Another one is of course dress, and things have undoubtedly changed with regards to what some chauffeurs think is acceptable attire. Let’s leave out the fact that principals may tell their drivers to dress down, that’s different, because what I’m talking about is the way some professional chauffeurs now dress as a matter of course.
For some, the tie has gone, it is no longer deemed to be part of standard dress in our profession and open neck shirt with a suit is their automatic choice, even if this hasn’t been specified by clients. We had a situation a few years ago when a colleague, who’d worked for us many times before, took it upon himself to turn up for one of our clients wearing slacks, open neck shirt and sweater. When I found out and questioned him afterwards, his response was that it was a Sunday and it was only an airport transfer. This to me was a completely unacceptable assumption on his part but he genuinely struggled to see why I was so upset and that’s the bit I found surprising.
Quite possibly, the most emotive subject is smoking and whether it is appropriate for chauffeurs to do so. There are those who categorically state it has to be a no no, because the residual odour is unpleasant in the confines of a vehicle and therefore unacceptable to clients. The smokers obviously take offence at this and point out that they only smoke well away from the car and make every effort to disguise any smell of cigarette smoke so no harm is done. Quite frankly, I see both sides of the discussion.
The problem with all this is two fold in my humble opinion. Firstly, what’s obvious from some of the discussions on the Chauffeur Network is that what’s acceptable practice to some is wholly unacceptable to others. Whilst some lament what they see as a watering down of professional standards, others see as the modernising of our profession and a straightforward acceptance that society has changed. In the latter’s opinion, where does it say that a chauffeur has to wear a tie or be free of visible tattoos and perhaps they have a valid point?
Secondly, as someone who regularly gives work to others, am I now at a stage where I need to ask any new operator I use whether they wear a suit and tie, smoke, or have tattoos on show? Do they polish their shoes or have a nose piercing? I’ve always assumed that none of the above questions would apply to a chauffeur but perhaps I’m just too old fashioned and its me who needs to realise it’s 2016!
Andy Dubberley
