Help with gross misconduct disciplinary

Hagans1988

Hi,

I’ve been accused of gross misconduct today for taking unauthorised leave. The line manager who’s accused me was on holiday themselves while we were sorting out the rota to fit in everyone’s holiday we had left but he had left a colleague in charge of the rota. We ensured the desk would be covered and I was told that we could not have three weeks in a row off. The only other week I could take was this week to break up the holiday. At no point did my manager call to say that they needed me to come in and I’ve had no prior warnings etc. The main reason I had this much holiday is because of how short staffed we’ve been this year and have only just got the staff we need so we were unable to take holiday.

Can anyone give any advice on how I should deal with this? This line manager is a bully and has had numerous complains about him.

GingerTim

Have you got your union rep involved?

BJV

Did you ok the time with the colleague who was left in charge of the rota?

Hagans1988

GingerTim said:

Have you got your union rep involved?

I’m not sure who the union rep would be at my work place I’m trying to find out.

BJV said:

Did you ok the time with the colleague who was left in charge of the rota?

We both went through the rota together to ensure the Helpdesk was covered.

RogerPensionGuy

Hagans1988 said:

GingerTim said:

Have you got your union rep involved?

I’m not sure who the union rep would be at my work place I’m trying to find out.

BJV said:

Did you ok the time with the colleague who was left in charge of the rota?

We both went through the rota together to ensure the Helpdesk was covered.

Are you a union member?

SecondRow

Hang on, take a step back - when you say accused today, have you been given a letter inviting you to a meeting or is it just a conversation you have had?

Hagans1988

SecondRow said:

Hang on, take a step back - when you say accused today, have you been given a letter inviting you to a meeting or is it just a conversation you have had?

I’ve had the letter through today.

RogerPensionGuy said:

Hagans1988 said:

GingerTim said:

Have you got your union rep involved?

I’m not sure who the union rep would be at my work place I’m trying to find out.

BJV said:

Did you ok the time with the colleague who was left in charge of the rota?

We both went through the rota together to ensure the Helpdesk was covered.

Are you a union member?

No but I’m hoping they would be able to give some advice. I know people personally who are reps who may be able to help.

Hagans1988

BJV said:

Did you ok the time with the colleague who was left in charge of the rota?

Also I’ve realised they approved the Friday I had off in writing

SecondRow

Ok, you have had the letter - what is the accusation exactly as it is set out in the letter and are you suspended?

robatwork

Dear Line Manager,
In your absence on dd/mm/yy, Colleague was in charge of the rota, and approved my holiday on dd/mm/yy. I suggest you take up any grievance with Colleague. I deny any accusation of misconduct in this regard.
Yours
Hagans

Hagans1988

SecondRow said:

Ok, you have had the letter - what is the accusation exactly as it is set out in the letter and are you suspended?

The accusations are:

Absence without authority: it has been reported that you were absent without authority from 4th

December to 5th December.

• Failure to carry out reasonable instructions: it has been observed that you failed to carry out

reasonable instructions from your line manager by not following the annual leave booking

procedure.

• Falsification of records: it has come to our attention that you amended the staff rota without prior

management approval, which constitutes a falsification of records.

• Serious breaches of trust and confidence: the aforementioned allegations collectively raise

concerns about serious breaches of trust and confidence.

I’m not suspended as far as I’m aware