Advice needed please - Interview with police on Tuesday

bitsandpieces

That's an interesting concession from them - congratulations :T The question is whether you want to take them up on it...

I guess it depends on how you feel about office work, and whether you could work for them again. A couple of things you might look to clarify: does continuity of service mean that you wouldn't lose out on any pay from your period of suspension etc? And it may also be worth discussing what type of reference you could expect following all of this - e.g. agree that if you take up the offer, there would be no mention of dishonesty on it.

blue_monkey_2

Wow, good for you on going through with this and being strong enough to see it to the end. Good luck with whatever you decide to do - we'll all be watching this thread. Amazing. What is more amazing is how they can screw up someones life to this extend and it have no comeback.

Let us know what ACAS say, I would certainly be looking for a package to leave or following through to the ET as there is no way you can go back and work for them again.

Good luck.

sexyeyes83

Thank you both for your replies

I spoke to the department in ACAS that deals with claims at the ET stage. The person I spoke to I found quite rude and very unhelpful.
He said he didnt have the case details in front of him, so I started to explain what happened to which he said "Can we just get to the point"! When I explained about the above letter and asked what options are available all he said was I would need to speak to an employment lawyer.
So we have a department trying to resolve claims prior to the ET stage that cant actually offer any advice.

Im certainly not going back to work for the company. I think I will let him explain everything to me tomorrow, and at the end ask what other options are available if I did not want to accept the job - mainly because of the break down of trust on both sides.

Im also confused how on one hand he can say he's upholding the original decision - dismissal, and then go on to offer me an alternative job?! Dosent quite make sense to me.

I am satisfied that the matter was dealt with in accordance with Company Policy

That did make me chuckle. One of my points in the appeal was that the company policy states that only a senior member of managment can dismiss members of staff. My original dismissal hearing and the decision was made by a company administrator, which is not a member of senior management!

blue_monkey_2

Go to the meeting and say what he has to say and get a date for going back. Before that time you could hand in your resignation and then sue them for constructive dismissal - it'll give you more time to get things planned. Then your time for claiming would then start from the day you handed your resignation in. Make it clear that you clearly cannot work with the company who have treated you in this way, outlining all of the points you have here. Reading the link below it seems your perfect option in all honesty as there is no way you can work for that company again.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/RedundancyAndLeavingYourJob/Dismissal/DG_10026696

sexyeyes83

blue_monkey wrote: »

Go to the meeting and say what he has to say and get a date for going back. Before that time you could hand in your resignation and then sue them for constructive dismissal - it'll give you more time to get things planned. Then your time for claiming would then start from the day you handed your resignation in. Make it clear that you clearly cannot work with the company who have treated you in this way, outlining all of the points you have here. Reading the link below it seems your perfect option in all honesty as there is no way you can work for that company again.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/RedundancyAndLeavingYourJob/Dismissal/DG_10026696

Many thanks for your reply.

I gave ACAS another call. She said its the first time she has ever come across this. It appears due to lack of trust he dosent want me to work in the community, however by working in the office I would have access to sensitive information such as client details and key codes to their properties - so it dosent really make sense!

On the phone earlier he said it would be working 9-5 2 days a week and 10-5 1 day a week - which he knows I wouldnt be able to do as I have to work school hours as my partner works shift work. It would also be on a lower hourly rate - so it wouldnt be on the same terms and conditions he had stated.

Im going to go along with a long list of questions tomorrow and see what he has to say. Depending how it goes i'll either tell him at the end that im not willing to accept the offer or will wait and send it via letter.

swh1978

Hi, by pure chance I started reading your post and it's like a soap opera! I know you went through a hell of a lot but it kept me hooked for a good 15 mins or so!! I wonder if Eastenders are needing a new storyline!! Anyways Well Done and Good luck whatever you choose!

myothercarisaferrari

wow, what a mad thread. I have been following it since it started

Good luck in everything you do sexyeyes x

sexyeyes83

Thank you

The meetings this afternoon so will post an update later.

sexyeyes83

Just got back from the meeting, which was interesting to say the least!

I would like you to attend the meeting arranged for Thursday 24th September so that I can explain to you in person the previous decision of dismissing for SOSR and my final decision

I asked if he had looked into all the points of my appeal notice (40 of them) to which he said he had. I asked if he could go through them with me and he said no. If I want him to go through them then he would arrange another meeting. He also refused to put them in writing.

He said he is upholding the decision but he has gone through the whole appeal and I deserve a chance so the conclusion of the appeal is to re-instate me in the office.

Regarding working in the office he said that they are already fully staffed and I would be an extra pair of hands to cover holidays/illness and days off. He said my hours of work would be 9-5 for 2 days and 10-5 for one day, however these would be different days each week. It would also be at short notice, so I might receive a call in the morning telling me to go in.

on the same terms and conditions as you were previously employed on.

I pointed out that for the past 18 months I was only available to work school hours and this was what I said when I originally attended the interview as my partner works shift work and he said "I was flexible enough then, but I cant be now. 9-5 are the only hours I can do. Its either that or nothing"

I asked if this would be on the same hourly rate as I was previously on (£7.05) and he said it would be less (£6.50). I would also have to do an induction which he couldnt say how long it would last and I would only be paid £6.00 whilst doing it.

given the nature of the industry we are involved in, and the vulnerability of the clients, we could not take the risk of allowing you to go back to work as a carer when suspicions existed about your involvement in two thefts from clients.

He said "Ive had to debate whether this would be suitable or not and I want to give you the opportunity to work in the office" I pointed out the lack of trust and he said "yes there is, this is why I want to put you in the office and not with the carers"

I said that you would need trust due to the sensitive information in the office and he said "you will be under supervision until we feel we are confident enough that there is enough trust between us and you and the rest of the staff"

For the avoidance of doubt, this concludes the Company’s Disciplinary and Dismissal Procedure and no further stages are available to you.

He said "If I want to carry on with this I can and if I want to meet with him again I can"

If you are happy to return to work in the office, you will be re-engaged with immediate effect, with no break to continuity of service.

I then asked regarding my salary from when I was last paid (13th July) up until the point if I accepted the reinstatement and he said "there is no pay and no holiday entitlement - no refund"

He said I would need to be quick in making a decision. I asked for everything in writing first prior to making a decision.

onlyforboards_2

sexyeyes83 wrote: »

He said he is upholding the decision but he has gone through the whole appeal and I deserve a chance so the conclusion of the appeal is to re-instate me in the office.

This makes no sense at all and as a result you are expected to take a drop in hourly rate.

I would want to know how this matter has been recorded in your file. It seems he still believes you stole the items but is giving you a job out of charity. That is not the way to resolve a disciplinary matter.
Has he given you any idea of how you will be proving yourself as trustworthy, how long it will take and what will happen if you fail to do so?

He is not making you a reasonable and secure offer to return to work.