unfair dismissal

[harry1]

taking royal Mail to tribunal for unfair dismissal -accused of delaying mail.
the mail in question was undelivered from that day which was a saturday
could not pouch of because post offices closed at 12.30 finished my duty 13.10 etc
couple of items packets too big for red box.
so took them home to return monday
this is something my managers have agreed and other opg do the same
we even have a runner exclusively for these items outside the locker!
but IB found out /stopped me
and surprise surprise the managers deny this ever happens at our office
result- accused of delaying mail -suspended then dismissed
none of the other opg were asked about this practice by the interviewing manager
( who incidently told 3 outright lies which can be proved at tribunal by a couple of colleagues)
but 4 managers were and told exactly the same line - it never happens!
got on great with these managers before this.
anybody got any experience of these tribunals they can share ? thanks

[bedfordrl]

Lying managers ,surely not.

[thevardinator]

Take them for everything you've got.

[clashcityrocker]

How is it delaying mail (willful delay?) exactly?

[FLUFFY]

So basically you`re getting the sack because the mail was delayed at your house rather than delayed at the DO ??? Fecking company drive me nuts

[pickaname]

You took mail home?

Sorry pal...thats a big no no.

You should have taken it back to the DO or cut off before you went out.

Pain in the arse, but better than the sack.

[banddy]

You took mail home?

Sorry pal...thats a big no no.

You should have taken it back to the DO or cut off before you went out.

Pain in the arse, but better than the sack.

spot on...a big no no!

funny how these guys don't think anything of taking mail home...until someone else questions the practice...then it's evrybody else does it...he told me...she told me...

if the managers told them to jump in the river, would they do it?

[krussel]

taking royal Mail to tribunal for unfair dismissal -accused of delaying mail.
the mail in question was undelivered from that day which was a saturday
could not pouch of because post offices closed at 12.30 finished my duty 13.10 etc
couple of items packets too big for red box.
so took them home to return monday
this is something my managers have agreed and other opg do the same
we even have a runner exclusively for these items outside the locker!
but IB found out /stopped me
and surprise surprise the managers deny this ever happens at our office
result- accused of delaying mail -suspended then dismissed
none of the other opg were asked about this practice by the interviewing manager
( who incidently told 3 outright lies which can be proved at tribunal by a couple of colleagues)
but 4 managers were and told exactly the same line - it never happens!
got on great with these managers before this.
anybody got any experience of these tribunals they can share ? thanks

I still find it hard to believe that the practice of taking mail home is operated at some delivery offices. Iam sorry you have fallen fail of this and now no one is going to own up and save your neck.

Lets get this clear DO NOT TAKE ANY MAIL HOME OR LEAVE IT IN YOUR CAR as it will be seen as theft, end off.

Letters can always be banded and endorsed "Office closed, time date" and put in a post-box.

If your in this situation when you get back and the office is closed but you have access to the yard/bank try all the vans to see if any are open whereupon you can leave the mail, we have a store cupboard in our yard with oil etc which is always open.
In the worse case when the gates are locked then put the mail in a pouch and toss it over the gate anything but take the mail home.

I really hope that they believe you and give you another chance.

All the best

Oh welcome to the forum buddy

[Lincox]

Do Royal Mail not have to give verbal and written warnings before they can sack you. I appreciate that in the event of serious misconduct an instant dismissal can be given, but come on, the guy hasn,t hit someone or stolen mail.

[stokes11eg]

If your workmates are prepared to standup at tribunal and say this pratice was sanctioned by Managers, then go for it. but on no account should any mail be taken home. When issues like this crop up, do not be scared to bring up the subject at WTL meetings if you have them, ask outright what a person does with mail that cannot be pouched off in the conventional way--and what to do if to return to the office and no one is there to take the mail.Good luck at your Tribunal.

[korky]

new to me this, ive taken large packets and left in car til monday! and we have a runner for yesterdays 739'd packets too,
but if delivery office and the post office are both closed, whats he supposed to do with them?
be handy to screw the managers up their early finish when the late saturdays come in too.

[clashcityrocker]

Not only will Harry be able to get colleagues to testify that this goes on in his DO, I suspect he could get thousands of posties to testify that this goes on up and down the land.
I asked the same question about what happens to Special Deliveries if both Post Office and Delivery Office are shut. (When I had my induction I was told it had to be taken to a police station!). Our DOM says he would sanction it being taken home for the weekend.
This kind of thing normally only happens to inexperienced part-timers. I doubt anyone has been given proper advice prior to it happening.
It might be a good idea for everyone to ask their DOM or Workplace Coach what the correct procedure is and get it put down in writing.
The only solution is for the DOM to stay at the unit until every OPG is safely back at the office.
And whem Saturday becomes a normal day and possibly a 3pm finish we may all need an answer to this situation, or we might all end up being sacked for the offence.
And for the record, it happened to me as well when I first started. I got back to find everything shut up and I still had a Special Delivery in my bag. I took it home and got bollocked by a PHG on Monday morning but they never properly explained what I should have done.

It isn't wilful delay. It is piss-poor planning by management. Again.

[steven100]

Yep i think you should speak to fellow workers who know this was being allowed, you shouldn't take any mail home what so ever, if you think your not going to get rid of any packets before the time, you really should have spoken to your manager and got a driver to take them along with any registers you may have trouble to get rid off.

[jaylime]

I worked with a bloke once who brought some mail in on a monday stuffed down the front of his pants.As we got in the lift a female manager got in and pressed the button upto the DO.Then a letter landed on the lift floor that fell out of his kecks,as he bent over to pick it up shitloads spilled all over the lift floor.The manager just said I think you better pick them up k****.Nothing ever came of it the lucky sod,mind you this was about 15 years ago.

[krussel]

I worked with a bloke once who brought some mail in on a monday stuffed down the front of his pants.As we got in the lift a female manager got in and pressed the button upto the DO.Then a letter landed on the lift floor that fell out of his kecks,as he bent over to pick it up shitloads spilled all over the lift floor.The manager just said I think you better pick them up k****.Nothing ever came of it the lucky sod,mind you this was about 15 years ago.

That made me smile

Its true that we all used to sweat the odd letter (mostly mailsort) from the daymail But to take mail home over the weekend is crazy as how do you explain that you did not intend to steal it. and will they listen when you do