Receptionist Accused of Stealing Parcel

GavB79

ceebeeby wrote: »

Are you on a day off today?

That was my thought too. I wouldn't worry about the parcel issue, I'd worry about what your boss might say if you work 8.30 - 6 yet are on internet forums all afternoon.

t0rt0ise

At my last workplace we had such a sigining system. The receptionist wrote down every parcel or signed for letter that arrived with its tracking code and who it was addressed to. Then when we collected them we signed for them. When a parcel once went 'missing'.. in that the courier company's website said it had been delivered, I was able to check the book and see that it hadn't. The courier driver had lied and logged it down as delivered when he couldn't be bothered coming that day.

suicidebob

ceebeeby wrote: »

You do sound a bit of a jobsworth to be honest - if you've worked there a while, it doesn't take long to start to learn who everyone is - personally I'd have been a bit peed off too - I think you should have done more. Reception work is about customer service, the people in your building are your customers. The people that come to your desk are your customers.

It's not exactly the hardest job in the world is it. Accept parcel - pass it on ... you must have played the game when you were younger - only difference is you're now getting paid for it. If you don't want to do it or think its too much responsibility leave - but don't b1tch about having to do your job when there's a zillion people would chew your arm off for the job right now.

Are you on a day off today?

Harsh, but probably true.

But is sounds like the OP has been given a desk and a phone and told 'Do your job', and given very little support, or awareness of procedures.

thegirlintheattic

OP I would check the procedures at your workplace. At my OHs workplace personal parcels are allowed and it is up to the reception to check the computer and send it to the right company in the building if they just have the name listed.

In any case, you need to know the procedures both official and unofficial at your workplace and follow them. From your OP it sounded like you used to accept personal parcels with no company on but 'got scared' this time because of the missing parcel the day before and so did something different.

Also, surely as a receptionist you should have a list of all people working in the building for health and safety purposes in an evacuation? I also would not mention not accepting parcels in case of a bomb, as I can see that going down badly.

DCFC79

Maybe you could have done better, i also wouldnt say the £1,160 a month take-home is pitiful, you feel overworked so what else is it you have to do apart from take in parcels

PasturesNew

I used to run a building like this. I'd always have backed my staff's version of events, then found ways to help them deal with instances like these so they weren't worried again.

Jerryjerryjerry

ceebeeby wrote: »

You do sound a bit of a jobsworth to be honest - if you've worked there a while, it doesn't take long to start to learn who everyone is - personally I'd have been a bit peed off too - I think you should have done more. Reception work is about customer service, the people in your building are your customers. The people that come to your desk are your customers.

It's not exactly the hardest job in the world is it. Accept parcel - pass it on ... you must have played the game when you were younger - only difference is you're now getting paid for it. If you don't want to do it or think its too much responsibility leave - but don't b1tch about having to do your job when there's a zillion people would chew your arm off for the job right now.

Are you on a day off today?

I'm not on a day off. I do have a lot of moments when nothing happens at all. Which is why it doesn't make sense to have more than one receptionist. Its feast or famine here. For half an hour, nothing, then suddenly, 1 or 2 staff come in one door asking if there is a parcel for them and then 1 or 2 delivery guys come in and the phone goes crazy. People speak to you even when you're on the phone. But that's just the way front of house is.

I've only worked here for 4 months and there is a staff entrance so I don't know who works for which company with the large companies.

I know all the small companies and their staff by name. But with the main two large ones, I couldn't name more than about 3 people in each company as they don't tell me their name when they walk in. I've not been introduced to anybody. I've also never been given a list of any of the employees in each company despite asking twice.

Have emailed my manager this afternoon to ask for a list of all employees.

Jerryjerryjerry

DCFC79 wrote: »

Maybe you could have done better, i also wouldnt say the £1,160 a month take-home is pitiful, you feel overworked so what else is it you have to do apart from take in parcels

I also greet visitors, ring their contacts and announce. I answer queries. All phone calls go through me. There are about four different companies who phone each day and I answer with their company name.

I also am a PA to one of the companies upstairs and I organise his diary and arrange all his bookings, sending out all confirmation emails. I would say, in total, I spend about two hours a day working on his stuff - I have to log, in minutes what time is spent there.

I also frank mail. Log who uses what on a spreadsheet. I laminate stuff and log all that for each company.

I give directions and I speak to customers all day long about problems they are having and then pass these problems onto relevant people, ie.. maintenance man, housekeeper, etc. The company I work for also have serviced apartments all over the city and are very busy.

Its not hard work, but I am finding it all a bit hard at the moment. Especially when I am talked down to.

Jerryjerryjerry

thegirlintheattic wrote: »

OP I would check the procedures at your workplace. At my OHs workplace personal parcels are allowed and it is up to the reception to check the computer and send it to the right company in the building if they just have the name listed.

In any case, you need to know the procedures both official and unofficial at your workplace and follow them. From your OP it sounded like you used to accept personal parcels with no company on but 'got scared' this time because of the missing parcel the day before and so did something different.

Also, surely as a receptionist you should have a list of all people working in the building for health and safety purposes in an evacuation? I also would not mention not accepting parcels in case of a bomb, as I can see that going down badly.

Unfortunately, there are no procedures in place. So I have nothing to follow. In fact, I suggested a signing in book recently. They didn't have one before. We didn't have any security. People were just allowed to walk in and out of the building, randomly. Then a couple of laptops got taken from one of the offices upstairs and that's when I suggested a signing in book.

My boss is never really clear on what I ought to be doing.. he just tells me to do the best I can.

Its interesting you say that I should have a list of all people in the building for Health & Safety reasons, but I don't. I've asked for a list twice, and i've never been given one.

Jerryjerryjerry

suicidebob wrote: »

Harsh, but probably true.

But is sounds like the OP has been given a desk and a phone and told 'Do your job', and given very little support, or awareness of procedures.

You are not far off! I was given 15 minutes training and I had to work it all out. It wasn't rocket science, but its procedures like this one that I really need to have in place so that things don't back fire. etc.