Gross Misconduct

[frankieboy]

Asking for a friend who stupidly signed for a special themselves and posted it. The customer has now complained that they haven't received it. Would this be seen as gross misconduct and a sackable offence?

[LouBarlow]

Yes.

[qwerty2]

Was it a proper special or one of those foreign ones??
If it’s a foreign one then can argue that you can’t tell the difference

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Asking for a friend who stupidly signed for a special themselves and posted it. The customer has now complained that they haven't received it. Would this be seen as gross misconduct and a sackable offence?

It is a sackable offence but if they have a clean record, get representation, and are completely honest, they may survive with a suspended 2 year dismissal.

[ted_e_bear]

As per tbt's post it's not a definite sacking foregone conclusion, we've had a couple over the years, one did get sacked they told lie after lie, the other didn't he came clean about agreeing with the customer that he'd sign for stuff, unfortunately he'd posted it at the wrong address which is the reason for the dor complaint, anyway he retrieved it and ultimately kept his job.

[1617mel]

We always had an agreement ,the international specials some after scanning don't even need a signature, so treated like a tracked, but RM specials never deviated from the fact that they never get passed on unless a signature was had, we all know you could be carrying a £1000 worth of holiday money etc.
On another note this is my final day with RM, IDS. so I'm retiring ,66 next birthday .enjoyed the craic on these forums, some of you guys would make stand up! Thanks to the administrator, true blue , Robert T for all his fantastic pension advice ,and Woodie Guthrie who in my opinion had very fair and unbiased comments .,and all unmentioned people for the great knowledge . Hope in the future the workforce, get some peace .

[Post69]

Fingers crossed and don’t lie be honest but unfortunately the way this management structure is at the moment if you’re a long service postie they will see it as a trophy if they dismiss you!
But what is incredibly sad is our wonderful public we have to work with at the moment finds it acceptable to lie about not receiving an item with the expectation that yes that worker did mess up and could get the sack but does the crime fit the punishment for what? A book of stamps for compensation is That worker future that meaningless……obviously they think it is!!

[MontyTodd]

Yes, its a Sackable offense.

If you're on an older (better paid) contract, then they will probably sack your Ass.

It's pants down time my friend.

[Kenfandango]

I did it totally accidentally once, scanned it and chucked it in the letterbox as though it were photo only, it fell through as I took the picture. I just confessed as soon as I could speak to a manager and nothing came of it. It all depends on the individual managers, DO, and postie- a surprising amount of variables for everything in Royal Mail!

[Grinder64]

As per tbt's post it's not a definite sacking foregone conclusion, we've had a couple over the years, one did get sacked they told lie after lie

Sacked? I'm surprised; being a barefaced liar normally guarantees a safe management career path within this shitshow of a company.

[A2B]

I think people are missing the part where the customer is for whatever reason denying recieving the SD, will be very lucky to get off with a warning in my opinion.

[DaveF14]

Th special will be tracked to that delivery point, with the GPS tracking. The postman can be using delivery without signature, the photo could be obscured without noticing. If hes got a clean record and good at the job, nothing to worry about. Especially if its just one item. Royal Mail should be sacking the snowflakes who are off sick most weeks instead of the guy that's misplaced one special.

[sorefeet17]

It's pretty hard to do it by accident, we all make mistakes but I guess like quite a few guys in my office they sign for anything themselves thinking that there will never be any problems.
We don't know who is on the other side of the door, it could be a dodgy customer, it could be a dodgy boyfriend etc who decided to pocket it without the recipients knowledge.
Terrible to lose your job over it, but its always a risk if you don't take specials seriously.

[Barnacle]

It's pretty hard to do it by accident, we all make mistakes but I guess like quite a few guys in my office they sign for anything themselves thinking that there will never be any problems.
We don't know who is on the other side of the door, it could be a dodgy customer, it could be a dodgy boyfriend etc who decided to pocket it without the recipients knowledge.
Terrible to lose your job over it, but its always a risk if you don't take specials seriously.

This is true. The problems with it being a Special are numerous and one such problem could be that the contents are something the recipient didn’t want to receive and so by signing for it you’ve given them the perfect denial.

I don’t think that customers who fake claim DOR realise that they are accusing you of theft.

[sindba]

Hopefully not, but it's such a daft thing to do.

I'm on first name terms with a lot of customers, and will do them favours (including signing for stuff), but even I'd never do it with a special.

Always get valid photo proof with a special ( open door or in hand).