Help, gross misconduct!

Aliasaila

I am a regular poster on these boards but I am using an alias to post this query to protect my privacy.

I work for a large supermarket chain, as a staff reward I am allowed to use a discount card and nominate one member of my family who can also use this card. The products must be bought for our household or as gifts, we cannot buy things to sell on to others - not even friends.

I was called into a meeting today to discuss my discount card use. My mum (nominated user) always has my card and I rarely take it off of her. Apparently (well actually really, I've seen the receipts) my mum has been putting 2 lots of shopping through one after the other at the same terminal on the same day. The 2 lots contain some of the same items which makes work think they are for 2 different households. I explained that as I don't pay dig money I am expected to buy my own groceries and give my mum the money to do this (which I think is ok as I am entitled to the discount obviously as it's my card). Some of the items don't make sense though (like 2 sets of toilet cleaner when there is only one toilet).

The meeting today was adjourned and I came home to ask mum what is going on. It transpires that mum seems to have a problem with spending (there was over £9,000 worth of stuff bought with my card this year, this includes glasses and contact lenses, clothes, christmas gifts etc but it's still an awful lot), she's been hiding it from dad by putting through the house shop (roughly £100 per week) and then my shop with other things that she doesn't want dad to know about.

I plan on going into the meeting on Monday and just explaining that mum has problems that we never knew about and offer to return the card/have mum removed from it so that we can keep an eye on things. Nothing was bought that wasn't for the house or as a gift.

Problem is that any misuse of the card is gross misconduct and I'm very worried that I might lose my job, in the circumstances what are the chances of me being sacked?

Also if I am sacked should I claim job seekers? I've read that you don't get any money if you've been sacked.

wantsajob

Are you sure your mum understood the rules for use of the card? I am guessing she thought she was doing no wrong and did not believe the purchases could be tracked. Do you think your mum will be willing to pay the difference of what she shouldn't have bought with the discount card?

It depends on how flexible the company's view on this is. If you have now learned about this and taken the card off your mum and told her how badly this may affect you, that may help with your employer. If they may allow your mum to pay the difference to get you off the hook, but at £9,000 even 10 percent is £900.

Googlewhacker

They would be very harsh or need to get rid of staff to dismiss you for this. If it had been you then I could understand them getting a bit ancy but as it was your Mum you should get a bit of leeway.

However it may make them change their policy and say employees only for the future but that is a side point.

McKneff

If your mum was shopping for you and herself, surely she would have all the goods together at the till and pay only once.
This would seem the common sense thing to do. I would certainly do that and sort the money out later.

Do yu think she's maybe had a friend/other family member with her putting theirs through also and doesnt want to tell you.
or are you telling us this tale to see if its a feasible excuse for your meeting..

Sorry but it does sound a bit fishy.

redcard

Yeah, it would be pretty tricky for 1 person to put through 2 lots of shopping. I'm pretty sure it would look suspicious to the staff

scooby088

I think there are a few threads coming up lately from supposed contributors under an alias, we are all anonymous on here so why the anonimity.

But to answer your post OP, i would refer to your contract and see what it says in there.

GlasweJen

If you work for asda then start looking for a new job! Sorry OP but asda sacked a colleague over 2p once!

Aliasaila

At the time mum told me that she was putting it through separately to keep herself right with the money. My parents are self employed so everything is done in cash and that made sense at the time.

All of the shopping was for the house, she's obviously got some kind of compulsive spending problem and we are taking her to see the GP asap, to let you understand my parents are going bankrupt and todays revalations have explained a lot in terms of where the money goes.

Do you think if I explained mums MH problems, the impending bankrupcy and offered to give back the card they will settle for a final written?

ETA mum does have diagnosed MH problems, it's not just the spending that's made us say that.

wantsajob

Aliasaila wrote: »

Do you think if I explained mums MH problems, the impending bankrupcy and offered to give back the card they will settle for a final written?

ETA mum does have diagnosed MH problems, it's not just the spending that's made us say that.

I think impending bankruptcy should only be mentioned in terms of compulsive spending, otherwise it may come across like begging.

I wouldn't offer to return the card, merely say your mother no longer has any access to it. If they want it back they can ask for it. Only thing I would offer is to pay for cost of discount given if at all possible, but it looks like it might not be.

In the end whatever happens happens. It would be rather cruel of them to sack you under these circumstances, but it is not impossible. They may try to argue that if your mother has known MH problems it was unwise of you to allow her access to the card. Particularly if Asda sacks people over 2 pence. TBH store policy really should be that only the employee can use the card to help avoid messy situations like this one.

Forwandert

Aliasaila wrote: »

Some of the items don't make sense though (like 2 sets of toilet cleaner when there is only one toilet).

Things like the above quote are going to make your story unbelievable no matter what the situation, whatever issues your mother has it will still look like shopping for two households, it does to me anyway.

dmg24

Aliasaila wrote: »

At the time mum told me that she was putting it through separately to keep herself right with the money. My parents are self employed so everything is done in cash and that made sense at the time.

That does not make sense to me.