abandonment of duty?

[ekins62]

I was given a letter today because on saturday I rushed and finished my duty early because i had a wedding to attend. On returne to the office i was 1 1/2 hours ahead of my finish time and was asked by a manager to cover some lapsing. I explained the situation to wich he shruged and said not my problem. I said he could dock my pay for the time but I realy have to go.
I have an interveiw thursday to decide what further action is to be taken. How do I stand on this, some have said its a dissmisable offence?

[billysboots1]

I was given a letter today because on saturday I rushed and finished my duty early because i had a wedding to attend. On returne to the office i was 1 1/2 hours ahead of my finish time and was asked by a manager to cover some lapsing. I explained the situation to wich he shruged and said not my problem. I said he could dock my pay for the time but I realy have to go.
I have an interveiw thursday to decide what further action is to be taken. How do I stand on this, some have said its a dissmisable offence?

yes you can be sacked as you have to work your paid hours obviously the manager has discretion good luck

[pod25]

Correct me if I am wrong, but this IS Royal Mail with 1 rule same rule ? (I know, you can all stop laughing now)
I say the above because in our office (a DO and NOT a SPDO) we still work to the job and finish. So on that basis, they can't possibly dismiss someone for finishing early, when job and knock still exists !!!!!

[spiderj]

Unfortunately we have to work to the hours on our contract
The cheek of it

[hans solo]

did everyone return to office and work to time
if not clear case of discrimination
they cannot force one person to work to time and let others swan off home
your managers a w****r

[pod25]

did everyone return to office and work to time
if not clear case of discrimination
they cannot force one person to work to time and let others swan off home
your managers a w****r

A few years ago when lapsing was at its worst for us, our supervisor/acting manager used to always pick on the rural drivers. If we returned back early he would get us to take out any lapsing that was left. My first response was to always go and check the signing in sheet and look for all the full timers, if any had returned and signed out early, I ALWAYS refused to take out the extra lapsing on the basis that he had let other full timers go home early.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Correct me if I am wrong, but this IS Royal Mail with 1 rule same rule ? (I know, you can all stop laughing now)
I say the above because in our office (a DO and NOT a SPDO) we still work to the job and finish. So on that basis, they can't possibly dismiss someone for finishing early, when job and knock still exists !!!!!

Even in a Job and knock office, if a manager issues a reasonable instruction, such as to do a bit of lapsing, and you are still in your contracted hours you cannot refuse their instructions without good reason.

Hopefully, the OP didn't just try and wing it, but asked another manager for permission to finish early but still try to get the duty done. If not dismissal is a possibility, as are any other disciplinary sanction that falls within the range allowed by the particular grade of the manager hearing the case. Suspended dismissal, 2 year warning are all possible outcomes.

[ekins62]

did everyone return to office and work to time
if not clear case of discrimination
they cannot force one person to work to time and let others swan off home
your managers a w****r

No i was not the first back. I,m a rural driver and we are asked to do lapsing all the time, which i dont do as I don't know exactly when I will be back.

[Stella102]

you should have got it covered you can't rush round and leave your own lapsing. However if it was someone elses lapsing this may be a different story

[clashcityrocker]

did everyone return to office and work to time
if not clear case of discrimination
they cannot force one person to work to time and let others swan off home
your managers a w****r

Somebody who finished early but swanned off home may have worked over during the week and instead of claiming the overtime asked to invoke the flexibility ruling and been allowed home early.
Or somebody may have explained beforehand that they had a function to attend and asked if it would be acceptable to finish early. (That wouldn't have been too difficult would it)

Using words like "discrimination" (it isn't discrimination) and w****r without knowing the full facts isn't really very grown up or very helpful.

[wannabeek]

did everyone return to office and work to time
if not clear case of discrimination
they cannot force one person to work to time and let others swan off home
your managers a w****r

No i was not the first back. I,m a rural driver and we are asked to do lapsing all the time, which i dont do as I don't know exactly when I will be back.

I think that's a pretty poor excuse if that's the one you used. You seriously didn't know that you'd have time to do your lapsing yet you got back with 90 mins to spare? What could have happened to you while out to have taken that long to deal with? I've seriously assisted in the birthing of a calf in less than that time, tho not in duty time tbh.

Unless I've misunderstood you, you didn't take out your lapsing, got back with time to do it, yet refused to? Seriously, what did you think would happen if not this?

[spiderj]

did everyone return to office and work to time
if not clear case of discrimination
they cannot force one person to work to time and let others swan off home
your managers a w****r

Somebody who finished early but swanned off home may have worked over during the week and instead of claiming the overtime asked to invoke the flexibility ruling and been allowed home early.
Or somebody may have explained beforehand that they had a function to attend and asked if it would be acceptable to finish early. (That wouldn't have been too difficult would it)

Using words like "discrimination" (it isn't discrimination) and w****r without knowing the full facts isn't really very grown up or very helpful.

Try working with him lol

[spiderj]

On a serious note though
See your rep if you have one
And be clear and consitent in your reasoning .

Saying stuff like "everyone else gets away early" etc probably should be mentioned but don't overdo it.

Good luck

[chrisj]

grovel!

the easiest solution will have been to pay someone to do the lapse for you instead of saying - you can dock my wages...

To be honest, you probably could have done the lapsed if you are taken it out and still make a load of time... Maximum lapse probably about 20 minutes and if you sneak off without the packets and signed fors or something, you could have made your wedding and the rest.

Like I said, Grovel!

[toonslayer7]

grovel!

the easiest solution will have been to pay someone to do the lapse for you instead of saying - you can dock my wages...

Good idea, then get done for fraudulent payments...