Can employee be sacked for being a few minutes late?

MikeR371

An employee of 5 years service starts to be a few minutes late every now and again and his co-workers complain to management.

They check the cameras and on one day he is on a 9-5 shift but he starts work at 9.08am and leaves at 4.52pm. He writes on his timesheet that he did 9-5.

So he's "stolen" 16 minutes from his employer. Anyone know if this would this constitute gross misconduct and allow the employer to sack him straight away without going through any other disciplinary measures?

denla

MikeR371 wrote: »

An employee of 5 years service starts to be a few minutes late every now and again and his co-workers complain to management.

They check the cameras and on one day he is on a 9-5 shift but he starts work at 9.08am and leaves at 4.52pm. He writes on his timesheet that he did 9-5.

So he's "stolen" 16 minutes from his employer. Anyone know if this would this constitute gross misconduct and allow the employer to sack him straight away without going through any other disciplinary measures?

For starting work late a number of times he can get a written warning, but since he's faked the sign in and out times it's gross misconduct. He can get sacked immediately for something serious as that.

marybelle01

denla wrote: »

For starting work late a number of times he can get a written warning, but since he's faked the sign in and out times it's gross misconduct. He can get sacked immediately for something serious as that.

Yep I agree. It not the being "a few minutes late" that is the issue - it's the theft of time by lying on a timesheet about your hours in work. Gross misconduct every time.

paddedjohn

For someone on £9/hr over a period of 5 days that equals a theft of £12/week. I would sack them on the spot.

MikeR371

Wow thanks for the quick replies! Initially I thought it would seem a bit harsh for just a few minutes late here and there, but if it was a few hours it would undoubtedly be gross misconduct, so I guess you have to draw the line somewhere and that line has to be at zero.

charlie3090

does this worker take his full breaktime entitlement?,its possible that they may try and excuse it by saying for example " i only had 10 mins lunch instead of 30 mins,
C x

MT90

It seems harsh, as I imagine most people will just put down their scheduled shift time without really thinking, but is nonetheless theft.

MissSarah1972

MikeR371 wrote: »

Wow thanks for the quick replies! Initially I thought it would seem a bit harsh for just a few minutes late here and there, but if it was a few hours it would undoubtedly be gross misconduct, so I guess you have to draw the line somewhere and that line has to be at zero.

It's not the issue of being late as we all have been at one time surely but it's lying on a time sheet

getmore4less

MikeR371 wrote: »

Wow thanks for the quick replies! Initially I thought it would seem a bit harsh for just a few minutes late here and there, but if it was a few hours it would undoubtedly be gross misconduct, so I guess you have to draw the line somewhere and that line has to be at zero.

You miss the point

Time keeping is an issue that could be considered a disiplinary/warning situation.

Falsifying a time sheet GROSS misconduct.

BarrelScraper

charlie3090 wrote: »

does this worker take his full breaktime entitlement?,its possible that they may try and excuse it by saying for example " i only had 10 mins lunch instead of 30 mins,
C x

But wouldn't that be their choice to have 10 instead of 30?

Even if they were asked to have 10 instead of 30 (cheeky/naughty), unless they were told they could fill their card in as 9-5 when they hadn't done it, surely that is on a par with clocking someone else in - i.e. get your coat!?

denla

Usually when I'm late for 5 minutes I stay 10 minutes late to make up for the time. That guy's taking the !!!! lying on the timesheet. Make sure you have evidence and witnesses before complaining.