alleged unauthorised absence from work

[be]

My manager is accussing me of unauthorised absence from work, he said he and another manager noticed I was missing from my work area 10 minutes before my break. When I returned from my break he questioned me about the time i went for my break, I told him I was there the time he was supposed to be looking for me, I even noticed him and that i absolutely did not go early for my break, he told me he would be looking into it. On my next shift he gave me 15 minutes notice of an interview, this was the first time an interview had been mentioned and he had even arranged for a union rep to be present. He questioned me again on the times of my break and when I actually went for mine and he said he would be interviewing my colleague ( who I know will verify that I did not leave early for my break) and the other manager to ascertain the facts, he then handed me a copy of the interview to sign.
My questions are, which I hope someone will be able to answer are, do I have to sign this copy of the interview form as I don't want it on my record and has the manager followed the correct procedure in that he questioned me one day and interviewed me the next, it all got very serious and formal very quickly, prior to this my time keeping has never been queried from any manager and I have worked for Royal mail for over 20 years

[postypie]

Fooking heck..the managers in our office have more breaks than Jimmy White.....i thought everyone was allowed a grace period and your 40 min meal break can be split into segments to suit yourself and work load?
The managers at this company are well and truly the pits no matter which part of the country you go to...none of them work get work outside RM based on what i have seen and heard about them...where do they get these idiots from?
Are manufactured?
Are they wind up toys sent out to annoy decent hard working posties?
I came to RM well over 20 years ago from the construction trade where managers mucked in and cared about staff and the work they did..RM managers all seem intent on winning brownie points by sacking,suspending,harassing staff here..they will be the ruin of this company..not the workers.

[fishtank]

It sounds like a fact finding interview.
It will not in itself be become part of your conduct record.
In asking you to sign it all they are asking you to do is confirm that the notes taken were accurate.
You can ask for amendments to be made and ultimately if you are not happy with it you can refuse to sign it.
If they believe there is a case to answer there will be a formal meeting which lays out the charge and possible sanctions.
You have the right to representation at all stages and the right to appeal the charge and sanctions.

[Judgee]

Why are they being so picky about your break times? Have you done something to piss them off?

If they are singling you out them fill out a B & H form as it sounds like they are trying to push you out for some reason.

In my office people take breaks whenever they feel the need, for cigarette, etc. The only times I can think of that the managers have put these under close scrutiny where when they thought someone was taking the piss, working really slow and cutting off far more than was considered reasonable. To be fair to the managers the only people they did this to were pretty much taking the mick, they couldn't of made it any more obvious if they placed a big sign over thier heads saying "piss taker" so they kinda asked for a kick up the backside. Nothing more ever came of it and the workers in question stopped making it quite so obvious that they were on a go-slow!

Don't get me wrong I'm totally against people being pressured into working well beyond what is deemed reasonable. These people spent half the morning outside smoking and the other half throwing in one letter every five minutes, so they kinda earned a little wake up call!

[Lincox]

The one thing I would say about Managers actions is the fact that HE has appointed a union rep to attend this meeting. This smells of management/rep cooperation. I had this at a meeting called by a manager, and refused to be represented by the union rep as I had previous suspicions, and opted for a work colleague. Surely it is not the call of a Manager, who is going to represent you. That is your decision.
In my opinion this practice should be stopped immediately by the union executive.

[pokos27]

Have they got nothing better to do, what a pile of crap, what has royal mail become.

[Pat Ostman]

They cannot choose who represents you, no. Refuse and pick someone else. It can by another rep or a collegue.

I thought you had to have reasonable notice to attend a FF interview (which can be extended) to sort this sort of stuff out.