Will she be fired?

kitkatt1982

Hi, need advice for my friend if possible... She's facing a formal disciplinary hearing following an incident last week.

She ran short of money for bus fare and borrowed it from the office lottery syndicate which she manages with the intention of putting it back the next day. However, three of her colleagues reported her for stealing out of the pot and reported her to the manager. Stupidly when questionned by her manager, she denied taking any money as she was put on the spot at being accused and was very embarrassed (although she realises this is no excuse and made a very silly mistake) and only admitted to borrowing the money when informed that three colleagues had reported her. Her manager had told her that it was only between them, but a few days later she recieved a letter inviting her to a formal disciplinary as her honesty and integrity was under question. This included a transcript of her conversation with her manager.

I'm wondering if there are any laws about this sort of thing, or advice I could offer her for the hearing, or what expected outcome could be....She works for an accountancy firm so any kind of theft of money is considered gross misconduct and is a sackable offence, but she has never had any problems at work and does not handle any company money and has not 'stolen' from the company driectly. She has managed this fund for many years and never taken from it before and had the full intention of returning it the next day before it was needed. But I guess their biggest concern would be that she didn't own up to it immediately.

She does't have union representation and can't afford legal advice so thought I would ask for advice on here, so any thoughts gratefully appreciated!

Sambucus_Nigra

Did she put an IOU in the pot? Did she tell the other syndicate members that she was taking it?

MrChandlerBing

Struggling to see how this is borrowing and not stealing?

She will be fired

kitkatt1982

Hi,, thanks for quick reply, unfortunately answer is no to both so she didn't cover herself. However, know it doesn't make a lot of difference as she still took it without authorisation, but as the syndicate is paid out the day after she took the money it would have been really obvious to all involved if it was short so makes it clear she was intending to repay it.

yvonne13_2

OP no matter what the situation your friend should of told the truth.

She should/could have asked her manager/co-worker to loan her the bus fare or even a lift home, you never ever mess around when it comes to money and honesty.

She was in a position of trust and now that will be taken away.

silkyuk9

I agree with Yvonne13 she should have told the truth, a simple IOU or just telling someone could have mad ethis situation better for her. The sad truth is that she borrowed something without asking, property is propert. Then she lied about doing it.

All I can say if her work colleagues will stick up for her in a meeting and he rboss backs her up too it might be ok, however lying can make this awkwrd too. Will her bosses like a 'lier' working for them? This is an aweful situation but if she can get colleague backing it might work out ok

kitkatt1982

Hi, thanks for all replies, I completely agree with all that has been said, as does she.... she has always been a very honest person but I guess for me the difference between borrowing and stealing was that she had the full intention to pay it back and although it was property that didn't belong to her, I guess as she was in charge of it she didn't think to ask permission from the whole office before taking it for what she intended to be overnight but yes I agree it is still stealing by definition.

Silky, what do you mean by have a colleague back her up? In what context? As a character reference?

Also, if they do decide to fire her is it possible she would be able to ask to hand in her notice with a reference?

silkyuk9

kitkatt1982 wrote: »

Hi, thanks for all replies, I completely agree with all that has been said, as does she.... she has always been a very honest person but I guess for me the difference between borrowing and stealing was that she had the full intention to pay it back and although it was property that didn't belong to her, I guess as she was in charge of it she didn't think to ask permission from the whole office before taking it for what she intended to be overnight but yes I agree it is still stealing by definition.

Silky, what do you mean by have a colleague back her up? In what context? As a character reference?

Also, if they do decide to fire her is it possible she would be able to ask to hand in her notice with a reference?

Yes, is she good friends with them, if so they can all vouch for her saying she was going to pay it back and shes not a thief etc. They can say they really like her just support her to her manager or people that are going to possibly sack her.

LadyMissA

kitkatt1982 > was this winnings that were going to be shared out or payments in to buy the lottery? I do not see how a lottery sydicate has anything to do with work to be honest. It wasn't like she stole the companies money. I do agree that she should have asked one other member before she took it & put a signed IOU in the tin or whatever.

Idiophreak

Really was a stupid thing to lie about this. If she'd just said "yes, I borrowed my bus fare from the pot, that would probably have been the end of it, with a lightly slapped wrist at most. The fact that she lied in a semi-formal interview about it is really going to cause her problems.

silkyuk9

We have a lottery syndicate at work and ive known lads take a quid or 2 for their dinner if they have brought no money, but there has always been an IOU in the pot, sometimes you wouldn't know the money had gone but an IOU in its place. Im not sure what im trying to say but 2 little things and this has blown up. Its just the little lie. I'm sure if her work mates like her this can be overlooked and forgotten. If she is a valuble employee it will work out alright.