(16 Sep 2023, 11:08 am)Fleetmaster wrote Mental health is no excuse. If drivers want the respect of being seen as highly paid responsible professionals, they need to accept they have a duty to report issues with their own health that they are aware of, before putting themselves and their passengers in a situation like this. This doesn't sound like it was an immediate and unforeseeable break with reality. I find it far more likely that this incident was an indication that these days drivers are getting professional pay and conditions even though they clearly aren't equipped for the challenges of modern day public service.

The company is always to blame, even though there would be absolute outrage among the unions if they did what seems to be necessary and started assessing their current and future workers for issues such as an inability to monitor and control your own emotions to the point you could and would quit in this fashion. It's worth bearing in mind that bus passengers are some of the most vulnerable people in society, children, old people, people with their own issues, people for whom being abandoned in this fashion could and would be quite distressing.

One of the protections of being an employee in this country of course, is the extraordinary difficulty in private citizens holding you personally liable for what are undeniably personal failings of a professional nature. One of the many hidden but significant costs involved in running a business, as any bus driver would realize, if they has a broader perspective on life in general.

Do GNE give staff the right support towards their mental health. Do the staff feel comfortable reporting issues they might have? Also, mental health isn't an exact science. Some people might not realise how bad they are until a certain moment, an incident might happen which triggers them and at that moment they realise they can't cope. We just don't know what happened in this case, and nor should we. The drivers health is private, the company have a duty to keep that way which they seem to have.

As for the comment about them wanting to be "High paid, respected professionals", I know of higher paid people than bus drivers who've had to walk out on work as their mental health has been an issue. It can effect anyone, high wages doesn't make you immune.