Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be terrified that I am going to get sacked?

23 replies

MummikinsOopNorth · 04/08/2010 18:37

One day last week I was responsible, along with another member of staff, to lock up the building, which is large, loads of corridors, different rooms etc.

I sent a tannoy out to ask if there was anyone remaining in the building and no one replied, so off we went. The next day was my day off and start of a short period of annual leave, and I am due back tomorrow. The day after I locked up, I recieved an email from my friend and colleague who said that a member of staff (who was only in her 2nd week at the company) was locked in the building and the alarm company was notified as the alarm was triggered, who then telephoned a senior member of staff to travel 20 miles back to work and let her out.

The other member of staff on duty with me was a temp from an agency who has now left, and i'm terrified i'm going to get the sack because of this.

OP posts:
thighsmadeofcheddar · 04/08/2010 18:40

You put an announcement out over the tannoy. Not sure there was much else you could do? Is there a different procedure you should of followed?

3Trees · 04/08/2010 18:41

Do you not have a fire warden who is responsible for ensuring that everyone has left the building? (by physically checking) - if it's very large then it could be a few people one per section. that way, only when each of them had signed that their section is empty can the door be locked.

IF there is any comeback about this, you can present this as a possible solution, thus proving that you have thought about it, and come up with a way of preventing it happening again. Also thus taking the wind out of their sails a bit.

usualsuspect · 04/08/2010 18:44

If you followed the correct procedure I don't see how its your fault really

Original poster
MummikinsOopNorth · 04/08/2010 18:45

Well, thing is, the tannoy can't be heard in this girls particular office block as they had had a conference before in their office and turned the tannoys off, so I did mention I'd pop up and check if anyone was still in the office but my agency colleague said that girl should be out now, and girl was also aware what time we close the building at and in the rush to get home after a hard, tiring day I completely forgot.

OP posts:
Morloth · 04/08/2010 18:47

Still doesn't sound like a sacking offence. You made a mistake but these things happen, you can probably look forward to a telling off though because you should have checked that office since you knew they couldn't here the tannoy.

LucyLouLou · 04/08/2010 18:48

I was going to ask what thighsmadeofcheddar asked....so was there something you should've done that you didn't do? Do you know what's gone on in your absense with this? I'm wondering if the locked in person knew procedure themselves (though you'd hope they wouldn't need instruction to answer a basic question, even if it was over a tannoy....)?

I don't think you should be in trouble for this, but in good conscience I should say that this is dependant on how the company normally deals with issues such as this. Are they normally quite reactive? Or are they more caring and trusting in their employees?

differentID · 04/08/2010 18:48

so, you're saying that some other people in your company turned the massaging system off in part of the building and didn't switch it back on?

no problems. It's the idiot who forgot to turn it back on who should face any disciplinary measures.

PrivetDancer · 04/08/2010 18:49

Well it doesn't sound sackable to me, but you might, understandably, be told off as it does sound like it was your fault!

LucyLouLou · 04/08/2010 18:49

Right, so you should've checked the office and you didn't....I'm with Morloth on this, I think you're going to get a slapped wrist (which is appropriate really), but I don't think this is anywhere near a sacking offence.

SweetnessAndShite · 04/08/2010 18:51

sorry, I had to laugh at massaging system. Now that's the kind of employere i'd like to work for!

compo · 04/08/2010 18:51

Unless you've had any previous I think you'd get a warning before an immediate sacking

SweetnessAndShite · 04/08/2010 18:52

... and yeah, I think a telling off should be sufficient - at worst disciplinary - but sacking is a bit far.

SweetnessAndShite · 04/08/2010 18:53

How much service do you have with them?

SpanishHarlot · 04/08/2010 18:53

You shouldn't get sacked it would not be reason for dismissal. You may be asked to take a warning but if they had not set out a procedure for closing up which you were to adhere to then even this would be unreasonable.

See your staff liason person

differentID · 04/08/2010 18:55

at least massaging system is better than the last bloody typo I made.

clarabella23 · 04/08/2010 18:59

I've done this before it was a disciplinary for me. Not as severe as a first warning, just simply telling me to be more careful.

BranchingOut · 04/08/2010 19:40

It doesn't sound as if it was wholly your fault (other team choosing to turn off tannoys is surely a H&S risk in itself) but I would have imagined that locking up the building would involve a physical walk around, to make sure that windows were shut, nothing was wrong etc.

SweetnessAndShite · 04/08/2010 19:53

I just love the idea of a machine that massages you at work... bliss! Made me chuckle anyway so thanks differentID !

stoatie · 04/08/2010 19:55

My daughter works for a well known store (small branch) she was busy working lost track of time. She moved and set off alarms as she was locked in. she ran to door to see her colleagues turning round in horror as they realised. She was quickly let out (and key holder had to stay as alarm automatically linked to police call out system). As far as I'm aware the only comeback on member of staff was that he had to grovel to my daughter who found it hilarious - she would have been ok for a bed - her main concern was she would miss Big Brother!

rockinhippy · 04/08/2010 20:20

I've not time to ready all the replies, but the first few don't cover legal procedure on sacking, so hopefully I'm not re[eating anyone

No you won't get the sack......very few things are classed as instant dismissal, theiving....punching a boss, customer or colleague at work.....sh@gging a driver in the warehouse in front of a customer (had to sack someone once for that (shock)

What has happened is definitely not a sackable ofence, at very worst you'd get a verbal warning....but then you've more verbal, & then written warnings to go before a company can legally dismiss you........so your job is safe

to be honest, from what you write, you sound mortified, & I think that will come across when you speak to your employers........I'd recommend going to see your boss before you're called & apologise...express how upset you are, & depending on the reaction.....offer solutions as mentioned above...that way it looks good, even if whilst you have benn off someone has been sticking the knife in...which sadly can happen in bigger companies

good luck, & relax, don't worry, the worst they can do is a slap on the wrist

BigBadMummy · 04/08/2010 20:34

so "somebody" else turned off the tannoy system and because somebody got locked in, this is your fault?

I don't think so.

PrivetDancer · 05/08/2010 21:14

What happened?

abirdinthehand · 05/08/2010 21:19

Embarressing, yes, sackable, no. Don't worry your job is safe. Unless you're already on a final warning or something?

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread