Criminal act while in uniform

[Pumpkin head]

Just a question but not sure if anyone can help. If a RM employee goes to someone's address making threats etc while in RM uniform and the police are called. What would happen to them as an employee?

[fishtank]

Most likely a charge of bringing the business into disrepute.
Any criminal charges or cautions resulting would have to be reported to Royal Mail.
The final outcome would obviously be subject to any mitigating circumstances but could include anything up to and including dismissal for gross misconduct.

[Pumpkin head]

Oh dear no mitigating circumstances, just angry at sons ex wife so paid a visit. An official complaint has been made. Who has to report outcome to RM?

[cyberheater]

Oh dear no mitigating circumstances, just angry at sons ex wife so paid a visit. An official complaint has been made. Who has to report outcome to RM?

I take it that the official complaint has been made to the police. In that case. I'd wait until you find out the outcome before speaking to management.

[Pumpkin head]

Official complaint to RM and police were called at the time and are currently investigating... Management know, just want to know what are the possible outcomes. I know dismissal is one but don't know how likely?

[dvbuk55]

Official complaint to RM and police were called at the time and are currently investigating... Management know, just want to know what are the possible outcomes. I know dismissal is one but don't know how likely?

Were you on duty at the time?

What was the extent of the confrontation - just verbal?

If you are a woman, and I'm not being facetious here sometimes people put the wrong gender down, it may well not be treated as seriously and may be seen as less threatening. There is also a question of provocation but if the police take no further action then neither is it likely RM will.

[fishtank]

Oh dear no mitigating circumstances, just angry at sons ex wife so paid a visit. An official complaint has been made. Who has to report outcome to RM?

The fact that it was a personal issue and not relating to work is a mitigating factor in itself.
If you had just been abusive or threatening to a random customer it would have been a more serious situation.
There was a great deal of provocation,You were under a great deal of personal stress at the time and not thinking clearly Pumpkin head.
It is obviously a one off,completely out of character and not something that will be repeated.
That would be your best line of defense.

[Himaggen]

Worst case; gross misconduct - dismissal

• You made a planned decision to confront.
• You were an aggressor.
• You committed a Public Order Offence.
• You were a visible representative of your employer.

Your Manager is completely within their rights to suspend you from work with immediate effect.
Royal Mail has no confidence in your ability to make rational decisions, control your temper and act within a reasonable rule set whilst wearing their uniform.

Your only mitigation is your state of mind, this however is difficult to maintain after having performed your duties normally before instigating the offence. Also if you had previously neglected to inform your Manager of issues with your state of mind then don't expect them to accept this after the fact.

[WornOutPosty]

Someone in my DO got a telling off or a dicipline or something (I can't remember) for sitting in a beer garden after work with their uniform on. Not sure whether that's fair because they were off duty and on their way home.

[UnhappyGremlin]

Someone in my DO got a telling off or a dicipline or something (I can't remember) for sitting in a beer garden after work with their uniform on. Not sure whether that's fair because they were off duty and on their way home.

I would say it's unfair. But then I'm not a manager trying to impress another manager by disciplining a postie.
If the postie was drunk and disorderly, fighting or whatever, then I suppose there would be a case to say they were bringing RM's reputation into question. But I'm sure they were just having a quiet pint, and the manager was being a dick.

[Pumpkin head]

Thanks to all. So what are the possible outcomes, sounds like from posts here today it won't be dismissal so wondering what else???

[stokes11eg]

Thanks to all. So what are the possible outcomes, sounds like from posts here today it won't be dismissal so wondering what else???

If the police take any action, that too could alter the outcome of any decision!

[Pumpkin head]

In what way??

[postman nel]

Just a question but not sure if anyone can help. If a RM employee goes to someone's address making threats etc while in RM uniform and the police are called. What would happen to them as an employee?

I was always told if i was out on a sunday afternoon and i had a nose to nose with someone who I didn't like at RM and if it was reported back you could lose your job still...I don't know how true that is

[fishtank]

Someone in my DO got a telling off or a dicipline or something (I can't remember) for sitting in a beer garden after work with their uniform on. Not sure whether that's fair because they were off duty and on their way home.

2 They should not wear uniform entitlement off duty - except for travelling to and from work.

We realise you can't check every situation where employees could potentially be wearing their uniform off duty. However, you are expected to act where incidents come to your attention, for example, if the uniform is worn while the employee is working on another (external) job or engaged in political activity. Employees can, if appropriate, wear their uniform at officially recognised community activities, but they must still follow the Dress Standard (for example, not mixing the uniform with their own clothes).

It's in the Dress Standards thing.
Mind you so is this.....

5 Hair should be kept clean, neat and tidy and should not detract from the overall image. As a guide, colours that approximate to the natural hair colour range are acceptable but dyed colours such as bright purple or green are not. You should use your judgement, with the deciding factor being whether a hair colour or style detracts from the overall image

And this.....

Personal hygiene is also important and employees must meet reasonable standards.

And this...

Socks must be an appropriate colour that does not detract from the overall image.