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So...I've been suspended from work. PLEASE HELP!!
leanansidhe
Posts: 5 Forumite
Hi everyone, I'm new to this site but I really need your help.
I've been working at a store part-time for the past 10/11 months. I've had a few problems with my absence since December which was due to a tragic event that took place back home and other health reasons which caused me to develop depression that severely affected my ability to work for a time, and for a while I had been improving on that.
However, I had a shift to work through today, came in, clocked in, got prepared to start and all that. But next thing I know, I'm being called in to the office by a member of the management team and someone else from the company. At first everything is going well, he (the other person) seems friendly and all. Then he asks if I will need another person with me for the meeting or if I was alright on my own. Foolishly thinking that it was nothing serious, I said I was ok and we should proceed. He then goes on to state that we have a honesty policy and that I should try to be honest with him (first red flag), then he asks me questions like 'how long have you been working here?', 'are you aware of this procedure or that procedure?'. I answered yes to those. Then he asks if I knew what a company term meant, I said no, and he went on to explain that the term meant a situation where an employee consumes something that he or she hasn't paid for or hasn't been given permission to consume = theft. He then referred to my last shift and pinpoints a time where I was at the till and there was a torn bag of food by my side, and asks if I ever ate from the bag. I honestly replied that I could not remember doing so, as it was last week and I don't remember everything that happened, except carrying out the tasks I was given. He then said that the CCTV footage showed me taking an item from the bag and putting it in my mouth before turning to the camera. I said that I honestly didn't recall doing that, all I remember was being at the till doing a job and remembering a bag of food by my side left there by someone else for a reason. He then asked me to be honest, I said I was, and that if the CCTV showed that, then it must be true but I didn't remember doing that (and I still don't). He then said that he would discuss with my manager and see if we should involve the police or resolve this internally. I was told to wait for a while, was called back in and told that I was suspended on full pay till further notice. Secondly, I wasn't to come into the store or contact anyone except the managers until I was called in for an investigation meeting. Then, I was escorted out of the building by my manager.
I honestly don't know how to feel about this. I have never stolen a thing in my life. I just graduated from uni, I'm currently job hunting and I feel this will seriously affect me in the future. Although it seems the company will be resolving this themselves, I don't know if the police will be involved or if I will get fired. I can't even tell my parents, I don't even want to think of what their reactions would be. I just feel that this is so unfair because I genuinely do not recall taking anything from the bag, a lot of things have happened since that day so my memory of that moment is quite vague. Besides, I work at the till most of the time, if I wanted to steal anything (money or otherwise) I would have done so ages ago but like I wrote, I'm not a thief. I don't know if I should involve the police and I'm not a member of a trade union, so I don't know what to do. Please, I really need some advice. I'm shaking here.
I've been working at a store part-time for the past 10/11 months. I've had a few problems with my absence since December which was due to a tragic event that took place back home and other health reasons which caused me to develop depression that severely affected my ability to work for a time, and for a while I had been improving on that.
However, I had a shift to work through today, came in, clocked in, got prepared to start and all that. But next thing I know, I'm being called in to the office by a member of the management team and someone else from the company. At first everything is going well, he (the other person) seems friendly and all. Then he asks if I will need another person with me for the meeting or if I was alright on my own. Foolishly thinking that it was nothing serious, I said I was ok and we should proceed. He then goes on to state that we have a honesty policy and that I should try to be honest with him (first red flag), then he asks me questions like 'how long have you been working here?', 'are you aware of this procedure or that procedure?'. I answered yes to those. Then he asks if I knew what a company term meant, I said no, and he went on to explain that the term meant a situation where an employee consumes something that he or she hasn't paid for or hasn't been given permission to consume = theft. He then referred to my last shift and pinpoints a time where I was at the till and there was a torn bag of food by my side, and asks if I ever ate from the bag. I honestly replied that I could not remember doing so, as it was last week and I don't remember everything that happened, except carrying out the tasks I was given. He then said that the CCTV footage showed me taking an item from the bag and putting it in my mouth before turning to the camera. I said that I honestly didn't recall doing that, all I remember was being at the till doing a job and remembering a bag of food by my side left there by someone else for a reason. He then asked me to be honest, I said I was, and that if the CCTV showed that, then it must be true but I didn't remember doing that (and I still don't). He then said that he would discuss with my manager and see if we should involve the police or resolve this internally. I was told to wait for a while, was called back in and told that I was suspended on full pay till further notice. Secondly, I wasn't to come into the store or contact anyone except the managers until I was called in for an investigation meeting. Then, I was escorted out of the building by my manager.
I honestly don't know how to feel about this. I have never stolen a thing in my life. I just graduated from uni, I'm currently job hunting and I feel this will seriously affect me in the future. Although it seems the company will be resolving this themselves, I don't know if the police will be involved or if I will get fired. I can't even tell my parents, I don't even want to think of what their reactions would be. I just feel that this is so unfair because I genuinely do not recall taking anything from the bag, a lot of things have happened since that day so my memory of that moment is quite vague. Besides, I work at the till most of the time, if I wanted to steal anything (money or otherwise) I would have done so ages ago but like I wrote, I'm not a thief. I don't know if I should involve the police and I'm not a member of a trade union, so I don't know what to do. Please, I really need some advice. I'm shaking here.
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Comments
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ASk to see a copy of the CCTV, if you did eat something then grovel, apologise and move on. You are young and you could just remove this job from the CV and get experience elsewhere.
If they are unable to show the CCTV or refuse then fight your corner but be aware with so little time it is alot easier to dismiss you anyway providing it isn't for a protected characteristic such as sex, gender, race etc.Don't trust a forum for advice. Get proper paid advice. Any advice given should always be checked0 -
Firstly, find out if they can use the cctv images for disciplinary purposes. I am aware of employers where the unions have successfully argued cctv provision is unable to be used for this purpose.
Consider making a DPA sec7 request for the video to be provided to you, this will establish who, what and when they gave captured and does it incriminate you as an individual, if it does back to my first point.
How do they know you didn't purchase the bag elsewhere?
What evidence do the have except the cctv?Don’t be a can’t, be a can.0 -
Thanks Takeaway_Addict, the problem is that I'm applying for grad jobs at the moment, most of which prefer people who have had some sales experience. Prior to this problem, I had hoped to include this role in my CV as an advantage, but its now clear that I can't. As a result, this may show a huge gap in my employment history. Plus, I'm worried that I may get a mark on my record by the police or company, so my future prospects will be hindered anyway. I honestly cannot remember doing such a thing, but if the cctv shows that then I'm ready to apologise. What I can't stand is having my future professional reputation marked by something that wasn't my intention in the first place.
Thanks a lot for the tips, ohreally. Will try those out.0 -
I'm sorry to say that with less than 2 years service, your employer can just dismiss you without reason.If you are querying your Council Tax band would you please state whether you are in England, Scotland or Wales0
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leanansidhe wrote: »I honestly cannot remember doing such a thing, but if the cctv shows that then I'm ready to apologise.
For the sake of argument, suppose the cctv image shows you dipping into a bag of something, can the employer show that this constituted a breach of one of the policies, how do they know you didn't purchase this elsewhere or even from your workplace the day previously?
I think your looking in the wrong place for your problems - the lack of qualifying service may be your biggest concern and the employer may simply choose this route if dismissal is in their mind.Don’t be a can’t, be a can.0 -
For the sake of argument, suppose the cctv image shows you dipping into a bag of something, can the employer show that this constituted a breach of one of the policies, how do they know you didn't purchase this elsewhere or even from your workplace the day previously?
I think your looking in the wrong place for your problems - the lack of qualifying service may be your biggest concern and the employer may simply choose this route if dismissal is in their mind.
The OP has acknowledged that someone else put the bag there.
You appear to be suggesting the OP lies to their employer - this is really poor advice, certain to result in dismissal and a poor reference.0 -
They should have showed you the CCTV footage, and if this "bag" is visible it should also show who put it there in the first place.
Then they can ask them about where it's from etc0 -
Let's say you did eat whatever it was.... the police wouldn't be involved, you'd (at most) be simply "let go" ..... and, if I were you, I'd put it down to "life sucks" and find another job and conveniently "forget" this one .....0
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Oh dear, It all sounds incredibly heavy handed by your employer even if you did eat something. I can almost imagine that if a bag of something was left by the till you could have have almost absent-mindedly picked at it."'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Try to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die"0
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