Posting something from work

I was working for a large American company when I had my baby. I went on a course when my baby was less than a year old, to a location where I had to stay for 3 nights. All food was provided and as much alcohol as you could drink as well as as many newspapers as you wanted delivered to your room. I was quite tired working F/T with a young baby, I drank no alcohol and I ordered no newspapers. Many delegates really hammered both these things.The hotel was in the middle of nowhere. I had forgotten my toothbrush and asked the hotel for one. They put it on my bill, it was barely anything. I paid the bill with my Corporate Card & thought no more of it. When my statement arrived & I sent it off for approval my Card was cancelled for abuse.

"personally I'd go to.the meeting, apologise but point out you were planning to deliver it in person but had to rearrange due to having to work.. You may get a verbal warning. I would accept it but say that you won't be able to be so flexible in future"

Seriously? I'd be on the first bus out of there with no notice given waving two fingers at the OM!

But then at this stage in my career I'm worth more to the people I work for than £2.80 😉

I used to do all the company franking and used to post loads of things 😂 perk of the job. Only bloody one.

Unless you had every intention of paying it back, it really won't sound good if you actually say you had no intention of theft.

A sincere apology is the route to go down

I spent time as a union rep and we had exactly the same issue....however, it materialised the guy had sent over 200 letters for his wife who.was running her own business!!! So I can understand why they are invrstigating.

personally I'd go to.the meeting, apologise but point out you were planning to deliver it in person but had to rearrange due to having to work.. You may get a verbal warning. I would accept it but say that you won't be able to be so flexible in future

But if everyone did it, it would cost the company loads. You should have just used an inpost locker or something. There’s plenty of options these days.

If she often travels for work they may well have agreed to her posting her passport at work

Yeah, there's nothing quite like being the arsehole when you're the one who's done something wrong... Don't do this OP.__

Apologise, offer to refund

and look for a new job while claiming for every extra minute, any expense incurred for work. That's what I'd do. I can't work in petty offices - because it's give and take.

They need a line in the sand
post is expensive if everyone did it it could soon add up to a few thousand a year

So fucking petty.

I’d be fucking livid if our office manager behaved like this and I’d make it clear it’s unacceptable to throw their weight around in this way. (office manager reports in to me).

Would I want staff posting all their Christmas cards from work? No.

Does a one off item of less than £3 even register? Also no.

You'll be fine. The office manager is an arsehole escalating this.

In your meeting, I would have the exact amount, in change, and hand it to office manager. If they want to be petty ..

Or 28 cheques for 10p each 😁

In all seriousness though, does the office manager actually have the power to summon you to a meeting? She’s not your boss - in fact she sounds like a puffed-up administrator. I’d be tempted to decline the meeting request and tell her to complain to your boss if she thinks there’s an issue.

I would definitely advise your manager that you'll be claiming for the dog sitter and the lost kick boxing class on expenses, plus if you repay the cost of postage - claim that too. I've done that under similar circumstances!

I would say that you were going to deduct the amount from your expense claim for missed class and dog sitting costs that you incurred due to covering at such short notice.

I know in your head you think it’s petty (I guess it is a bit…) but they are 2 seperate issues. If you’ve lost out on quite a bit of money to attend in your bosses place you need to make that clear.

Maybe unpopular opinion but if I had to put my pet into a sitter or pay for childcare or have plans booked and paid I would ask my boss to cover costs if I was to cover him at work

OMG this. The absolute brass neck of some people. What an absolute fucking jobsworth.

Pants!! Too late to edit!

Theft is probably correct rather than fraud as ppl say

I would of explained to my boss that I can cover her time in France but I have no one to look after the dog at short notice so I would have to pay for a dog sitter and that I had paid for plans on the Thursday. I would see if they could help cover costs seeing as you are helping cover your boss who messed up on dates.

You should of asked before using the franking machine.

What a jobsworth. A meeting over £2.80? This is someone trying to justify their existence.

I'd have asked for permission first explaining how their last minute change of plan had made things inconvenient for you. Using the franking machine, taking stationery and using the photocopier for personal documents are all forms of theft however minor so you have to be careful.

Frankly, on the circumstances I would be icily clear with the office manager that, given that I’d completely rearranged my week to make a work trip because of someone else’s date error, a rearrangement thst involved a huge amount of rearranging, cutting into my own weekend, and missing being able to hand over the parcel in person, I’d expect a more understanding attitude to my ‘fraud’, and don’t appreciate being hauled to a meeting about it. And to take it up with the boss when she returns.

Don't worry too much. You might end up with a verbal warning. I doubt that they will sack you. If they wanted you out, this would be sufficient, as you've an otherwise good work record, it should be a warning.
Don't minimise the issue when speaking to your boss or bring up the passport as the passport relates to work