A little bit of advice where work is involved please :)

Dobbyr_2

First off, Hey! I'm Ryan.

My situation is this: I've been working at a pub for roughly 3-4 months now as a barman; I've also been seeing the Assistant Manager of the pub, which will come more into the story later!

Roughly 3 weeks ago, the Manager went on holiday for 2 weeks, leaving my assistant manager in control, and living on the premises in the upstairs flat. On the first day of the manager being away, Tara, the assistant manager, decided to have a lock-in, there was roughly 13-15 people there, 4 of whom were staff, as we sat there drinking until 4-5am, someone from outside the pub had thrown a brick through the window, police were called, and everything was shut up and everyone sent home accordingly. I had left the premises, fairly drunk to say the least; and had also forgotten my keys, only realising 30 mins after leaving.

So me in my drunken state, went back to the pub, knocked on everydoor, trying to wake Tara (!!!. Manager) up so i could grab my keys, she didnt, so yeah, i decided to climb in through the already broken and exposed window. Bad move, I was shortly arrested for attempted burglary (the police were over the street in an undercover car, presumably after the lock-in) when the police arrested me, they climbed into the pub with me and took me upstairs to get Tara, which is where the story gets interesting, because i found her in bed with another bloke.. The night has just begun! lol.

2 days later, i went into the pub, to talk to Tara about my job, and where i stand etc.
She had apparently spoken to the Area manager, and he had authorised my dismissal, but said he'd have done the same in my situation about climbing through the window, and being drunk; Tara then said, in order to get a reference, i should hand in my notice straight away instead of being sacked. Those were Tara's exact words, so it didnt seem to add up to me. I figured it was a lie to get me away from working with her, so it wouldnt be hostile over the fact she cheated on me.

Waiting 2 weeks, and not handing in my resignation, i spoke to the Manager after he came back from holiday, told him everything, the charges for burglary have been dropped, and my job reinstated, every over member of staff felt i was treated unfairly etc. The manager also admitted that how i was dealth with was wrong, and if i had've been sacked, Tara, and the other members of staff would have had to also have been sacked. Yet they weren't even suspended?

The point im getting too, is, the way the whole situation was dealt with, and me being out of work for 3 weeks, earning nothing. Of course i know what i did was wrong, but 3 other people that night were arrested, being staff members, for fighting outside etc. and not one of them had been suspended or apparently fired! I felt i was victimised by Tara, relating to our personal problems. I was wondering, if i have any chance to reclaiming, some if any, of the 3 weeks of work without pay, perhaps compensation or something along those lines?

I know its a long story, and hard to get your head around, but i felt it needed to be told in full to get the jist of what is going on. I also seem like the bad guy, for being arrested, i'm not - I'm an honest worker, and i certainly did not intend to burgal my own place of work.

Thanks Ryan

passatrider

If you have managed to keep your job then my advice would be to leave it be and get on with your life.

The moral of the story being never mix business with pleasure..

rosered1963

Hi Ryan.

I agree with Passatrider - it can lead to very tricky situations having a relationship with someone you work with - especially as she is senior to you! I think you were quite lucky to keep your job. but I don't think you have much of a chance of getting your missing money back, and it might be best to let it go.

Working in pubs is often a hotbed of intrigue! You didn't get a criminal record and you found out the truth about a girl you were seeing, so I think you have come out of it ok.

You need to keep a good relationship with all your managers if you can, so you have a good reference when you move on. Personally, I would move on, unless I loved the job, as I wouldn't want to work with an ex, but maybe that's just me! Jobs aren't easy to come by any more, of-course.

RR

starsinmycrown

Well, all i'm gonna say is i think you're best well shot of it, and you've been lucky. i worked in a pub for 3 months too and i got fired and in a load of crap, that really wasnt my fault- new till, only 3 new stressed out members of staff doing both bar, waiting, and kitchen on a busy night, screwed up bookings, lost takings due to mistakes on the new computerised till, irate customers, a big mess up.

Despite me being a new member of staff i was told i was in charge.. um afterwards... a load of other people got hauled into the office, and asked whose fault it was etc. Now i know who screwed up a big order, and i knew who double booked, but i NEVER grass people up at work, and besides i believed my manger was at fault for putting only 3 members of new untrained staff doing 3 things at once on on a busy fully booked saturday night, and as the bookings system was all done by hand and scrawled notes in a book, that nobody could read, i said i don't blame anybody for any incidents as everybody was doing their best and suggested ways we could learn from it.

I find out that my other "colleagues" had each grassed me and the other person up as the cause of all the screw ups, hence as i blamed nobody, my name came up most and it looked as though i were being evasive. The other two people there were friends of the manager anyway and regulars on nights where they werent working. apparently 200 in takings were lost and they had clearly decided amongst themselves i was to blame.

Next day i get told "it's best if i don't return as i clearly am not the type of person for catering, and i'll get my wages sent" I was utterly shocked because i was a hard worker and i tried really hard and i'm not vindictive enough to grass people up, even though i know the other 2 made big mistakes. when i got my wages they were short, and i didn't hear from my employer again. Although i saw another colleague on the street once who told me she felt i'd been scapegoated and not to feel too bad, but it still sucked.

My friend also got sacked from a pub for screwing up a big booking, so when a group of 20 arrived unexpectedly, it wasn't prepared for and they had to be sent home.

I think under the circumstances, i.e being sacked for less, you were very lucky to have a job to come back to at all, and if i were you i'd just let the wages situation be, by all means bring it up, but i doubt that as you were suspended theyd give you anything. i think in lots of places theyd get rid of you right away for any police sniffing round the pub, letalone the rest of the carry on. I'd just try and learn from it and move on, and by the time you leave get a good reference. your employers seem okay, thats the main thing. Good luck. x

Zazen999

I totally agree - move on and let it go.