Gross misconduct and deduction of pay

[chelleomum]

After some advice please:

My first issue which is more pressing:

This morning after I completed my round my DOM asked me for a quick word and told me he had observed my emptying the box on my round early and that I had then scanned at 9:13. He had waited near the box until approx. 9:15 and observed that I did not come back to scan the box so how could I have scanned it?
I explained that I often check it early and continue with my round and then check it again on my way out of the estate. He the told me he had placed a note inside so did I have it on me and I admitted that on this occasion I had forgotten to go back. I also told him that one of my colleagues had suggested to take a picture of the barcode to scan after the time on the box so that it did not seem like I was getting to the box late by only doing it once my round was complete.

He then suspended me on the spot and has invited me in for a meeting on Monday. I am assuming this will be for gross misconduct under wilful delay of the mail...any advice?

My second issue is that my DO were all forced onto 29 hour rounds about 6 months ago and although I kept my round I was told I was told I was not allowed to remain on a 25hr a week contract. I repeatedly told my DOM that my round would not take me 29 hours and I didn't intend to make it last 29 hours, to which he responded that didn't matter. This was months ago now and I have continued to complete my round in 5 hours/day logging my start and end times correctly but have been paid 29 hours since the enforced change. Today however I received my pay slip and it has gone back down to 25 hours with a deduction of £49 of basic pay. Does this mean now that they are now taking back the additional 4 hours/week RM told me I had to have despite me saying I did not need it? No one has talked to me about this change nor have I received any communication,.

[pieoftheday]

Why on earth would you check the postbox early taking a pic of the barcode is a massive no no! It indicates to a manager that you arnt emptying it at all..

[iHateD2Ds]

Don’t admit anything and don’t attend the meeting without a Union official.
Boxes must be scanned correctly and are GPS location stamped to prevent exactly what you’ve done.
Your previous scans have flagged up and caused surveillance.

Good luck with your interview

[datasaint]

What time was the box supposed to be emptied?

I don't know why people think they can out smart the system by scanning a photo of the barcode. The question is who told you to do this, have you been trained correctly?

[aiden01]

Taking a picture of barcode an scanning it after time is a sackable offence.

[theotherone]

We had a few people who managers knew people who had barcodes on phone.Had a gather around and told anyone who has one delete it now or next one is gone.

I hope you just get a serious warning,good luck.

[daveyeff]

gross misconduct is a sackable offence, if as you say you think he is going for this charge, then you will need all the help you can get. because rest assured if he is going for this, then he has every intention of getting you out the door. by the sound of it, he's been waiting for his chance by watching the box and putting a 'tester' in. and now he's got his golden opportunity. good luck at the interview and make sure you have a good rep in with you.

[ted_e_bear]

Good luck but having admitted that you didn't go back and as the post box barcode that you scan is on the inside of the box then sorry but it's not looking promising for you.

[TopperGas]

What time are you supposed to empty the box, 9:15? Also what formal training have you ever received on emptying boxes?

[steve1873]

What a strange, strange post.

Best of luck, but it's almost guaranteed you will be dismissed based upon the admission of having a photo of the barcode.

[Jpro747]

We had someone who took photos of the box barcodes on their phone to scan them later. They will know because there is a gps coordinates log everytime you scan something with the pda. He was lucky to keep his job but he was honest about it and held his hands up. Best get your rep involved, don’t try to lie your way out of it and good luck.

[Nickvilla20]

At my old office one was sacked and one resigned for the same thing. He’s seems to be gunning for you and it looks like he now has the ammunition.

[aiden01]

At my old office one was sacked and one resigned for the same thing. He’s seems to be gunning for you and it looks like he now has the ammunition.

Does it really matter they were gunning for this person it is a sackable offence end of.

[ebbzie]

At my old office one was sacked and one resigned for the same thing. He’s seems to be gunning for you and it looks like he now has the ammunition.

Does it really matter they were gunning for this person it is a sackable offence end of.

so is wilful delay but the doms do it daily

[barcajr]

Not looking good, what on earth was you thinking of, admitting to having a picture of the barcode on your phone, which suggests you empty the box early or even not at all. Someone in my office was found to be emptying the box on his round just once a week, he resigned before he was sacked