Can my boss dictate to me what personal car to own?

Question

I have a new boss who came from Europe. This morning he sent out an office wide memo stating that he will be reviewing each employee to make sure that the vehicle owned matches the position. If anyone owns a vehicle that is better than their position then they will have to trade it in for the proper vehicle or be fired. He said he requires this because that's the way it is where he came from and the way it needs to be in this country (USA). He says it is offensive and obscene to see low level workers driving around in classy cars that should only be driven by managers, doctors, or lawyers.

Example he used..."(my name) is the receptionist and should only be permitted to own a basic bare bones econo car, NOT the fancy Mercedes out there in the parking lot." To him a bare bones econo car is an old used clunker car with NO luxury items...no A/C, power windows/locks, power brakes/steering, cruise, radio, CD player, or automatic tranny.

Well, I have a slight problem with that because I'm the receptionist he's referring to. The Mercedes is a 2 year old 200 series purchased new. The loan will be paid in full this September. I love the car and really do not want to trade it in for anything else. Several other co-workers have similar concerns. I considered looking for employment elsewhere because of this, but the job market is too scarce right now. Can the boss legally force us to replace our own personal vehicles?

btw...I didn't do anything illegal or immoral to purchase the Mercedes. My parents offered to pay 1/2 if I worked at their dealership at min wage for the spring and summer months until I found permanent employment. Now I work for a large engineering firm making more than enough money to afford the car + everything else.

Answer 1

Real Estate agencies prefer their agents own a 4 door car,( easier for clients to get in and out of when you're taking them to see a property) and if  you worked for a Ford dealer, you might get a few stares if you just went out and bought a new Toyota, but other that , it's nobody's business what you drive.

You're the one who has to take care of it and make the payments, no one else.

Answer 2

I bet your boss wouldn't have any problems with you commuting on a bicycle. That would allow you to keep your job AND your car. If no bicycle...time to ditch the Mercedes and get something that guzzles a little less gas, like maybe a Chevy Aveo or Toyota Yaris.

Answer 3

In THIS country your boss absolutely cannot tell you what to drive.  Forward this office memo to the person you speak with at the labor department after you call them, like you should.  And then see what they say.  Go over his head to let somebody know of this and that it offends you.  In this country you could probably end up suing him or the company just for being made to feel bad about your job.  And one more thing, I have to ask, are you sure this wasn't a joke or something?  Sounds like it could have been a prank but I do not know the atmosphere there.

Answer 4

Wow......you have two choices........ride it out and hope he gets canned or get your resume up and out.......this is just the beginning......

Answer 5

He's crazy and should go back to Europe.

I don't know that there's anything illegal about firing someone for driving what he perceives to be the wrong car type.  However, he'll be paying very high rates for unemployment if he keeps this up because I don't think any state would deny unemployment to someone who was fired for driving the wrong car.

Answer 6

No, your boss can't force you to replace your car with one of the "appropriate type". This is a free country and you can drive whatever you want. Might I suggest an army tank so you can squash his car? Just kidding of course.

If my boss ever told me something like that I wouldn't get rid of my car. Next day I would show up in my restored classic car, complete with push button automatic, AM/FM CD MP3 sound system, and custom console. If he complains about that I'll tell him "Well, you said an old clunker. It's not a clunker, but it is old." ...and then tell him that I'll drive whatever I d**n well please and if he doesn't like it that's just too bad.

Answer 7

Your boss is demented! He needs a trip to the woodshed. In this country choice in cars is a personal one. Drive what you can afford.. or even what you cant. Its up to you.

Answer 8

I "HOPE" for his sake it's a Joke!!

If not he's in DEEP-Do-Do. He CANNOT dictate any such thing, it's against the Law of ethics.

Maybe he should go back to the "Communist" country he came from!!

(That sounds like Communism, in it's 'truest' form)

Just because your Parents Helped/Have a few $, like mine do, it's NO REASON for YOU to suffer!

Many 'single' people who have good jobs, as you stated, have high-end cars. I'm the same as you. I not only OWN  my own Home (Not outright, I have a Mortgage) but, I have 2 cars, a Mercedes (500 SLK) and a Honda Coupe....bet he'd HATE me and I'm only 27...I'll be 28 in November!!

I also have my own Consulting Business and of course some Family money.

Answer 9

I would forward the email to HR and see what they have to say, he can't dictate who drives what!

Answer 10

What you drive and how you paid for it is none of his business.

This is the weirdest thing I have heard in awhile, but I would contact my states employment board and see what they say.

If your company has a HR department you may want to shoot them a copy of this memo, they will set him straight.

Answer 11

He's a nut.  Glad that HR overruled his lunacy before it went any futher.

Now if you worked for Ford Motor Company and drove your Chevy to work and they complained,, the answer might be different.

Answer 12

Suggest that he consult with a business law attorney or the company's attorney and have the ramifications and civil liabilities of an unlawful termination explained.