Professional advice needed please

KatrinaWaves

homeworkgirl wrote: »

Hi Tellit01, the section manager had suggested to her partner that he put it in a bag to make it easy to transport it home. They don't think he was the person who reported it, though I do wonder. My daughter offered to stay behind last night to sort it out but they said she would have to wait until the investigation.

But if they normally give it to a customer separately, what do they normally put it in?

Why did the section manager suggest ways to make it more easily transportable, when giving it to a customer was a normal part of the service. Surely there is always a bag...

Comms69

homeworkgirl wrote: »

Hi Tellit01, the section manager had suggested to her partner that he put it in a bag to make it easy to transport it home. They don't think he was the person who reported it, though I do wonder. My daughter offered to stay behind last night to sort it out but they said she would have to wait until the investigation.

I think your daughter isn't telling you the truth.


Honestly businesses don't respond like this for simple misunderstandings; and as Katrina pointed out - there must be a form of container to take this rub in, for customers; so why was hers different?

nicechap

Did she buy the meat at regular price? At staff discount price? At some extra special discount price given by her partner?

billy2shots

From the scant details offered it sounds like the 'meat rub' is for meat bought at the counter (deli?) and your daughter bought different Pre packed meat that the 'rub' is not for.

It's s but like 'free crisps with Pepsi max' but someone wants free crisps with their 7UP instead. That's not the deal!

Haldon_Forest

'Hi, she bought the meat pre-packed so the rub would have been given out to a customer separately. If it hadn't been pre-packed it would have been rubbed on the meat at the counter for the customer.'

If its the supermarket I am thinking about, they normally give you free rub if you ask. To be honest its probably about 1p worth as its not a large amount.

Your daughter is allowed another person at any formal interviews, this can be friend, relative, union rep or solicitor. They can take notes and even ask questions and will be more focused.

She will have to attend but in the meantime suggest she write down what actually happened on the day.
List if her and her partner had bought meat before and had been given the rub previously
Confirm if other colleagues have been given the rub FOC before by other staff members other than her partner.
Maybe confirm with other colleagues at other stores, if they get free rub when purchasing pre-wrapped meat
Check the staff hand-book/policy on regarding purchases and freebies plus the process for searches/investigation/bullying and displinary meetings.
Maybe you could go and ask if you bought some pre-wrapped meat could they give you some of the rub and do they charge for it - if not that actual store another one.

She needs a few eggs in her basket too - for example if it has happened to other colleagues in other stores too and it is standard practice to both staff and customers - then she needs to ask why in her case is it theft
Have they given her written notice and given her time to arrange for someone to be at the meeting ?

If they still deem it as theft or even if they then agreed it wasn't. I would be tempted to follow the companies bullying procedure , as it could be deemed as constructive dismissal by making her uncomfortable and therefore making her resigning as a result.

Comms69

Haldon_Forest wrote: »

'Hi, she bought the meat pre-packed so the rub would have been given out to a customer separately. If it hadn't been pre-packed it would have been rubbed on the meat at the counter for the customer.'

If its the supermarket I am thinking about, they normally give you free rub if you ask. To be honest its probably about 1p worth as its not a large amount.

Your daughter is allowed another person at any formal interviews, this can be friend, relative, union rep or solicitor. - sorry that is not correct. Only at disciplinary, only a union rep or a colleague. They can take notes and even ask questions and will be more focused.

She will have to attend but in the meantime suggest she write down what actually happened on the day.
List if her and her partner had bought meat before and had been given the rub previously
Confirm if other colleagues have been given the rub FOC before by other staff members other than her partner. - irrelevant
Maybe confirm with other colleagues at other stores, if they get free rub when purchasing pre-wrapped meat - irrelevant
Check the staff hand-book/policy on regarding purchases and freebies plus the process for searches - not relevant, she consented /investigation/bullying - what bullying?? and displinary meetings.
Maybe you could go and ask if you bought some pre-wrapped meat could they give you some of the rub and do they charge for it - if not that actual store another one. - irrelevant

She needs a few eggs in her basket too - for example if it has happened to other colleagues in other stores too and it is standard practice to both staff and customers - then she needs to ask why in her case is it theft - because employers are able to dole out punishments as they see fit.
Have they given her written notice and given her time to arrange for someone to be at the meeting ? - not required

If they still deem it as theft or even if they then agreed it wasn't. I would be tempted to follow the companies bullying procedure - WHAT BULLYING??!! , as it could be deemed as constructive dismissal by making her uncomfortable - oh please! and therefore making her resigning as a result.

Your well intentioned advice is totally incorrect.


I suggest you edit it, or remove completely.


OP please take all the above with a pinch of salt

homeworkgirl

Update

She was called into meeting with personnel officer and a different manager from yesterday and said they at least seemed more understanding to her plight. They are going to speak to other staff and investigate and then she will be called into a disciplinary hearing and told the outcome which they said could range from no action to suspension.

homeworkgirl

think your daughter isn't telling you the truth.


Honestly businesses don't respond like this for simple misunderstandings; and as Katrina pointed out - there must be a form of container to take this rub in, for customers; so why was hers different?

Believe me, this company have form for responding just like this to misunderstandings.

I don't know what the rub is given in to customers buying pre-packed meat.

Although I have an emotional interest as to what happens, I have absolutely no reason not to believe my daughter.

My concern now is whether other staff will admit to taking it when they are questioned, as they have heard on the grapevine what has happened.

At the formal hearing she is taking someone in with her, hopefully Union rep who unfortunately is just another employee at the same store.

Many thanks for all your replies.

TELLIT01

Your daughter needs to write down the sequence of events as clearly as she can, including who said and did what. If her recollection is that the section manager said to put it in a bag, say so.

Comms69

homeworkgirl wrote: »

think your daughter isn't telling you the truth.


Honestly businesses don't respond like this for simple misunderstandings; and as Katrina pointed out - there must be a form of container to take this rub in, for customers; so why was hers different?

Believe me, this company have form for responding just like this to misunderstandings.

I don't know what the rub is given in to customers buying pre-packed meat.

Although I have an emotional interest as to what happens, I have absolutely no reason not to believe my daughter.

My concern now is whether other staff will admit to taking it when they are questioned, as they have heard on the grapevine what has happened.

At the formal hearing she is taking someone in with her, hopefully Union rep who unfortunately is just another employee at the same store.

Many thanks for all your replies.

A union rep who is also an employee is the best possible person.