Dismissal for gross misconduct- advice needed

IAmWales

Simpleton1 wrote: »

Perhaps it would have been, in hindsight.

If you search on the net you will find telecoms companies offering unlimited call packages for a monthly fee. At my previous employers this was the case too. I had thought this was normal for big companies with massive buying power.

Not that it justifies, but I used my personal mobile to make business calls because I had inclusive minutes and so thought of saving the company money, This was despite being entitled to a company mobile phone. They didn't consider this.

The last paragraph contradicts the first. Why would you need to save them money if you thought they had all inclusive calls?

How long did you work there?

mac.d

In relation to steampowered's comments about it not being gross misconduct, has the OP maybe not disclosed that they are a relatively new employee (just going by what was said in the OP about doing this at a previous job and it being over a 3 month period), and therefore might still be in some kind of probationary period, so this single issue (regardless of cost) is enough to end their employment?

ThemeOne

Another bit of advice for the OP - don't bother trying to save companies money - you will never get any thanks as companies are inanimate objects.

The only way you get thanks as an employee is by pleasing people - more commonly known as sucking up to the boss - and some are better at that than others!

steampowered

mac.d wrote: »

In relation to steampowered's comments about it not being gross misconduct, has the OP maybe not disclosed that they are a relatively new employee (just going by what was said in the OP about doing this at a previous job and it being over a 3 month period), and therefore might still be in some kind of probationary period, so this single issue (regardless of cost) is enough to end their employment?

Very true. If the Op has less than two year's service, he can be dismissed for pretty much any reason. The employer would simply have to give notice.

In this case the only thing to play for would be pay for would be very nicely appealing and asking for his job back (unlikely but worth a go), or to be paid for his notice period (legal minimum notice for someone with less than two year's service is only 1 week).

[Deleted User]

Gross misconduct can be anything - I remember one time being told failure to adapt to a change in business name positively was one such, slating your boss to their customer to telling a customer your systems were running slow even when they genuinely were. I worked for someone who use to have a reputation for when they would walk though the office if you weren't on the phone bringing in business you were out as an instant reaction.

Would you OP put your own personal mail effects through a company franking machine and not offer to pay the price of a stamp there and then? (Sorry my silly example is around the year of 1999! Lol) I always remember our GM walking past a franking machine, noticing it wasn't company mail and then flagging it to the person who'd just put it through.
I appreciate in modern technology that becomes a bit more convoluted, that person on their device logged into the company wi-fi at lunch times are they not stealing so I think I can understand your asking.

Simpleton1

IAmWales wrote: »

The last paragraph contradicts the first. Why would you need to save them money if you thought they had all inclusive calls?

How long did you work there?

I saved them money on the mobile bill for which we receive bills every month. My job required some travel and remote working hence the use of mobiles. The alleged misuse is on the landline.
It was my seventh month working there.

marliepanda

Simpleton1 wrote: »

I saved them money on the mobile bill for which we receive bills every month. My job required some travel and remote working hence the use of mobiles. The alleged misuse is on the landline.
It was my seventh month working there.

How are you saving them money? It was personal calls!

[Deleted User]

Simpleton1 wrote: »

It was my seventh month working there.

Discussion over then. You are gone.

ThemeOne

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Discussion over then. You are gone.

It seems like it. Lessons learned for the next job:

Don't try and save companies money by using your own mobile and expect to be thanked. Ditto for working over your contracted hours.

Always ask for evidence of any allegations made against you. Companies may not have to produce them during the first two years, but if they don't you can draw your own conclusions.

Don't assume phone calls from official phones are free.

sangie595

Simpleton1 wrote: »

I saved them money on the mobile bill for which we receive bills every month. My job required some travel and remote working hence the use of mobiles. The alleged misuse is on the landline.
It was my seventh month working there.

I do think you are missing a valuable lesson for future employment here. There was no "alleged misuse". It was "actual misuse".