Work disciplinary

GTR_King

Long story short

I am 34 & have mild autism & learning disabilities 

I have been at my job since 2011 (work experience till 2013) then apprenticeship 2013-2015 then full time!

I work for a facilities management company that work for my local council! Always been good to me over the years!

I got my first ever formal disciplinary meeting (no warnings/letters etc) Monday (just gone) due to (last week) a bit of sensitive legal mail sealed & packed correctly that was going out via RM special delivery! fell off bottom of trolly by accident at bottom of ramp near our post room my lovely supervisor found it 2-3 mins after it happened the item went out that day & department never found out! 

I got told in the meeting to never to do it again & no post on bottom of trolly (which I accept) and we will send the notes of to HR and they will decide what to do & doubt you will be sack but very slim chance you could be! 

Since Monday I have been feeling sad upset crying 😭 most evenings and worrying what the outcome will be & if I will loose my job! 

I want reassurance from someone that I will only get a telling off as I am always a hard worker follow the rules & want to do the best I can in my Job! 

Any advice or tips?

elsien

When you say you’ve got a disciplinary, what do you mean? 

Because generally speaking disciplinaries follow a formal process. So was this a formal meeting, how much notice did you have, were you informed of the right to have someone accompany you?

Because if not, it just sounds like an investigation to look at what happened with no formal disciplinary process yet happening, and from the sound of it very unlikely  to go further, More a be more careful slap on the wrist.

GTR_King

Well I was called into a room with my manager & assistant manager! (No warning or letter beforehand etc) I sat down on a chair they told me what it was about (I knew) told me it was a disciplinary meeting to ask what happened that day! 

I told them what happened and why and my concerns They then told me thank you 🤩 & don’t let it happen again & always put post on top of trolley in the post slings from now on, I said that’s fine happy to do that! 

We will send this all off to HR! I doubt you will be sacked but could Be! 

i am still doing my normal job heard no more about it and everything is back to normal!

so have no clue what gonna happen now!

elsien

That was an investigation, not a disciplinary meeting.
I’d put money on it not going any further. 

In the unlikely event that it does, go to your union if you’re in one otherwise come back here. That is not a sackable offence,  in my book - it wasn’t like it got lost outside of the workplace. 

GTR_King

Thank you! 

The item Was sent out that day via Royal Mail/ department nerve found out

It was an accident but the info has been sent to HR up to them now

tacpot12

The fact that the affected deparment never found out does not absolve you from responsibility for your mistake. However, the mistake seems minor and easily corrected by asking you not to place items on the bottom tray where they could fall off without you noticing. I, too, would be very suprised if you were dismissed for this. It would seem to be a complete overreaction, so I would encourage you not to worry about this. 

Savvy_Sue

I would definitely encourage you to join a union: https://www.tuc.org.uk/joinunion

If you had another problem, it would be good to have someone on your side. 

Also, if you need 'reasonable adjustments' because of your autism, it can help to have someone in your corner for getting those made too. 

GTR_King

Thank you 🤩 

nothing has happened so far! 

Think I will get a slight telling off & to make sure it don’t happen again 

TELLIT01

You got a formal warning not to let something like that happen again, which isn't unreasonable.  It's normal when something as described above happens.  Don't worry about it.  If it's the first issue you've had in 14 years you are doing well.

GTR_King

Yep it’s my first ever warning! 

I am still at work & heard nothing so far!

my other work colleague where same thing happened day after me! Had same meeting on same day! 

He has heard nothing so far! 

So looks like I get a telling off no more hopefully

update

they said in letter emailed to me! That my reasons were unsatisfactory but no further action will be taken! 

No post to be put on button of trolly (parcels are fine) 

be more aware of my surroundings etc 

and to make sure it won’t happen again 

elsien

That's possibly why they picked up on it then - more than one of you making the same mistake.
Would have made much more sense for them to just check that everyone was aware not to put the post at the bottom, rather than hold a bit of a pointless meeting, but glad it turned out ok for you.