Unwittingly broke rules .................

muckle_dunt

Yes I think you are correct with your observations

In my last employment I would have congratulated a member of staff for passing on an unwanted voucher knowing it was to bring additional income into the store - however I also was naive enough to think this was correct practice in my new employment - I never questioned "what if a customer refused a voucher"

Thinking back many things were not right -I was often given tasks to complete whereas younger members of staff stood about doing nothing - I was asked to mop floors, clean toilets etc which I did with no back chat unlike the younger element - I know for a fact team leaders and other members of staff shopped on company time yet no one else has been dismissed - I used this info in my disiplinary hearing but to no avail.

I honestly believe my face did not fit because after a few weeks I kept myself to myself - did my work, always found something to do and put the customer first unlike the other members of staff who were more concerned about trying to impress the manager

however what does not kill you makes you stronger

DVardysShadow

OK, come out fighting? Were you dealt with entirely in store? In your position, I think I might raise a grievance against the teamleader with off-site HR...

muckle_dunt

My investigatory interview (which obviously I knew nothing about) took place in store the day I returned from holiday - I had been on holiday since the indicident (7 days) - my day off was changed last week at the last minute. I was questioned for 3 hours and then had to attend a disiplinary hearing at another store three days later.

I may well look into bringing a grievance against the team leader
Many thanks for your advice

nicole.17

Hello.
You read through everything and just wanted to add my opinion in

I personally would think before serving anyone I knew, and would never actually do it. This is because, I'm covering myself but also it seems better customer service for other customers as your not spending time chatting to your friend or family member.

Also from experience, I'd always tear unwanted vouchers up and throw them away. This is because, yes you might be making money for the company but although that customer didn't want it, she earnt it in some way herself and was not for you to give away. It ma hav had her name on or anything ( I don't know what the voucher was).

Deoderant in boots is about £1.50, with discount you'd save about 20p, so it wouldn't of mattered if you had gone to a supermarket or waited till tomorrow. This just seemed common sence to me that you wouldn't go off the shop floor to do your personal shopping assuming this is what you did rather than take money from the till.

I hope this helps. I'm not sure if your actions were worth a dismissal, but definately some form of punishment. Working at boots,before you even start you get given an 'employee and me' handbook which tells you all this information.

bills_2

I think the first two are a bit petty of grievences but the last is rather silly, especially reading you have previously been a store manager. Common sense surely should have told you that the voucher was store property and not just yours to give (because someone else didnt want it) and in doing so it would be quite a serious offence.

Think you need to seek legal advice on this one definatly.

dmg24

Assuming they do not pursue the matter (in which case you need to seek professional advice), do you have anything to achieve by taking this further? I would put it behind you and move on.

DVardysShadow

muckle_dunt wrote: »

My investigatory interview (which obviously I knew nothing about) took place in store the day I returned from holiday - I had been on holiday since the indicident (7 days) - my day off was changed last week at the last minute. I was questioned for 3 hours and then had to attend a disiplinary hearing at another store three days later.

I may well look into bringing a grievance against the team leader
Many thanks for your advice

Were you given a copy of the disciplinary procedure? Were you given the opportunity to take a colleague with you? Were you given the opportunity to see the allegations before the hearing?

It strikes me that you were ambushed - although I take on board what dmg has to say about whether it would be worth while [from an employment point of view], it may be worth putting a grievance forward, if nothing else, to get something on the record and discoverable to discourage civil recovery.

DVardysShadow

nicole.17 wrote: »

Hello.
You read through everything and just wanted to add my opinion in

I personally would think before serving anyone I knew, and would never actually do it. This is because, I'm covering myself but also it seems better customer service for other customers as your not spending time chatting to your friend or family member.

Also from experience, I'd always tear unwanted vouchers up and throw them away. This is because, yes you might be making money for the company but although that customer didn't want it, she earnt it in some way herself and was not for you to give away. It ma hav had her name on or anything ( I don't know what the voucher was).

Deoderant in boots is about £1.50, with discount you'd save about 20p, so it wouldn't of mattered if you had gone to a supermarket or waited till tomorrow. This just seemed common sence to me that you wouldn't go off the shop floor to do your personal shopping assuming this is what you did rather than take money from the till.

I hope this helps. I'm not sure if your actions were worth a dismissal, but definately some form of punishment. Working at boots,before you even start you get given an 'employee and me' handbook which tells you all this information.

Oh grief. Step out of line one tiny bit in this head up its brass country and the only thing anyone can imagine is PUNISHMENT.

OP was a store manager in her own right and did what she would have allowed her own staff to do. She was stitched up by a spiteful team leader who could not bear anyone in store who might be promoted over her. The whole dismissal was vindictive, self serving and spiteful. The misdemeanours are trivial and resulted in no real loss whatsover to the store and in any sane organisation would have been dealt with by saying 'we don't do X here, we do Y' and the OP would have complied. Punishment? You must be off your rocker. Or you are Anihilator's sister.

gordikin

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Oh grief. Step out of line one tiny bit in this head up its brass country and the only thing anyone can imagine is PUNISHMENT.

OP was a store manager in her own right and did what she would have allowed her own staff to do. She was stitched up by a spiteful team leader who could not bear anyone in store who might be promoted over her. The whole dismissal was vindictive, self serving and spiteful. The misdemeanours are trivial and resulted in no real loss whatsover to the store and in any sane organisation would have been dealt with by saying 'we don't do X here, we do Y' and the OP would have complied. Punishment? You must be off your rocker. Or you are Anihilator's sister.

Thw above made me smile..for so many reasons!

ithinkyourcrazy

nicole.17 wrote: »

Hello.
You read through everything and just wanted to add my opinion in

I personally would think before serving anyone I knew, and would never actually do it. This is because, I'm covering myself but also it seems better customer service for other customers as your not spending time chatting to your friend or family member.

Also from experience, I'd always tear unwanted vouchers up and throw them away. This is because, yes you might be making money for the company but although that customer didn't want it, she earnt it in some way herself and was not for you to give away. It ma hav had her name on or anything ( I don't know what the voucher was).

Deoderant in boots is about £1.50, with discount you'd save about 20p, so it wouldn't of mattered if you had gone to a supermarket or waited till tomorrow. This just seemed common sence to me that you wouldn't go off the shop floor to do your personal shopping assuming this is what you did rather than take money from the till.

I hope this helps. I'm not sure if your actions were worth a dismissal, but definately some form of punishment. Working at boots,before you even start you get given an 'employee and me' handbook which tells you all this information.

When i worked at superdrug (for 4 days ) i was told it was a sackable offence to serve any friends/family members. I knew nearly everyone that came in, friends, grandparents people from school. I was told to ring the bell and someone else would come and serve. No one ever came so I gave up in the end and served them my self. I left after 4 days due to so many reasons.