Receptionist Accused of Stealing Parcel

Savvy_Sue

Jerryjerryjerry wrote: »

Do you mean any parcel, with any name on it, regardless of whether or not the person still works here, or doesn't work here, just accept it, sign for it, and deal with consequences later?

Without being your boss and knowing the situation, I can't say that for certain, but possibly, yes. On the grounds that given the number of people working within the building, it's more likely than not to be correctly addressed.

Yes, you'll have to email all the contacts you've got and ask "is this one of yours?" but having done that a few times people may actually get the message that if they are expecting a personal parcel to be delivered it makes sense to let you know!

poet123 wrote: »

Re the disclosure on the internet, companies do take this kind of thing seriously, and even without identifying details those involved ( and with a vested interest in stirring- like the complainant!)would know which company the OP was referring to. It would not be a sackable offence but would not be viewed particularly well either.

That would be my concern also.

poet123

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

It would also depend on the position of the company who employs the OP. If they're just employed to do x,y and z then they'd be limited to what they can try and implement.

Requesting details of private parcels being delivered isn't a policy but just a request so they end up at the right place; and having a parcel book isn't a policy that affects other people either.
If you go refusing everything on the basis that they don't follow a procedure you implemented when it's not your place to... then you might run into trouble.

Requests become policies if they are set out and circulated by those who have the authority to do so. Presumably, the OP has a boss who wants his employee to be the most efficient and productive he can be? If so, all those suggestions would bring that about, if he doesn't act on them and have them enshrined as company policy then the OP can still make the requests and provided they are couched properly and politely people have no recourse if they do not follow them.

custardy wrote: »

that could be problematic
how would you be returning them?

By the courier who delivered them, marked not known at this address or by returning to sender by RM. Obviously, you could only do this if the sender had a return address. However, it would probably not be necessary to actually apply that rule, just having it would probably ensure collections were prompt.

poet123

Jerryjerryjerry wrote: »

Some people simply cannot use their own initiative at work because even if you wish to order a pencil, you have to go through certain levels!

In this company, the first thing I noticed was that people were simply walking in and out of the building - sometimes running. I mentioned to my boss the need for a signing in book. He ummed and arred about it and said "he'd look into it". Then I asked again a week later. I also emailed him asking about it. He then finally said he'd bring it up at the next management meeting. Then he finally gave the go ahead after 2 months.

I don't work for the type of company that you can use your own initiative in. I moved a plant once, because it was getting in people's way. I was told that it wasn't the done thing. That the big boss chooses where plants go.

I could go on, but I wont.

To be honest, I would probably agree with SSue and would accept any parcel and deal with it afterwards. It would be a rare event that a parcel correctly addressed would not be for someone in the building. Obviously, you cannot expect a courier to wait whilst you do this, but if the above procedures were in place I suspect you would not have too many issues.

custardy

poet123 wrote: »

Requests become policies if they are set out and circulated by those who have the authority to do so. Presumably, the OP has a boss who wants his employee to be the most efficient and productive he can be? If so, all those suggestions would bring that about, if he doesn't act on them and have them enshrined as company policy then the OP can still make the requests and provided they are couched properly and politely people have no recourse if they do not follow them.



By the courier who delivered them, marked not known at this address or by returning to sender by RM. Obviously, you could only do this if the sender had a return address. However, it would probably not be necessary to actually apply that rule, just having it would probably ensure collections were prompt.

so how do you get the item to RM?
how do you get the item to the courier?

poet123

custardy wrote: »

so how do you get the item to RM?
how do you get the item to the courier?

In a busy Reception (covering 14 companies) I am assuming that both RM and couriers will be regular visitors.

custardy

poet123 wrote: »

In a busy Reception (covering 14 companies) I am assuming that both RM and couriers will be regular visitors.

you're assuming a lot
in RM collections are separate from delivery
the delivery person may take them but time is limited
with couriers many will require authorisation/collection dockets before collecting
couriers like HDNL wont be dealing with many businesses but will be delivering a private package
you may not see them for weeks at a time in a business
I also wouldnt be keen on having packets just kicking about on the off chance X courier comes in

poet123

So, are you saying that a delivery postman would refuse to accept a parcel marked return to sender or arrange for its collection, ditto a courier? If so, I find that appalling and not at all customer friendly. If that is the case then the Receptionist would have to visit a PO and hand over the parcel. Or ring the courier and ask for a collection.

If neither of those scenarios are possible then I can see why so many parcels go astray, they are probably sitting in offices all across the country waiting to be collected by a service industry that is not doing a proper job. Is there no point marking a parcel "return to sender" then?

custardy

poet123 wrote: »

So, are you saying that a delivery postman would refuse to accept a parcel marked return to sender or arrange for its collection, ditto a courier? If so, I find that appalling and not at all customer friendly. If that is the case then the Receptionist would have to visit a PO and hand over the parcel. Or ring the courier and ask for a collection.

If neither of those scenarios are possible then I can see why so many parcels go astray, they are probably sitting in offices all across the country waiting to be collected by a service industry that is not doing a proper job. Is there no point marking a parcel "return to sender" then?

less so RM but you will find many couriers can/will only take what they are set to collect on their consignments
remember many couriers have different arrangements with their individual companies regarding costs/collections etc
you also have many couriers who are owner/drivers and paid per package. why would they be collecting an unorganised return?
you are talking about setting up a set system for reception
that system needs to take into account the follow through of those instructions
so the we will return after 7 days isnt as simple as writing it down and it magically happens


as for your rant on not doing a proper job,well I thnk you have little concept of what is required in those jobs

poet123

custardy wrote: »

less so RM but you will find many couriers can/will only take what they are set to collect on their consignments
remember many couriers have different arrangements with their individual companies regarding costs/collections etc
you also have many couriers who are owner/drivers and paid per package. why would they be collecting an unorganised return?
you are talking about setting up a set system for reception
that system needs to take into account the follow through of those instructions
so the we will return after 7 days isnt as simple as writing it down and it magically happens


as for your rant on not doing a proper job,well I thnk you have little concept of what is required in those jobs

It wasn't a rant, it was a simple observation that if a parcel is undeliverable it should not be beyond the whit of an employee of the carrier company to set a return in motion by collection, or the arrangement for collection, being organised by another employee who is on the premises.

Of course, after the seven days a return doesn't magically happen, but at that point the process can be put in motion.

And doing a proper job entails giving the customer a complete service, which to me involves returning undeliverable packages to their sender if at all possible. Is that so unreasonable or unrealistic?

custardy

poet123 wrote: »

It wasn't a rant, it was a simple observation that if a parcel is undeliverable it should not be beyond the whit of an employee of the carrier company to set a return in motion by collection, or the arrangement for collection, being organised by another employee who is on the premises.

Of course, after the seven days a return doesn't magically happen, but at that point the process can be put in motion.

And doing a proper job entails giving the customer a complete service, which to me involves returning undeliverable packages to their sender if at all possible. Is that so unreasonable or unrealistic?

that depends on many factors
as I have said. many couriers charge the sender for return
the sender would need to authorise that return
etc etc
many companies require an RMA ticket or wont accept a package back
you wouldnt have that
you are talking big business and big numbers