Facing dismissal because of a mistake

ValHaller

monty-doggy wrote: »

I've received all the notes and information from head office. In his statement he claims I knew it was petty cash and he denies the conversation where I forgot my purse. I've challenged this but the manager who is doing the disciplinary said its irrelevant. He said if company money was used for my personal expense it's gross misconduct, regardless of how it came about.

But whose misconduct? As I see it, the deputy manager is definitely in the wrong here. He could not bring the complaint without himself admitting he knew it was petty cash.

Whereas given what your manager says about it being misconduct, it seems to me that your deputy would be in an excellent position to have you done for misconduct, simply by paying for the parcel out of petty cash without you knowing anything about it. Which seems to be more or less what has happened.

Think hard. The deputy has stitched you up. You have only admitted to this on the basis that there was a petty cash discrepancy corresponding to the cost of your parcel. Not because you authorised that money to come from petty cash. But that discrepancy arises because your deputy did not ask you to reimburse him - he reimbursed himself from the petty cash.

jacques_chirac

monty-doggy wrote: »

He was an internal candidate, I told my area manager I felt he was nervous at interview and assessment and I still felt he was the right person for the job and I'd like to offer him a trial.

After some deliberation my area manager agreed.

I've received all the notes and information from head office. In his statement he claims I knew it was petty cash and he denies the conversation where I forgot my purse. I've challenged this but the manager who is doing the disciplinary said its irrelevant. He said if company money was used for my personal expense it's gross misconduct, regardless of how it came about.

I guess I've just got to accept my fate and learn from it.

This part is true, yes? If so, anything afterwards is irrelevant, irrespective of your intent you should not have used work funds for personal expenditure.

paulineb_2

monty-doggy wrote: »

I guess I need to face up to the fact I've made a mess of things and face the consequences. I may resign.

I am good at my job however I had a horrific car accident in January and only been back at work full time for three weeks. I know a lot of the replies on here have said its my own fault and if I'm a manager I should know better, however I have been struggling with everything, there is no crime in that.

I don't want to get rid of my deputy, I fought to get him his job as he applied and was unsuccessful as he gave an awful interview. However since then he has made it quite clear he wants my job, and I'm sure this is his way of making it happen. I know I've given him the opportunity. I feel so stupid.

I am not blaming anyone else. I just feel I don't deserve the sack because regardless of how it happened, it wasn't intentional.

And given my health, I may well look for a less stressful job.

Thanks for all your comments, I still feel a wreck!

Resigning could leave you with nil income, if the DWP decide that you have made yourself intentionally jobless.

For benefit purposes, its better to be dismissed even if they deem it gross misconduct, you still might be sanctioned but you have your chance to put your side, walking away from a job will leave you in a very precarious position benefit wise

Why arent you fighting this? They dont seem to have handled the investigation well, you seem to have been told youve committed gross misconduct before theres even been a disciplinary hearing?

I know someone who should have been dismissed from a job he was in, but because his employer didnt follow procedure properly they didnt.

You say you know about acas and their codes of conduct, well if so, Id be reading them and having a look at the way you are being treated and make some kind of complaint about them not following procedure then if they do their worst and sack you, Id be appealing that decision also

I do appreciate its stressful and Ive been sacked from a job where I didnt deserve it, but I fought it every inch of the way and took them to employment tribunal, no way was I going to make it easy for them.

Youve already said you cant afford to be sacked, but youre thinking of resigning, that really makes no sense to me whatsoever.

yvonne13_2

OP fight for your job, don't resign as that's the worst thing you could do.

When_the_going_gets_tough

Op I would second Yvonnes advice - you have nothing to lose by going through the process, you are obviously having a rubbish time, but it really would be in your long term interests to fight this. Could you offer to take a temporary step down based on your need to continue to recover from your accident. Anyway all the best for whatever you decide to do and I hope it works out for you.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

ValHaller wrote: »

You are being your own worst enemy here.

Unless you actually told your deputy to pay from petty cash, it was your deputy who made that decision to cover his losses on a personal transaction between you and him. If you have any sense.

And your second worst enemy is your deputy who exploited the situation to drop you in it - despite himself conspiring in misusing petty cash if his take on it is to be believed.

To be honest, OP you aren't seeing the wood for the trees.

As far as you are concerned, you asked the assistant manager to cover the cost. End of.

I have quoted Val Haller's advice here as it needs saying again. Stop waffling and sit and absorb it. It was HIS decision to take the money out of petty cash, not yours as you quite clearly said you would pay HIM back.

Unless you are a complete sucker you will take this line of defence throughout.

AP007

ValHaller wrote: »

You are being your own worst enemy here.

Unless you actually told your deputy to pay from petty cash, it was your deputy who made that decision to cover his losses on a personal transaction between you and him. If you have any sense.

And your second worst enemy is your deputy who exploited the situation to drop you in it - despite himself conspiring in misusing petty cash if his take on it is to be believed.

The OP did say 'He had money from petty cash and I said when you get back ill sort out how much mine costs.'

The manager should have said no don't post my items as you can not use the petty cash for that.

cod3

ValHaller wrote: »

But whose misconduct? As I see it, the deputy manager is definitely in the wrong here. He could not bring the complaint without himself admitting he knew it was petty cash.

Whereas given what your manager says about it being misconduct, it seems to me that your deputy would be in an excellent position to have you done for misconduct, simply by paying for the parcel out of petty cash without you knowing anything about it. Which seems to be more or less what has happened.

Think hard. The deputy has stitched you up. You have only admitted to this on the basis that there was a petty cash discrepancy corresponding to the cost of your parcel. Not because you authorised that money to come from petty cash. But that discrepancy arises because your deputy did not ask you to reimburse him - he reimbursed himself from the petty cash.

Definitely a stitch up. I don't think there would have been a petty cash discrepancy. Someone grassed on OP more likely.

£30 was taken to the PO. The receipt for all postage and any change would be returned to the petty cash box/till. This would tally. No obvious discrepancy.

ValHaller

AP007 wrote: »

The OP did say '

• He had money from petty cash and
• I said when you get back ill sort out how much mine costs.'

The manager should have said no don't post my items as you can not use the petty cash for that.

The 2 facts are not explicitly connected. The same 2 facts could be posted if OP had been totally explicit and said 'can you cover the postage on this parcel until I pay you when you come back.'

AP007

ValHaller wrote: »

The 2 facts are not explicitly connected. The same 2 facts could be posted if OP had been totally explicit and said 'can you cover the postage on this parcel until I pay you when you come back.'

Yes but without implicit instruction the deputy did what the OP allowed them to do.

Like I have said in my previous post they have tripped the OP up and the OP allowed it.