Scheduling conflict? Yeah, definitely. If they're looking to hire a full-timer, a part-time employee is a bad fit, no matter how qualified.

But a conflict of interest?

That is laughably out of left field.

73

u/TheDisapprovingBrit Feb 19 '25

What they actually mean is “we want to be able to call you when we need you, and we don’t want other companies to be able to”

You having a choice of multiple companies to sell your time to doesn’t fit with their picture of an ideal employee.

7

u/Grapeape934 Feb 19 '25

Yep, we want all of your commercial hours available only to us. If you are doing commercial driving for others, then we may not get all of the hours we want from you, when we want them used.

11

u/Nalano Feb 19 '25

"We want F/T availability for P/T wages, wait, where are you going!?"

131

u/Rawniew54 Feb 18 '25

That’s just a cover they really just want you desperate and poor so you are to afraid to quit

7

u/tdbeaner1 Feb 19 '25

Yup. No secrets here. They just want to limit your options so they are your only option.

27

u/Secure-Wear7049 Feb 19 '25

The conflict of interest is that they have less control of you and your labor because you have options. Most employers want to make sure you get paid what they know. That way you are less likely to put up a fight or out right quit.

40

u/AusXan Feb 19 '25

It's more that any job wants you to be in two states: working for them or needing to work for them to survive. If you have a third state; working for someone else, then you aren't at their beck and call whenever they'd like.

You also aren't actively afraid to stand up for your rights at any given job if you have another stream of income.

5

u/TheBoundFenrir Feb 19 '25

The conflict of interest is if you have another job you're no longer desperately interested in not getting fired.

2

u/DeaconBlues Feb 19 '25

I guess they could be worried you might try to poach regular clients for the other service if they are paying more or giving you more hours.

2

u/Worshaw_is_back Feb 19 '25

Conflict of interest would be if company 2 had a route that paid more, you might call in sick for her to take the other. Lol

1

u/Mooch07 Feb 19 '25

She’s saying you’ll drive better for the other company. 

1

u/Fhotaku Feb 19 '25

My stepdad is a charter bus driver and some of the clients will demand him specifically. If he were to leave, they'd probably follow him. I think that's the conflict of interest threat for them.

74

u/Ziabatsu Feb 18 '25

"the wheels on the bus go where?"

50

u/Optimus3k Feb 18 '25

I'm sorry, that's proprietary information, just like what the wipers on the bus do.

10

u/jamoe1 Feb 18 '25

Damn it, my comment I wanted to make wasn’t this clever.

59

u/tearsforsappho Feb 18 '25

“Valuable bus driving secrets” just gave me some necessary laughter

32

u/MarthaGail Feb 18 '25

One day, my friends and I were sitting in our favorite taco place eating lunch and this woman came in wearing the employee t-shirt of a different (and also very tasty) taco place in town. She went in the back and came out in the shirt for the place we were currently at. All I could think was I was so glad shew as there with all her taco knowledge spreading it around.

21

u/checkerouter Feb 19 '25

I believe some interpret “conflict of interest” as “multiple priorities” and/or “can’t work whatever shift we want at a moments notice”

If it were legal, they’d probably call a partner or kids a conflict of interest as well.

10

u/KateA535 Feb 19 '25

As a design engineer I get it if I wanted to work with two companies in the same field of interest. But when looking for work I suggested to two part time companies I split the week between them as they both wanted 20hrs, they said no as the other would be competition. One was lighting design, one was shop display design, neither affected the other. They couldn't understand that... I gave up and said no to both if I wasn't able to get work for the rest of the week in my field of work.

3

u/HowDoDogsWearPants Feb 19 '25

It's crazy a part time position will expect you to not have another job anyway. Most people can't survive on part time work

6

u/sirpentious Feb 19 '25

What secrets?! 😭 Bro I'm a custodian and I'm taught just about everything that's common knowledge there ain't no secrets in this damn school

9

u/flyingwingbat1 Feb 18 '25

"If they learn 'the wheels on the bus go round and round' we're screwed!"

3

u/Snow_blind1211 Feb 19 '25

Usually the conflict of interest would be use of DOT hours. They can only drive so many hours in a day without being in violation and would render him useless in the other job if he drove to much in the previous. I mean stick it to’em but that’s an actual safety concern.

2

u/timewilltell2347 Feb 19 '25

It’s just worker punishment with a new name, plain and simple.

1

u/spacecadet2023 Profit Is Theft Feb 19 '25

I have always been told it’s because of trade secrets. Don’t know if it’s true or not.

1

u/twinkletoes-rp Feb 20 '25

lol. 'bus driving secrets', a la "Yeah, this is the seat where Jimmy puts all the good gum."

1

u/ForexGuy93 Feb 20 '25

Decoding traffic lights can be proprietary information.

1

u/Chris11c Feb 21 '25

The only conflict I can think of (former school bus driver) is the allowable number of hours you can drive in a given period of time.

It varies from state to state, but it's usually 10-11 hours on with an 8-10 hour off cycle. They might just not want to have to rely on the driver to keep track of that, and the other company isn't under any requirement to share such information.

1

u/AccreditedMaven Feb 19 '25

The risk is that the driver will have contact with the customer. If the customer is in any way dissatisfied, driver is in a position to say, on the spot, call Company B, they can do what you want.

227

u/Western-Mall5505 Feb 18 '25

Do these people know who can find out all about buses by going on the firm's website.

They are a goldmine of information for a competitor, they tell you where the bus is going when it's should get there and how much it will cost you.

Maybe they don't want their drives knowing that your original firm has better tea/ coffee.🤣

32

u/PlatypusDream Feb 18 '25

Both of these would be private transportation, not public / scheduled routes. Mostly tour buses, some smaller vehicles.

156

u/Theredwalker666 Feb 18 '25

Good Job man! Honestly, fuck these people who think they own every aspect of your life.

62

u/alanwbrown Feb 18 '25

Where I live a professional bus driver has a limit on the number of hours they can work. Is that the case where you are? If I was interviewing and suspected that a person might be driving for another business that would be problematic.

So, scenario, you drive x hours in a week for company 1. You drive y hours for company 2. Whilst driving for company 2 you are above your hourly work limit to drive professionally and you have a crash.

Company 2 is in massive legal trouble because their driver has worked a number of hours above the legal limit and people are dead. So whilst you think "Damn, that felt good!!" the company don't care because you are a liability which they, their insurers and lawyers do not have to deal with.

30

u/Fixes_Computers Feb 18 '25

In the USA, this falls under federal hours of service regulations. For passenger drivers, we're limited to 10 hours driving within 15 hours of on duty time. Once you've exceeded one of those limits, you're not allowed to drive a commercial vehicle until you've had eight hours off duty. Cargo drivers have slightly different hours of service rules.

1

u/Ok-Hovercraft8193 Feb 24 '25

ב''ה, this is why Nevada only allows parking for 4 hours, they're fighting to keep you tweaked.

20

u/PlatypusDream Feb 18 '25

Yes, and tracking those hours between jobs would be (I think) mostly on the driver to honestly report

37

u/Maybe_Factor Feb 18 '25

It's a conflict of interest to drive for two bus companies at the same time? What kind of trade secrets do they think they're protecting?

-1

u/alanwbrown Feb 18 '25

If I drive 35 hours per week for company 1

I then drive 35 hours per week for company 2

Tell me, why do you think they might be worried? Have a guess.

31

u/Maybe_Factor Feb 19 '25

That's not a conflict of interest, that's a safety and regulatory concern

21

u/Fixes_Computers Feb 18 '25

In the USA, being on duty 70 hours within eight consecutive days is legal. It's also the limit, but assumes the company operates seven days a week. Otherwise it's 60 hours in seven days.

There are some exceptions in hours of service rules for those who stay within 100 air miles of their base which is likely for a school bus driver only doing school routes.

18

u/KingsGard93 Feb 19 '25

Not seeing anyone name the obvious "conflict" here which is scheduling. They want OP available for prime hours

12

u/PlatypusDream Feb 19 '25

And whoever contacts me soonest gets to schedule me first

14

u/jnwatson Feb 18 '25

Conflict of interest for a bus driver. Because of all the sensitive IP you know. Jesus Christ what is this world coming too.

7

u/Don_Gato1 Feb 18 '25

Has more to do with total time spent driving and liability in the event of an accident.

11

u/Aryanirael Feb 18 '25

I’m doing the same thing. A company I contacted about a PT job late November ghosted me, then reached out last week to inquire about my schedule and when I’d be available to work. I told them in my sweetest voice that I was driving, couldn’t check it right away, but that I would call them back with my availabilities.

I will call them back. In a month or two.

6

u/DW171 Feb 19 '25

It must be all those proprietary school bus secrets they don't want another company to get their thieving hands on. They should really patent that process of *checks notes* transporting kids safely.

3

u/Someidiot666-1 Feb 19 '25

That was her saying they want you available for call ins etc. big red flag for part time job.

3

u/AntRevolutionary925 Feb 19 '25

Unless you’re in a sales position there is definitely no conflict of interest. What do they think you’ll do, show up in their competitors bus to pick up their clients?

I’m all for our part time staff working for our competitors. We treat them well (we’ve only had 2 people quit in 10 years, both to go to college, both came back on summer breaks until they graduated), so I don’t have to worry that they are giving our competitors any confidential info, and also our clients love us so even if they were I wouldn’t have to worry about them taking our clients.

By them working for our competitors, they share in the cost of any training and it just gives our staff more experience so they perform even better.

A lot of business owners are very short sighted.

2

u/moistobviously Feb 19 '25

If you use the same roads, maybe that's a conflict? Short cuts?

4

u/LJski Feb 18 '25

Policies are for more than just one class of employee. Does it make sense for a bus driver? Maybe not, but perhaps in some other roles, or perhaps you can find out the costs…can’t imagine it would be all that tough to do.

Ultimately, while they can’t tell you what you do when you are not there, they can also hire or fire you based on who else you work for.

3

u/Fixes_Computers Feb 18 '25

In this case there are also federal hours of service rules which apply. They are intended to protect the driver from overwork, but aren't a perfect system.

2

u/derickkcired Feb 18 '25

this also goes under "tell them nothing." what they dont know wont hurt you.

2

u/PlatypusDream Feb 19 '25 edited Feb 19 '25

There are federal hours of service laws so it could be hard to juggle, and going over (if caught... more unlikely now that Pres Musk is destroying the fedgov) would be Very Very Bad, especially if an injury accident is involved

That being said, AFAIK the driver is responsible for accurately reporting / recording the hours worked, and I'm aware of the rules, and certainly would apply them

2

u/derickkcired Feb 19 '25 edited Feb 19 '25

Yeah but at the same time he's wiping out OSHA...so can't break workplace safety rules if there are no workplace safety rules.

1

u/PlatypusDream Feb 19 '25

Oddly, transportation isn't under OSHA

-1

u/alanwbrown Feb 18 '25

" what they dont know wont hurt you."

So when the driver has worked for, say, 50 plus hours that week, is so tired that they fall asleep at the wheel and kill innocent people will that still be your answer?

5

u/practicalm Feb 18 '25

Society has decided that paying people wages where they don’t have to work more than 40 hours to survive/thrive isn’t something that society needs to do. So the consequences happen.

3

u/Don_Gato1 Feb 18 '25

I agree with you but that won't help you in the event of a crash.

They will just throw you under the... well, you know.

1

u/PlatypusDream Feb 19 '25

Maybe the bus will do a ground loop like that plane in Toronto...

The flight attendants were awesome! Only 2 of them to care for 76 passengers and everyone is OK. A few injuries, but all alive.

0

u/derickkcired Feb 18 '25

Definitely not wrong. But again...they don't need to make that call.

3

u/Don_Gato1 Feb 18 '25

They probably do, as it impacts their liability.

1

u/_Chaos_Star_ stay strong Feb 19 '25

Driving a schoolbus? There's no conflict of interest there, unless each school is also a research institution and both places are using custom vehicles or fuel mixtures before they break into commercializing their arrangements statewide for all schools. OP, does this seem to be the case here?

Otherwise, I think they're confusing "conflict of interest" with "scheduling conflicts".

1

u/twinkletoes-rp Feb 20 '25

Good for you!

1

u/Only_Tip9560 Feb 20 '25

"Oh well, that is a shame for you, bad luck, hope you find someone soon".

1

u/Neat-Ostrich7135 Feb 21 '25

Like your other employer will gain some sort of edge, due to you knowledge of the inner workings of how to drive a bus for company C, or you deliberately drive slow to make B look bad.

Insane.