Suspended pending dismissal for Gross Misconduct **UPDATE**

123helpme123

Hi thanks for your reply

No - not taking anyone with me. I'm not in a union and my colleagues don't know what I've done, so I would rather keep it that way.

I will fight and try to explain the reasons and that I have a flawless record etc.

I thought decisions like this were made at the disciplinary meeting and not days after? Can they dismiss me during annual leave?

Thanks

Torry_Quine

123helpme123 wrote: »

Hi thanks for your reply

No - not taking anyone with me. I'm not in a union and my colleagues don't know what I've done, so I would rather keep it that way.

I will fight and try to explain the reasons and that I have a flawless record etc.

I thought decisions like this were made at the disciplinary meeting and not days after? Can they dismiss me during annual leave?

Thanks

The decision is usually made at the disciplinary meeting. They may ask you to go out for a few minutes for this.

123helpme123

Thanks so much Torry. I don't think I could emotionally or mentally handle it being drawn out for a longer period of time. Ill update when I've had an outcome!

CFC

It may well be not the same day so don't pin your hopes on no extended period of not knowing.

an9i77

They don't have to tell you on the day. They may need to go back and re investigate, if for example you say something that completely contradicts what they have already established as 'the facts'. Hopefully they won't do this though.

As for holiday, well if you don't get sacked you could probably do with some time off to recover. If you do, you'll only be due any accrued leave which would be paid to you in your final payment.

If it does drag on into next week you could say that you're willing to come in if necessary for further meetings - they shouldn't count any days you do this as holiday.

I still think you'll just get a warning - is what you've done really so bad that it means you are beyond redemption and your employer has little option but to sack you, despite your previous unblemished record over several years? I don't know exactly what yo'uve done but it doesn't sound that way to me. They probably just want to give you a massive scare, and put you through the mill so that you never do it again.

Fire_Fox

Is it fraud? Look up the legal definition. Did you gain any benefit from altering the documents?

Southend1

Sorry I can't offer any advice but just from reading your posts I can sense your worry and I really feel for you, so just wanted to wish you good luck for the hearing. Don't forget you can appeal against the outcome if necessary so don't go burning any bridges in frustration if it doesn't go well.

Best wishes

Southend1

123helpme123

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Is it fraud? Look up the legal definition. Did you gain any benefit from altering the documents?

Ill try and make it completely clear what I did without giving away the industry in which I work.

A letter was received saying Yes to something.

I get about 20 of these or similar letters per week. I missed that it said Yes and thought it said no. This then led to someone being able to do a job that they may not have been able to do should I have not made that mistake.

I didn't realise the mistake until 3 1/2 months later when I was questioned about it.

I realised my mistake and then tried to cover it up as I was in a probationary period, stressed out doing the job of 3 people and had been told the new top person wanted my department gone. Shouldn't have done it, hindsight is a great thing.

Admitted it when formal investigations started, now face disciplinary.

I haven't benefitted from it, apart from maybe keeping my job longer. Although no financial gain, I suppose they passed my probationary under false pretences. Saying that, on ratings from 1 to 5 throughout the probationary review, I was given mostly 1s (top marks).

What I did wrong was:

1. Covering up my mistake
2. Not admitting it sooner

From looking through the pack of the investigation stuff, they have been doing a LOT of investigating into it that I didn't know about. I honestly thought that although the letter wasn't factually correct? Because we had the new information, it would be dropped as human error. If I had of known how much time the company was spending investigating this I would have admitted it sooner.

Sequence of events that I was aware of:

1: got asked about it
2: Realised mistake and covered it up to save my backside
3: had probation review 2 days later to be told the big new boss wanted my department gone so don't mess up
4: a meeting that takes place for something else happened (non related to case)
5: meeting went wrong - admin errors from new starter I was unaware I was responsible for
6: booked to go to investigation meeting into the discrepency in the letter.
7: at meeting, asked two questions and then a 30 min telling off about the meeting that went wrong and was told 'don't let me down again!!!'.
8: came home to find my OH was leaving me. Although this is a personal issue that I don't really want to bring up with work, due to all the stress and worry I've been really ill an he couldn't take it anymore.
9: wanted to admit it to work, but now it's just me. I have no family or close friends to fall back on. If I can't pay the bills, I'm screwed. Survival mode hits.
10: formal investigation takes place, I admit everything in a flood of tears and explain what happened.
11: I'm suspended
12: support contact person given happens to be big bosses best bud. I don't want her support really, so have been polite and thanked her for her efforts but would like to go to meeting alone. Don't even want colleagues knowing what's happened.
13: meeting happening Friday with director of HR and director of another department

And that's where I'm up to. My OH has since moved back and will support me with bills now. I was just scared. I'm still scared.

I'm fully prepared to be sacked. But I will try and fight to stay. Ill clearly not burn any bridges if I am sacked, but rather just appeal.

If I am sacked, do I ask what will be included in an employment reference at that point?

If I'm not sacked, shall I still ask if an employment reference was requested what it would entail? (I was actually looking to leave a while ago, I do the job of 3-4 people at the moment with a ridiculous case load).

I'll be posting back about the appeals process - although I don't know what I would be appealing other than the penalty being too harsh?

I can cry and say I'm sorry all I want, I just feel that the decision has already been made. I'm an emotional wreck and can't do much more of this. I'm putting my last fighting spirit into this, but I'm pretty mentally and emotionally exhausted...


Thanks Southend1- your words are kind and help more than you think x

Phil_68

Don't give in till it's time to give in

123helpme123

Phil_68 wrote: »

Don't give in till it's time to give in

Thanks Phil. I'm trying. I really am. When do I give in? When is the time to just move on?