Suspended from work - I've seen colleagues and customers what I have done

SarEl

jumpycheese1 wrote: »

SarEl I didn't mean that about my colleague who's retiring next year. I am very upset at the moment and many occassions when I'm upset, words get mixed about and get mixed messages.

When I saw my deputy manager and asked if anyone else could have done this, I replied I don't wish to name colleagues as it will upset them esp those who turn out never to have done this. He said its best to do it now rather being suspended longer than needed. Or the alternative is to question every colleague individually.

When this is done with - either the sack or whatever, I will apologise to these named colleagues who are great friends as well. I know they will understand the pain of grassing friends when I know I don't like grassing people up.

If I do get sacked from this job, there is no justice as this is done everywhere.

I cannot tell my colleagues only put the number of bags reused down. As if I do, and their loyalty card transactions are searched and they see it stopping from today or next few days it looks like I've told everything.

You still are not getting it. Those colleagues you have named are now "former great friends" - if they get disciplined or sacked because of you, then you will be lucky if abuse is all you get. Workplace relationships are, at best, transitory in 99.999% of cases, and you only have to read these pages to discover what "great friends" will do to you at work given the opportunity. And you have just given them a very good reason to have to at the first opportunity - if you are lucky enough not to loose your job, how long do you think it will be before one of your "great friends" grasses you up? One smidgeon of a step out of line will be all it takes...

When the deputy manager spoke to you, you had choices. If they wanted to check the card transactions of every other employee and interview each and every one of them individually, then that was their choice. All you had to say was "I've been stupid I know, but I honestly did this all on my own and I haven't a clue what anyone else does." And stick to it. Nothing short of a breach of the Geneva Convention can make you change your story.

If you do get sacked from this job - then sorry - but that is justice. I certainly don't want you to get sacked for this stupidity on your part, but please do not tell me that you did not know that what you were doing was wrong and that there would be consequences if you were caught. You may have done something stupid, but so far I haven't been inclined to think that you are stupid. You are an adult and you know right from wrong. What anyone esle does isn't relevant - you know right from wrong.

And you cannot tell your colleagues not to put down more bags than they have on their cards, not because any stopping of this practice will look suspicious, but because you have been instructed not to communicate with your colleagues under the terms of your suspension.

You do not seem to be aware of what you have done here. You and your colleagues have acted fraudulently in relation to your employment, by exploiting a loophole in the system. It doesn't matter if every customer in the store does the same thing every tme they come in - how the employer decides to resolve that is up to them. You did it on your employers premises. Not only that, but you knew other employees that were doing the same thing - which suggests strongly that as employees you have discussed this. That isn't just fraud. It is conspiracy to commit fraud. A penny or a £, or 10 grand - it doesn't matter because there is a moentary value attached to these things. That is why the small print on all these "bonus" schemes always has something that says words to the effect of "... the value of XX is 00.00009p". Because that places a monetary value on the item, and misuse of it becomes theft or fraud.

I realise that you may not appreciate that this is serious - it's just nectar points and everyone does it. "Everyone" also copies DVD's, speeds a little, or whatever. If they are caught doing these things then it is still wrong and it is still breaking the law. More to the point - it isn't a defence.

KiKi

Just read through this thread.

OP, I feel sorry for you in your predicament - it's horrible when you realise you've screwed up big time, despite having an excellent past record. However, from what you've said on here I think you need to wake up and realise the seriousness of this. Whilst I also agree that the employer is perhaps a little OTT on this, at the end of the day you have been suspended.

You say that in the training you were told you couldn't be tracked and that everyone does it - but then say most times were errors because you can't see the screen properly?! So most times you accidentally in error typed in a number which happened to be the maximum number of re-used bags?! And you think another company will employ you because you have 100% on your MSS, and an award for good customer service?

You really, really need to start taking this seriously...

jumpycheese1 wrote: »

I cannot tell my colleagues only put the number of bags reused down. As if I do, and their loyalty card transactions are searched and they see it stopping from today or next few days it looks like I've told everything.

...and this is an excellent case in point.

You state that the reason NOT to tell your colleagues is that it will make it look like you've told them everything?

NO. The reason NOT to tell your colleagues is: you have been suspended, and one of the conditions of that suspension is that you are not allowed to speak to your colleagues about it. That's the reason not to tell them.

This is a serious issue, and you could end up at a disciplinary and be sacked - don't think for one moment that people will leave in protest. They won't. Start following the rules set out and stop thinking about how to get other people out of trouble, too. You are only getting in deeper.

Stop thinking about the reasons for it, the fact that a trainer mentioned it and that it's an injustice. It's not. Right now, follow the rules of your suspension, get in touch with the union, own up to what you've done and plead forgiveness.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but it doesn't seem like you understand what could happen as a result.

Best of luck with it all.
KiKi

robby-01

What a pathetic post,I cant believe that people can be so obsessed with these stupid store loyalty cards that they would put their own job on the line to get extra points.
What you did is fraud not in a massive way but it contravenes the terms and conditions of your employment and can lead to you being dismissed.
Did you not think to read the conditions of your employment or were your eyes playing up that day.In a pathetic attempt at saving your own skin you have taken to naming and shaming others.
Your eyes are not the problem here, The problem is in your make up,your nothing short of a thief ,a petty one. But a thief is a thief.
Do the decent thing and resign that way you can walk into your next interview clutching your employee of the whatever award with your head held high.If they ask why you left your last job tell them it was your eyes.Dont forget your glasses .

jamespir

sorry but if the customersand youre college threww them selves of a cliff would you rush to join them fraud is fraud no matter how you try to justify it

SarEl

robby-01 wrote: »

Do the decent thing and resign that way you can walk into your next interview clutching your employee of the whatever award with your head held high.If they ask why you left your last job tell them it was your eyes..

Don't do that. It's too late. Your reference can say that your resigned whilst suspended, it can mention that you were being investigated for a serious offence, etc etc. If your union can persuade the employer to give you a neutral reference that doesn't mention it, then walking away may be an option - but a bad reference or no reference is no better than one that says you were sacked.

robby-01

SarEl wrote: »

Don't do that. It's too late. Your reference can say that your resigned whilst suspended, it can mention that you were being investigated for a serious offence, etc etc. If your union can persuade the employer to give you a neutral reference that doesn't mention it, then walking away may be an option - but a bad reference or no reference is no better than one that says you were sacked.

I didnt mention a reference,RESIGN or get sacked ,leave the job and let them give it to someone that deserves it.
The job centres are full,there must be some honest and deserving candidates for the post.
Employment is a privledge not a right

KiKi

robby-01 wrote: »

I didnt mention a reference,RESIGN or get sacked ,leave the job and let them give it to someone that deserves it.
The job centres are full,there must be some honest and deserving candidates for the post.
Employment is a privledge not a right

You didn't mention it, but your advice has implications for a reference, so it's fair to highlight that there are consequences of resigning. Which are that from the OP's POV any new employer will write to the previous employer requesting a reference. If they resign whilst on suspension, the reference may well state this.

I think the point being made was that if the TU rep can get a neutral reference agreed (if the person is asked to leave) that would be better than resigning and potentially getting a bad one.

KiKi

shikoku

jumpycheese1 wrote: »

I was forced to write down names of colleagues...

How were you forced?

The answer to this type of request is I can't remember, it was just general conversation.

richardvc

jumpycheese1 wrote: »

When I saw my deputy manager and asked if anyone else could have done this, I replied I don't wish to name colleagues - Why didn't you just say 'No-one else could have done this'

If I do get sacked from this job, there is no justice as this is done everywhere. - So loads of you break the rules then and that makes it ok, does it ?/QUOTE]

I'm sorry but this is going to be harsh but this is how I see it.

You have committed fraud for the sake of a few points on a loyalty card - are you/others that desperate for a few pence or is it just greed of getting something for nothing ?

Why did you drop everyone else in it ? You could have denied any knowledge.

Amazing in how many jobs that the 'Employee of the month/year/decade' is often sacked/dismissed/suspended/leaves under a cloud and no-one gives a damn. You were there to be shot at - didn't anyone tell you that as the 'champion' that you would be scrutinised like never before ?

Often if things look too good to be true then they usually are has been proved right again.

Apologies for the harshness of this post as it isn't really my style but I am just fed up of people taking advantage of loopholes/fiddles etc and then whinging when it catches up with them. You knew what you were doing was wrong but obviously felt the risk of those few extra pennies were worth it !

Ps Get hold of your union rep ASAP and get them to earn their money by building a case for you and then supporting you when you have your hearing.

LittleVoice

Well, of course, jumpy has told her colleagues - maybe not by speaking to them one to one but by broadcasting what has been going on by writing on this forum. I didn't see the original post before it was adjusted but it isn't difficult to see exactly which supermarket chain is the employer in this case.