Suspended

[ironmaiden]

I was very interested to read this post as I was suspended several months ago with absolutely no warning,my manager simply asked me if I could spare him a minute for a chat,I followed him to what I thought was an empty office only to find another senior manager sitting there,my line manager promptly disappeared and I was then told I was being suspended,I was told to gather my belongings and leave the premises immediately,You can imagine the trauma I experienced as there was no prior indication that anything was wrong.I almost collapsed with the shock and then had to drive 20 miles home in an extremely distressed state.
Should I have been offered the opportunity to be accompanied at this initial stage?

[dvbuk55]

I was very interested to read this post as I was suspended several months ago with absolutely no warning,my manager simply asked me if I could spare him a minute for a chat,I followed him to what I thought was an empty office only to find another senior manager sitting there,my line manager promptly disappeared and I was then told I was being suspended,I was told to gather my belongings and leave the premises immediately,You can imagine the trauma I experienced as there was no prior indication that anything was wrong.I almost collapsed with the shock and then had to drive 20 miles home in an extremely distressed state.
Should I have been offered the opportunity to be accompanied at this initial stage?

You must have been told why you were suspended and if you thought it was justified under the circumstances.

[dvbuk55]

I managed to go out as it just leaves us short indoors altho foolishly I do rush about before I go out to make sure my work is done,but now the managers are just acting like they cnt believe I would book ot and trying to make me out to be deceitful!just hope I keep my job,not even bothered if I go back as a postie as right now I'm just scared.

Have you booked overtime for yourself before? If so was it sanctioned before or after.

[gandhi]

I dnt book the ot myself it's done by another phg he sticks it on and it's just been common practice but now there saying I'm false booking that's my charge,but I have done the work and can account for it all.just scared I'm going to get sacked,but our office people just put there own on a 552 and it's not all authorised.

[dvbuk55]

I dnt book the ot myself it's done by another phg he sticks it on and it's just been common practice but now there saying I'm false booking that's my charge,but I have done the work and can account for it all.just scared I'm going to get sacked,but our office people just put there own on a 552 and it's not all authorised.

Right! I was undser the impression that you HAD booked it yourself - so if you didn't and it was the book room guy, then whoever was logged on to the computer at the time of the inputting must be responsible unless of course you are all using the same log in details ................and that is a definite breach of security.

[gandhi]

No the phg did it but is now claiming only put in off 552 which is a lie as it's not true.we only have his log in details and everyone uses them,just really scared now,rep says wnt get sacked what do you reckon?

[dvbuk55]

No the phg did it but is now claiming only put in off 552 which is a lie as it's not true.we only have his log in details and everyone uses them,just really scared now,rep says wnt get sacked what do you reckon?

And that is precisely why everyone must have their own log in details gandhi - anyone could have inputted the data with or without the 552 - you did the work and presumably worked the hours claimed for and that cannot be disputed IF you did work those hours. The case is very flimsy and doesn't seem to be too clear but I am certain you will be fine though the suspension seems to have gone on for a while for such a small matter unless they are stating you have claimed for more time than you actually did..................a very dangerous practice regardless of what has gone on before.

[chrisj]

gandi, I am sorry to say that your issue is not crystal clear:

[*] You did a full delivery OT (on top of your normal shift) and wrote in down on you OT book
[*] The regular PHG (not you) did the final input on the pay system
[*] You are being accused of over-booking??? How does your system work for you to over book without an audit or OK from manager?
[*] Why are you so worried if you actually did the OT?
[*] Have you ever done a full delivery OT as well as your delivery job before (you did say you are mostly a delivery postie not PHG)

The only issue for me here is that it seems that they really do not believe that you were able to do your job as a PHG as well as doing a full delivery OT: It is possible to do a full delivery OT after, lets say, 2.30pm but it is tough. And as a PHG, you cannot simply job and finish like regular postie - it is a time-restrained job. e.g 6-2pm or 5-2.30pm or whatever.

Our PHGs do a bit of delivery but it is as part of the PHG hours - they just go short on staff. And of they stick around beyond their timem they claim the OT.

When and if you get this sorted, tell them to stuff the PHG job. Stick to delivering letters!

[gandhi]

Thanks for that dvb,my manager is off this week so still waiting decision,some suspensions have lasted 4months at ours!I did the work and they know I did there just trying to claim I didn't and it's not helped the phg claiming only stuff on 552 goes on computer cos I know for a fact it dsnt cos I know posties who come in next morning and say book us an hour and others that just leave notes.just hope I'm ok,been off 3weeks now and it's very stressful.the daft thing bout ours is the vpay isn't even set up to block the other phgs inputting there own it only blocks the main inputter I mean surely the managers should have sorted that?!

[gandhi]

In reply to chris,I'm not worried because I did ot,it's just as a phg I did all my work before I went to do ot the issue in our office is alot of ot is ghosting and mgrs always turn a blind eye to it.so I did my work but went out still in time to do walk now they pay 5 for a walk and I booked 3 so they still saved.problem is there's a new sector mgr and there covering there backs now!just hope I keep my job!.

[clashcityrocker]

In reply to chris,I'm not worried because I did ot,it's just as a phg I did all my work before I went to do ot the issue in our office is alot of ot is ghosting and mgrs always turn a blind eye to it.so I did my work but went out still in time to do walk now they pay 5 for a walk and I booked 3 so they still saved.problem is there's a new sector mgr and there covering there backs now!just hope I keep my job!.

So are you saying you booked 3 hours overtime you didn't do?

[gandhi]

No because I did the work and that's how our office has always worked!I know it's not the norm everywhere but is in ours.like if someone finished at 14.30 and was given 2,30 for half a walk it wouldn't matter if they finished before 5 as long as work is done.someone finished the other day inside there time and still booked ot for a third of a walk extra they had done.

[dvbuk55]

No because I did the work and that's how our office has always worked!I know it's not the norm everywhere but is in ours.like if someone finished at 14.30 and was given 2,30 for half a walk it wouldn't matter if they finished before 5 as long as work is done.someone finished the other day inside there time and still booked ot for a third of a walk extra they had done.

I did say gandhi that you needed to have worked the hours you claimed REGARDLESS of what has gone on before - you are paid for the hours you work not the hours you think you deserve especially if they are not previously agreed. If they are looking to make an example of someone in order to emphasise that fact then you may have a problem.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Sorry but ghosting overtime went out with Pay and Modernisation deal from 2009 when they introduced "Work all Paid Hours". The only way you may get ghost overtime officially is to agree with management how much time they are willing to pay you. If you didn't get an agreement then you are buggered.

If they refuse to pay any overtime then you work to your finish time and advise them how much you can do. Or you work the real overtime and advise them how much extra time it will take you.

Your defence of "Customs and Practice" on the ghost overtime may work but I think you would need an Area Rep to help at the interview as it would need that level of experience to sell it.

If you do get an Area Rep involved then mention the PHG inputting problem. Surely as it affects pay then everyone should have their own passwords and log ins so that an correct and proper audit trail is in place. This again may help you, but again it needs area rep involvement.