Suspended from work help or advice please

Savvy_Sue

I too wondered if it was the other lad who was heard swearing, possibly the customer didn't even realise they didn't both work for the store. All appendages crossed for you both ...

Rylynn

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I too wondered if it was the other lad who was heard swearing, possibly the customer didn't even realise they didn't both work for the store. All appendages crossed for you both ...

Thanks Sue, we will just have to sit this out now and await the next letter. Problem for me is that this is now affecting his asthma, stress always does. So the sooner it is over the better, whatever the outcome. I will let you know and again thank you.

duchy

I really don't think the fact he wasn't swearing at anyone but just using swear words as extras is a defence...however TBH I don't want to walk into a store and hear a member of staff moaning "I'm f***ing bored" actually I don't want to hear staff moaning at all in the hearing of staff ....and when I worked as a manager in a variety of companies all of whom employed teenagers I wouldn't have tolerated it either. I don't use that kind of language in my work ....and if a customer uses that kind of language to me -they get one warning and if they continue I end the call so certainly when spending money in a store I expect it to be clean , tidy and not verbally poluted. I wouldn't spend my money in a store with a member of staff talking to a foul mouthed friend instead of working.

A hard lesson for your son maybe that not offending friends by limiting conversation to "Hello" and then oing back to work and if need be telling friend he can't chat as he'd be in trouble ...but one better learned early.

There's two offences here -the first -chatting to a friend instead of working the second the language......even if your son didn't swear himself he was aware his mate was making him look bad and should have just told him instead of letting it get to the point he had to go hide in the back to get rid of him. I'd often hear my staff (6th formers and college age) say to friends who were also customers "Sorry I can't chat -I've got work to do and will be in trouble if I'm caught chatting" I had no problem with them blaming me for it.....so long as it got rid of the thoughtless mates (most of whom either didn't work or didn't work in a public facing job so something so obvious didn't occur to them).

I think his best bet would be a bit of old fashioned grovelling....Be honest and say he didn't think he had sworn and hadn't known how to get rid of his mate but has already told all his friends they are NOT to chat if they come in as customers -and he realizes he needs to be more assertive if a friend comes in again (assuming it isn't a regular Saturday stop for his mates and it really was a one off visit of course) and of course apologize profusely. He might just get away with a warning.

Rylynn

Thank you so much for your very honest reply.

I agree with you, I do not want to shop in any store and hear swearing. Or be served by someone who is texting on there phone which seems to be another favourite in our more local supermarket, the one my son works out do not allow mobiles to be even switched on whilst working, which for me is the way it should be.

He did carry on with what he was doing and was not just standing there chatting and even when I shop in there he will simply say hello mum, I may ask something daft like does he want anything and I will get a very swift reply, ie yes pizza for dinner,and see you later.

This store is not local he has to drive there so none of his friends simply pop in, this guy was someone he had not seen in a long while, and spotted my son, shame son was not on break, but that is life.

He is going to have to grovel I agree with you, sadly I do not think this particular store are going to take that, I think he will be dismissed and maybe as you say the lesson learned early is a good thing. It is a shame as he is not a stupid lad, and even told his girlfriend to never go there as he would completely ignore her if she did (mind you she could not really get there as she does not drive), so he has some sense, just sadly did not get used last Sunday when he should have told this guy to leave him to get on with his work. Again though thank you for your reply.

duchy

I do feel for your son as I think when you work somewhere your friends can drop in it can be difficult....fa mily or a girlfriend you can say hello and they'll leave you alone if asked .....mates -aren't always that easy to get rid of but the world of work is different and sometimes not all so called mates get it !

I really hope things work out for him

Rylynn

Just an update. My son was suspended as you know on full pay from a part time weekend job. He received a hand delivered letter on Thursday advising him to attend a disciplinary hearing on Saturday at noon.

It was a long meeting, and the branch manager told him he was within half an inch of being dismissed and the only reason he was not going to do that was due to his age, inexperience and it being his first ever job. He was issued with a final written warning. Both he and I know he was very very lucky to not have been sacked, he apologised and told the Branch manager he was very grateful to have kept his job.

I am relieved, more than anything as at this young age to have a blot like that on your employment record would not have been good at all, and getting a reference would have been pretty damning I imagine as well.

Thank you all for your advice when I needed it. My friend said maybe it is better to learn the hard way at a young age, sure as god made little green apples I do not see my son making mistakes like this ever again.

Rylynn

CKhalvashi

Rylynn wrote: »

Just an update. My son was suspended as you know on full pay from a part time weekend job. He received a hand delivered letter on Thursday advising him to attend a disciplinary hearing on Saturday at noon.

It was a long meeting, and the branch manager told him he was within half an inch of being dismissed and the only reason he was not going to do that was due to his age, inexperience and it being his first ever job. He was issued with a final written warning. Both he and I know he was very very lucky to not have been sacked, he apologised and told the Branch manager he was very grateful to have kept his job.

I am relieved, more than anything as at this young age to have a blot like that on your employment record would not have been good at all, and getting a reference would have been pretty damning I imagine as well.

Thank you all for your advice when I needed it. My friend said maybe it is better to learn the hard way at a young age, sure as god made little green apples I do not see my son making mistakes like this ever again.

Rylynn

He's been very lucky, as whilst I'll admit to swearing at work, I don't work in a public-facing role, and nor will I swear in front of clients/children (except my own) under any circumstances.

He's young, and due to the reasons already explained to him,it seems he already knows how lucky he is. I was diagnosed with bowel cancer at beginning of last year, so I know how difficult the scare would have been for him (I collapsed when working abroad for a week, which prompted doctors visit when I returned etc.)

If he can gain the right attitude now, and although it may not seem this way, things like this can help that, he'll do well in later life.

CK

LannieDuck

I'm glad he was allowed to keep his job - he sounds like a mostly good employee who didn't handle his friend turning up very well. I'm sure he'll be more careful in future (and not admit to being bored out loud)!

Incidentally, if this is the supermarket I think it is, I shop there a lot and it's really obvious when staff members are having private conversations and giggling/chatting among themselves, just because it's so unusual.

ERICS_MUM

incredible - some po faced customer with time on their hands can cause such worries for a young man. OP, I hope your son has picked himself up and been able to return to work with confidence.

Linda xx

Dovah_diva

ERICS_MUM wrote: »

incredible - some po faced customer with time on their hands can cause such worries for a young man. OP, I hope your son has picked himself up and been able to return to work with confidence.

Linda xx

Excuse me, but i would report any member of staff I heard swearing. That does not make me 'po faced' at all.