They can't do this!

My boss started making noises today with the effect that i will no longer be allowed to cycle to work as they don't like me keeping my suit and shoes at work. Also they think i may be too sweaty as summer comes! Even though i cycled all last summer, and i always put on a fresh shirt at work and don't smell!

I only have a 15 minute ride to work, fuckers!

surely employers should be encouraging people to cycle to work, governments initiatives etc.

Where do i stand if they say i'm no longer allowed to ride? I hate the tube!

I think thats pretty out of order. I think coming out of the tube would leave you smelling 5 times worse in the summer, not to mention less motivated to work.

Go to the union if you have one. Tell your boss how you get to work is none of his business. If he tries anything do him for unfair dismissal

magpie, you can travel anyway to work you deem fit, if they have issues with your appearance, clothes in office, discuss with them the possibility of putting in showers, so you could shower before work, or arranging some sort of cupboard space for your clothes, both sweaty and non sweaty
As far as I'm aware bosses can't force you to stop travelling to work one way or another. Speak to some of the lawyers on here for clarification, cliveo, or mooks, whose having some workplace bother and seems quite knowledgeable in discrimination law.
Don't let them bully you into stopping riding to work, just because they are being precious. Be firm and calm with them and let them know you will take this further if need be...

I'm assuming its your direct boss whose talking to you about this and there are managers above him who you can take this too if need be..

how sweaty can someone get on a 15 minute ride?

(meaning your boss's shape, not you)

Tell them to Lunn off.

Kill your boss, wear his skin, take his job, 'make noises with the effect that' cycling to work is now compulsory for everyone.

this boss is a real piece of shit, he probably doesn't like you and he want to make you suffer..the union can be a solution...or you can watch some italian mafia movie and write down some ideas

What do you do that sweating and smelling is such a problem?

My boss started making noises today with the effect that i will no longer be allowed to cycle to work as they don't like me keeping my suit and shoes at work. Also they think i may be too sweaty as summer comes! Even though i cycled all last summer, and i always put on a fresh shirt at work and don't smell!

I only have a 15 minute ride to work, fuckers!

surely employers should be encouraging people to cycle to work, governments initiatives etc.

Where do i stand if they say i'm no longer allowed to ride? I hate the tube!

Fuck Eddie, seriously? Thats bollocks man see legal advice and tell these fuckers whats what!

Eddie, speak to HR at your firm, your boss is a tool frankly.. make a formal complaint if he is serious, HR should support you. unless it is written in staffhand book which i doubt, he has no right to tell you how to get to work, or leaving clothes at work. there are thousands of people who commute.. tell him if he doesn't shut up, i will smack him around the face with a length of amoured cable.. and that is a promise..

incidentally i worn my giro d'italia magna rosa jersey today.. some polite chap pointed out that i should be in Padua (stage 4) this morning and was looking forward to seeing me in rome at the end of the may.. nice..

just get a different job. when you quit tell them why you're leaving.

your boss is wrong. if he tells you not to ride to work tell him (or her) that it's none of his (or her) fucking business how you get to work.

your boss is wrong. if he tells you not to ride to work tell him (or her) that it's none of his (or her) fucking business how you get to work.

+1

he can go fug himself

your boss is wrong. if he tells you not to ride to work tell him (or her) that it's none of his (or her) fucking business how you get to work.

Are the PC brigade in?

Also they think i may be too sweaty as summer comes!

'May' is a very dangerous word to use - it's like saying that you can't employ women as they 'may' go off and get themselves pregnant. Ok, so you're not covered by discrimination law but your boss does have to have reasonable grounds for their request - it may not be discrimination but it could be seen as bullying.

he has no right to tell you how to get to work

Amen to that...

Ask for clarification of their concerns, and treat their response as grounds for negotiation. Accept and appreciate their concerns, and start to work on a compromise - find out what the issues are and work on a way to resolve them. Telling them to go fuck themselves won't achieve anything, but trying to come to a compromise shows that you're willing to put in the effort.

If the situation doesn't improve, try to focus on a few key points: if they say you smell, politely ask around the office in a concerned manner whether you're causing any bother - e.g. "I'm almost embarassed to ask this, but it's been getting warmer and just wanted to make sure I wasn't causing any problems in terms of smell or anything. Just let me know and I'll do something about it..." If it's about you actually keeping fresh clothes in the office make enquiries as to whether there's anywhere you can store your clothes so they're not visible or getting in the way...

Be totally reasonable, ratonal and calm, and make sure you can't be criticised for not trying hard enough, and everybody in the office will end up loving you, while it'll infuriate your boss no end...!

magpie, is the "suggestion" NOT to cycle to work, tied with your being able to lock your bike up within the company premises?

This is the only way that your boss may have any grounds for making a comment at all; even if totally wrong.

Only if your secure your bike within the company premises, does he have any right to make a comment at all......and then only if the company is contemplating taking away bike parking priviledges, company-wide.

If you park your bike OFF premises, not only does he NOT have a right to comment on your cycling, but it would be deemed as harassment if he does. As for the inference regarding personal hygiene, that is something different. I suggest asking your Human Resources for clarification, and yes, ask a union rep for their opinion on the matter.

just ignore it and carry on cycling.

15minutes on the tube + walking quickly because it made you late will mean more sweat than any cycle ride.

He's probably just coming up with ammo so it's not such a surprise when you get sacked

Are the PC brigade in?

it's gone mad!

there is no indication in the O.P. that magpie's boss is a bloke...

Maybe they're trying to tell you that you smell?

On a serious note, bombing the building 'may' be your only answer.

Maybe, after talking through everything mooks did say, as grounds for negotiation, you should also calmly mention that you'll expect them to pay for the annual tube ticket?

cycle to work naked

no sweat cos you will air dry!

seriously tho this seems very draconian has you boss not heard of congestion or global warming

Ha, even better idea, ask them to pay you a car!

Do a search for "removing bosses".

My boss started making noises today with the effect that i will no longer be allowed to cycle to work as they don't like me keeping my suit and shoes at work. Also they think i may be too sweaty as summer comes! Even though i cycled all last summer, and i always put on a fresh shirt at work and don't smell!

I have a rule of thumb that says that if someone presents two unrelated reasons for something, then they started with a prejudice and then searched for the justification. The rule works surprisingly well.

This example obeys the rule. They don't like you keeping a suit in the office? why not? what's not to like? That's not a reason for anything, so they've had to scratch around for a second reason; you "may" be too sweaty?

Basically this guy (gal?) just doesn't want you to cycle, and doesn't know why, so has made some stuff up. RPM's right, best just to ignore him(her) and carry on. If they challenge you, ask them to explain what's wrong with having a suit in the office, and if anyone has complained about you being sweaty/smelly.

I've had to tell people who work for me that they smell, and believe me, its a job you put off until people start complaining.