Summer overtime disciplinary

[Downeagle]

Came in during the summer (July) and worked day off and banked the hours (worked 8hrs), I was later told by staff members that this was 8 hours straight o/t - do not bank it.
The following week worked day off, came in and was told someone would be going out with me, we finished up early and after speaking to 4 senior duty holders as to what I should book (we have no manager or phg in office) they said I should still book the full shift. As I live 13 miles away I have turned down o/t as it would not be cost effective for me to come in and this has been acknowledged by the postmaster.
10 weeks lapsed and then I was interviewed and charged with fraudulently claiming overtime (2.5hrs) and have now been reprimanded for 1yr. I am annoyed as I feel I did what I could to find out correct procedure, at the interview I was also told that I should only book what I do under the new agreement - I said I was owed from the previous week and could this not balance an honest mistake but alas no. If I didn't know procedure I could also have rung the postmaster or area manager neither of whom answer their calls.
Should I appeal?

[norbert]

Yes - though it won't do any good but it may help if you're pulled again for anything as you'll have a paper trail .

Sounds like brownie points for somebody

[dvbuk55]

Yes - though it won't do any good but it may help if you're pulled again for anything as you'll have a paper trail .

Sounds like brownie points for somebody

This highlights the dangers of listening to old stagers who still think that job and finish and book what you like is still the order of the day - a very dangerous practice in this climate. The agreement of 2007 is clear enough WORK THE HOURS PAID FOR, do that and you are bullet proof. It still goes on wherever you work, I've seen people booking overtime before the office has opened and long after the office has closed..................they are skating on very thin ice.

[Downeagle]

Thanks for responding guys, I know now my mistake but believe it could have been sorted without the bother of a disciplinary especially as I had made a mistake the week earlier in their favour. I'll whack in an appeal and see where it gets me, at least I'll feel better for getting my case across - again.

[shadow]

Thanks for responding guys, I know now my mistake but believe it could have been sorted without the bother of a disciplinary especially as I had made a mistake the week earlier in their favour. I'll whack in an appeal and see where it gets me, at least I'll feel better for getting my case across - again.

What I don't get is the managers assume we all know the rules but how are we supposed to know when we don't actualy get told. They need to communicate with us more. I don't know half of the things that were in the 2007 agreement.