Suspension

[si240882]

Hello

Ive been suspended from work for what i believe to be that test letters have failed. I have a fact finding imminent, but i am abit worried as to what is going to happen. I think i have scanned a box or boxes early, i havent been told yet, but if i have it was a genuine mistake. I am a reserve and do not do collections on rural deliveries very often, but as the duty in question is rural, my PDA 8 times out of 10 plays up so u have to ADHOC alot (and not doing it often i do not know of the times off by heart), i have barcode photocopies in the van for emergencies (road closures, floods etc..) which i didnt realise until this week is a no no, (silly me for taking the advice of another college and not checking with the manager). Im not making any excuses i was stupid and regret it now in hindsight, and wish i had checked with my manager at first without going off my own back. Just looking for some advice really as feeling very low, embarrassed and homelife has taken a turn for the worse since being suspended.

Thanks

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

Who gave you the barcode photo copies? There is no need what so ever for them. having that may constituency a serious offence on its own

Also as for the time to scan, you don't need to know them off by heart as the time is on the plate on the box itself.

[si240882]

Who gave you the barcode photo copies? There is no need what so ever for them. having that may constituency a serious offence on its own

Also as for the time to scan, you don't need to know them off by heart as the time is on the plate on the box itself.

Yes i did the barcodes for emergencies, it basically came about when my PDA failed and i had to ADHOC the boxes, and then near the end of my delivery the route came online and i had to return to the boxes to scan, bear in mind some of the boxes are 30 minutes apart. So i thought to avoid this happening again in the future the barcode copies would come in handy as i had already emptied the boxes, i just thought that was a good idea, but i regret to checking with manager first and not doing it myself.

Yes the time is on the plates, but a few boxes are different on the PDA to the plate? I always try and go off the PDA. Bear in mind i dont do collections often, and with the size of the deliveries i am always panicking to try and get it done.

When it is my fact finding meeting i will hold my hands up and apologise for doing it, i didnt realise it was against any rule to have the copies as i had emptied the boxes. If i have scanned early not sure until my interview, but it was a genuine mistake. I just have never been suspended before, and i feel very stressed at the moment with the possibilty of being sacked. My union rep said he was suprised i was suspended and not coached on the correct proceedures?

[rubberbond]

If you're suspended for test letters failing, why mention the photocopies of the barcodes? If I were you I wouldn't be saying anything about them, unless asked, it's down to you to come up with a reasonable explanation,for having them. However if no one asks don't say anything. Don't lie though.

[RoyalSlave69]

So you've been suspended for failing test letters but you are worried about your photocopied box barcodes. Sounds like you haven't been emptying the boxes and just scanning the barcodes. It's common sense to not be driving around with photocopied barcodes. Why do people keep putting themselves into these sackable situations by cutting corners. Just do the job properly.

[si240882]

So you've been suspended for failing test letters but you are worried about your photocopied box barcodes. Sounds like you haven't been emptying the boxes and just scanning the barcodes. It's common sense to not be driving around with photocopied barcodes. Why do people keep putting themselves into these sackable situations by cutting corners. Just do the job properly.

Thanks "Rubberbond", i always believe that honesty is the best policy.

Hi "RoyalSlave69", I have been emptying the boxes, hand on heart, i am not leaving them and just scanning barcodes as you suggest. I agree it has put me in a situation where it seems that way, but my reasoning for having them i thought is reasonable (As explained above). I just hope me being honest will prove that.

[Lightweight andy]

I was told there isn't a time for the box to be emptied just as long is isn't scanned before 9:00am and not after 14:00pm

[olilew]

We're told it is just any time after 9am.

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

We're told it is just any time after 9am.

some boxes still have times after 9am usually ones that are busy, but the rub list will detail the exact time

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

Who gave you the barcode photo copies? There is no need what so ever for them. having that may constituency a serious offence on its own

Also as for the time to scan, you don't need to know them off by heart as the time is on the plate on the box itself.

Yes i did the barcodes for emergencies, it basically came about when my PDA failed and i had to ADHOC the boxes, and then near the end of my delivery the route came online and i had to return to the boxes to scan, bear in mind some of the boxes are 30 minutes apart. So i thought to avoid this happening again in the future the barcode copies would come in handy as i had already emptied the boxes, i just thought that was a good idea, but i regret to checking with manager first and not doing it myself.

Yes the time is on the plates, but a few boxes are different on the PDA to the plate? I always try and go off the PDA. Bear in mind i dont do collections often, and with the size of the deliveries i am always panicking to try and get it done.

When it is my fact finding meeting i will hold my hands up and apologise for doing it, i didnt realise it was against any rule to have the copies as i had emptied the boxes. If i have scanned early not sure until my interview, but it was a genuine mistake. I just have never been suspended before, and i feel very stressed at the moment with the possibilty of being sacked. My union rep said he was suprised i was suspended and not coached on the correct proceedures?

Again there is no emergency that requires anyone to have a photocopy of the barcode, where did you get the photocopy anyway it shouldn't actually exist to make a copy. As for having to adhoc then go back there is no need as the system registers the adhoc scan, no need to rescan that barcode.

The times are always earlier on the plate so it doesn't matter if they don't match the PDA time as long as it's scanned after the time on the plate

[labbloke]

Sorry to be bearer of bad news, but you have to start facing up to the fact that you will probably be sacked. The test. Letters are put in to check what time you are emptying the boxes and are evidence alone, plus you will find that a manager or IB has been actually waiting at one box to verify that you didn't empty it. You ask how would they know, well they know by a nasty computer programme that pings from your PDA where you are at any time of your round. Please don't mention you have copies of barcodes unless asked as this is evidence of wilful delay on its own, unless they already know. Get your area rep onto it immediately and hope that they haven't got any of the aforementioned evidence. Best of luck whichever way it goes.

[si240882]

Who gave you the barcode photo copies? There is no need what so ever for them. having that may constituency a serious offence on its own
Again there is no emergency that requires anyone to have a photocopy of the barcode, where did you get the photocopy anyway it shouldn't actually exist to make a copy. As for having to adhoc then go back there is no need as the system registers the adhoc scan, no need to rescan that barcode.

The times are always earlier on the plate so it doesn't matter if they don't match the PDA time as long as it's scanned after the time on the plate

zx135, thanks for clearing that up. I didnt actually realise if you scan it once thats all it takes, i thought the PDA route had to be cleared. Serves me right for not asking, and just assuming, ive never actually been trained on collecting. A genuine idea to improve what i was doing has totally backfired on me. Like i said im not sure if i have scanned box or boxes early, in my mind i dont think i have, but i have not had a meeting yet, so until then its abit unknown.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Make sure you have a rep and mention lack of training. It will be harder, though not impossible, for them to come to a reasonable decision of Willful rather than unexcused.

[Deadly]

Don't you get a warning on the PDA that has to be acknowledged if you try to scan a postbox barcode early?

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

Don't you get a warning on the PDA that has to be acknowledged if you try to scan a postbox barcode early?

not if your using the adhoc function like the op was, you only get a warning if the pda has the route downloaded onto it and working from that