Gross misconduct and dismissal advice

confusedandneedadvice

I have been suspended from my job as they are investigating a case of gross misconduct.

I work for a company that buys in products for a well established firm. We receive samples of things that we are selling in the stores and we are allowed to take whatever samples we wish to have. I realised I didn't actually require these samples so took them to the store in an unused, perfect, saleable condition and exchanged them for something I did want with the same value - it was just a different product to the one I had been given.

They have since found out and are threatening me with dismissal for gross misconduct.

Is this fair?

I was never told I was not allowed to return anything that I was given and I have never taken anything that I wasn't told I was allowed to have by my manager.

I am now aware that it was stupid of me but feel the outcome seems harsh and unfair.

Undervalued

How long have your worked there?

DUTR

It's one of those lessons in life, it's kind of stealing really.
Whether you see it that way doesn't sort of matter as we don't make the rules.

confusedandneedadvice

I have worked there for 5 months, I had a probation period for 3 months which I passed with flying colours and they have been impressed with my hard work and success so far. It was an incredibly silly mistake but gross misconduct?

Bantex_2

Did you exchange sample stock for retail stock without authorisation?

Torry_Quine

You can be sacked anyway as you've not been there for two years. It was an incredibly stupid thing to do in my opinion.

confusedandneedadvice

It was technically retail stock. It comes from batches of retail stock that we get to check it is ok, then we are allowed to have it.

tomtontom

Torry_Quine wrote: »

You can be sacked anyway as you've not been there for two years. It was an incredibly stupid thing to do in my opinion.

This ^^

Sorry OP, I can't see any justification or excuse for what you have done. Unless you are indispensable (few people are), I would expect to be dismissed.

hop3y

confusedandneedadvice wrote: »

I have worked there for 5 months, I had a probation period for 3 months which I passed with flying colours and they have been impressed with my hard work and success so far. It was an incredibly silly mistake but gross misconduct?

Misconduct is misconduct...

hop3y

Torry_Quine wrote: »

You can be sacked anyway as you've not been there for two years. It was an incredibly stupid thing to do in my opinion.

You can be sacked anywhere no matter how long you've worked there...

Torry_Quine

hop3y wrote: »

You can be sacked anywhere no matter how long you've worked there...

After two years you can employment rights which mean you can't just be sacked but must go through a disciplinary process and it's not as easy.