Noise complaint at work. What are my rights?

**Disco Dan** · 6th August 2007, 13:14

I work at a residential supported living facility and we have 8 houses next to each other down ROW's all next to each other... surrounded by privately owned houses. Our neighbours put up with a lot of traffic, cars coming and going as staff changeover and take clients out to appointments etc...

My manager approached me and told me that two of the neighbours have complained about the noise from my motorbike and asked me to park it on the other side of the facility further away from the neighbours. She asked me about the exhust and I explained it was a factory fitted system and conformed to all legal noise tests etc, (rated at 90 decibels) as well as assuring her that I barely take it above idle to leave to keep the noise to a minimum anyway (most shifts finish late at night or early in the morning).

I said that I would park my bike on the other side of the facility, however I was not happy about it as it is not visible from the 'staff house' and I could not keep an eye on it. Plus there was no carport there to keep it out of the elements.

Then the other day I noticed one of the neighbours that had made the complaint pull into their driveway with a newish Holden V8 thing that was clearly much louder than my bike at slow idle!! I was fuming and gave him a filthy look as he got out.

What are my rights around this? My employer has admitted to me that she cannot discriminate me for my choice of transport but rather a 'good faith' approach would help keep the relationship between the mental health facility and the neighbours healthy.

Should I be stobborn and inisist that I park next to the staff house at the risk of this getting out of hand with the neighbours? or just hold my tongue and buy an alarm/lock and/or bike cover?

**Albino** · 6th August 2007, 13:20

Ask your employer if they in good faith will cover the cost for alarm, lock and insurance loses if it gets stolen or vandalised.

**EJK** · 6th August 2007, 13:22

lol wtf?
The complainer drives a Holden and he is telling you to shut up your bike?
What kind of a nonesense is this! lol

Geez... I'm speechless lol

**avgas** · 6th August 2007, 13:23

So long as the pipe conforms and you don't rev they cant do jack.
also go the the $2 shop, buy some pot scrubs, shove em in the v8's pipe, he will wonder why its gone quiet and will rev the shit out of the engine until he blows them outs....at which case you wont be the noisy one.

**Karma** · 6th August 2007, 13:24

turn it off and either roll it or push it to where you'd normally park it.

**Disco Dan** · 6th August 2007, 13:27

Originally Posted by Albino

Ask your employer if they in good faith will cover the cost for alarm, lock and insurance loses if it gets stolen or vandalised.

I asked... she thought I was joking. When I did not laugh, she just said for me not to be difficult.

Originally Posted by Karma

turn it off and either roll it or push it to where you'd normally park it.

the drive way is very long and steep.... and the bike is flipping heavy.

**MSTRS:Me** · 6th August 2007, 13:27

If your bike is legal, and you are not doing anything to 'deliberately' offend...then no-one has the right to make you change things. Tell them to go read up on the relevant laws etc...

**Karma** · 6th August 2007, 13:29

phone up the noise police whenever he starts up the V8

get his rego plate and *555 him for speeding or something

**Coldrider** · 6th August 2007, 13:30

I would hardly think a standard ZZR11 was noisy, I would watch a rerun of Easy Rider.

**Disco Dan** · 6th August 2007, 13:31

Originally Posted by MSTRS

If your bike is legal, and you are not doing anything to 'deliberately' offend...then no-one has the right to make you change things. Tell them to go read up on the relevant laws etc...

Yeah thats what I thought, but I am new there and dont want to 'rock the boat' so early on... im already their new health and safety officer and its costing them a fortune!

Im so tempted to be 'difficult'....

**Disco Dan** · 6th August 2007, 13:32

Originally Posted by Coldrider

I would hardly think a standard ZZR11 was noisy, I would watch a rerun of Easy Rider.

Yeah its not loud as such... just a really deep throbbing drone. My old suzi600 was louder!

**vifferman** · 6th August 2007, 13:34

I think a first step should be to talk to your neighbours (politely). People's perspective often changes when you take the personal approach. Explain to them the bike is as quiet as you can make it, that you'll keep the warming up outside your flat to a minimum, and that it's a big problem parking it further away due to security and shelter considerations.

**Griff** · 6th August 2007, 13:38

Originally Posted by Disco Dan

My manager approached me and told me that two of the neighbours have complained about the noise from my motorbike and asked me to park it on the other side of the facility further away from the neighbours.

Dan,
Reading between the lines, I think that the neighbours may have other issues and are using you as a scapegoat.

Have another chat with your employers and tell them that these neighbours have other issues and are just using this as an excuse. Ask your employers why are they not backing you up?

It sounds like this is someone else's baggage, so don't take it on board.

**Disco Dan** · 6th August 2007, 13:42

Originally Posted by vifferman

I think a first step should be to talk to your neighbours (politely). People's perspective often changes when you take the personal approach. Explain to them the bike is as quiet as you can make it, that you'll keep the warming up outside your flat to a minimum, and that it's a big problem parking it further away due to security and shelter considerations.

Originally Posted by Griff

Dan,
Reading between the lines, I think that the neighbours may have other issues and are using you as a scapegoat.

Have another chat with your employers and tell them that these neighbours have other issues and are just using this as an excuse. Ask your employers why are they not backing you up?

It sounds like this is someone else's baggage, so don't take it on board.

Hmm well all my managers will be there this afternoon when I arrive, so maybe I will go and have a chat to the neigbours and then my manager....

Still discrimination though if you ask me...