I have been suspended

dandelionclock30

I think they will most likely dismiss you for this as you have abused a position of trust, the person was vulnerable and then you have lied about it.
I dont know anywhere where they wouldnt dismiss for this but you need to get some help because they could include you on the POVA list for this.So its really serious and you need to get back onto the union and ask for help.Failing that get yourself to the CAB and ask them for assistance.
Also they will disclose what you have been dismissed for if its for this.
You do realize that if you get dismissed for this you will not be able to get another job in this sector again. Its not like getting dismissed for lateness.
Even if you resign they still might put your name forward for the POVA list. You really need professional advice as its very serious.

ILW

did you have the clients permission to borrow their money?

jobbingmusician

I'm sorry, and feel sympathetic, but borrowing money from a client is unacceptable even if you repay it immediately. I would not want to employ someone who not only borrowed money but then forgot to repay it (and lying about it at an investigation would simply confirm my decision to dismiss).

HOWEVER

What training have you had? You seem to have taken this loan as a very normal affair - so much so that you forgot about it. Were you ever told that you must never borrow money from clients? Were you ever told that you are there as a professional, not as a friend?

If neither of these basic warnings were issued by your employer, you may get away with a final warning (although it doesn't help that you have lied as well).

robpw2

Uncertain wrote: »

"Stealing" is taking something with the intent to permanently deprive. The OP said "borrowed".

And don't swear, even with an exclamation mark in place of one letter!

as the op still hasnt paid them back i would suggest they are permanently depriving ..
as the person the money borrowed off is requiring a support worker perhaps they were not able to make such an informed descision .,

Uncertain

ILW wrote: »

did you have the clients permission to borrow their money?

Exactly.....

Although it is very poor practice (and most likely gross misconduct) to borrow money from such a client it is not a crime if it was a genuine loan and the OP intended to pay it back.

Treehugged

ILW wrote: »

did you have the clients permission to borrow their money?

Hmm I'm not sure you're familiar the third sector/NFP which is where (I suspect) the OP works, but what s/he did is gross misconduct at the highest. It doesn't matter if they were given permission or not they should never have asked to begin with.

Uncertain

robpw2 wrote: »

as the op still hasnt paid them back i would suggest they are permanently depriving ..

Debatable, it would depend on the amount, timescale and other circumstances.

amyloofoo

I_am_so_stupid wrote: »

Thanks Fluffy70, it's a relatively small company, well technically it's a not for profit organisation.

I agree that you've been very stupid and what you did was completely unethical - but I'm sure you know, and regret, that.

Are there any mitigating reasons (as much as there can be) for this behaviour? Were you under any unusual pressures, such as suffering a bereavement or relationship breakdown for example? Obviously this doesn't make your behaviour acceptable; but may mean that you receive a more sympathetic response from your employer and they may be prepared to give you a chance at continuing in your role with suitable supervision.

Having said that, I don't really know many organisations that would accept anything other than dismissal for what you've done, and rightly so. However pressured you've been or difficult things were, 'borrowing' money from a service user is completely inappropriate and I think most organisations would have a clearly defined policy of treating this as financial abuse, in which case you may well need legal as well as employment advice. I see you've posted on the CAB board and hopefully they'll be able to help, although you should also contact your union to see if they'd be prepared to offer any assistance.

From now on you need to be completely honest to your employer and anyone advising you as any 'incorrect' statements could come back to haunt you if the police get involved. I don't think resigning rather than being dismissed will really do you any favours if you want to continue working in care; as you have a duty to disclose the investigation as well as the outcome when applying for new roles. Sorry to be so blunt, but it's hard to be sympathetic in this case and I think it's more important to be honest with you than to make you feel better now but give you false hope about what's likely to happen.

I hope the CAB and your union are able to help you, and it's very important that you repay this debt as soon as possible. You mention that the service user told a relative; is it likely that they were complaining about what had happened (particularly if you 'forgot' to repay?) If they wish to make a formal complaint then it's entirely possible that this will be followed up by the police, in which case you need to think carefully about your statement and make sure that you're not omitting anything that could come back to bite you in the !!! later.

Best of luck, I can't imagine you're feeling very good right now; but be honest, repay what you've borrowed and get the right help and hopefully things will get better.

I_am_so_stupid

I didn't steal it, the customer consented to lending it to me, she only needs support a few hours a week as she is visually impaired. She has no mental issues and knew what she was doing, I know I shouldn't have done it but I was desperate and intended to pay her back the next pay day but like I said I then had to move house so unfortunately it got pushed to the back of my mind

jobbingmusician

Treehugged wrote: »

Hmm I'm not sure you work in the third sector/NFP which is where (I suspect) the OP works, but what s/he did is gross misconduct at the highest. I doesn't matter if they were given permission or not they should never have asked to begin with.

I totally agree, and I DO work in the third sector. However, if the OP is in a relatively unskilled post and has never had this explained to her/him, I think s/he may have a case for arguing that it is not GM.

Having said that, if I was the OP's employer, I would argue that as well as the fact that borrowing money (let alone not repaying it) is a no-no, the OP could have brought the charity into disrepute. And I bet that is in any decent disciplinary policy as GM.