Gross Misconduct-Please Help.

peterbancroft

I have been invited to a disciplinary hearing for Gross Misconduct.

I currently work as a mortgage adviser for a high street bank. Mortgages are regulated by the FSA.

I did something very silly , due to being under extreme pressure, to hit targets.

I submitted two cases for the same customer at the same time, without a signed declaration, however with the customers full consent. The declaration would have been signed onlty the day fater, and the case would never have completed without it.


I have never done this before. My line manager asked me what happened. I then gave an account, of exactly what happened, but also said that I had posted declarations back to the processing centre, where I hadn't.

I was suspended on full pay, pending an investigation. Once the investigation was complete, I was invited to an investagatory meeting. In that meeting I gave all the facts truthfully and accuratley, but had to chnage my statement during the that metting to make sure that I was telling the truth 100%.

My case then went to another manager in the business, who has with guidance from HR, decided it is gross misconduct.

There are other mortgage advisers who are more senior than myself who have been doing it, with customers consent and I thought it would be ok.

I knew it was seriouys and wrong, and have admitted as such.

If they dismiss me, then it will be extremley unfair as there are other mortgage adviers that are doing it, which I raised in the investogatory meeting.

I will raise this matter again in the disciplinary meeting but it's not easy to rpove and in any case I don't want to name individuals.

I now have the full investigatory meeting report. The customers have matched what I have asid, except whether they gave their consent to signing declarations and submitting the case. They say it wasn't discussed.

However, it was fully discussed, and I cannot control what the customer can and cannot remember.

I am normally black and white when it comes to rules and regulations , but I am scared , that this is now going to cost me my job and career.

I have been employed nearly 1 year, it will be a few days outside of one year at the hearing, where summary dismissal could take place.

I am not a member of any trade unio, however what is the exact purpose and role of having a representative?

Any help would be highly appreciated, as I can't afford to lose my job.

whitewing

This may be a daft question, but I assume that your username is not your real name?

whitewing

I have been looking at your other posts. Doesn't all make sense on the surface, but that may just be the way you are explaining things for each issue. Anyway, it looks to me that you are in a pickle with a number of situations. I think you should gather everything up and see the Citizen's Advice Bureau or another agency and try to look at everything together. It looks like you're not handling your financial sitaution very well, you're stressed out and this is affecting the decisions you are making.

robpw2

peterbancroft wrote: »

.

There are other mortgage advisers who are more senior than myself who have been doing it, with customers consent and I thought it would be ok.

I knew it was seriouys and wrong, and have admitted as such.

If they dismiss me, then it will be extremley unfair as there are other mortgage adviers that are doing it, which I raised in the investogatory meeting.

I will raise this matter again in the disciplinary meeting but it's not easy to rpove and in any case I don't want to name individuals.


quote]
sorry whilst i sympathise with you if other mortgage advisors were killing people would you? jumping off a cliff would you?

Bismarck

Don't know what to say other than it's no excuse to say that the others are doing it. this may be the case but not what they want to hear.

Have you been offered the opportunity to have someone in the meeting with you?

peterbancroft

Bismarck wrote: »

Don't know what to say other than it's no excuse to say that the others are doing it. this may be the case but not what they want to hear.

Have you been offered the opportunity to have someone in the meeting with you?

Yes I have, it is another adviser in my team.

ohreally

Once the investigation was complete, I was invited to an investagatory meeting

This is contradictory and requires to be looked at.

peterbancroft wrote: »

however what is the exact purpose and role of having a representative?

A good rep will ensure you have a fair and procedurally compliant hearing. For instance how are you going to test managements evidence gathered during the investigatory hearing or is it simply to be accepted? Were the questions asked of the witnesses loaded/ leading. Are you going to question the witnesses yourself for further clarification if their account is a little different from your own - which i can almost guarantee will not be in their own words but formulated as a response to specific questions put to them by management.

Oldernotwiser

Seven weeks ago you posted "On thursday last week, I lost my job." There's something fishy going on here.

Leightonian

this thread is made up rubbish then ?

Paparika

sorry but after the OH just got ripped off by a mortgage advisor for not doing their job properly and costing him £600 non refundable then no sympathy, its all sales bonuses to you anyway.

peterbancroft

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Seven weeks ago you posted "On thursday last week, I lost my job." There's something fishy going on here.

Paparika wrote: »

sorry but after the OH just got ripped off by a mortgage advisor for not doing their job properly and costing him £600 non refundable then no sympathy, its all sales bonuses to you anyway.

I had lost my job due to capability, but appealed it and was re-instated.

Sales bonus- I get nothing until the case completes. However At the moment even when that happens I still get nothing because I am rated and graded as an underperformer and get nothing except for my basic.

So there wasn't even a financial incentive for me. It was all down to pressure and misjuddgement.