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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think they've blown this way out of proportion (work related)

299 replies

Jessiepops · 13/01/2015 21:06

I work for a hotel as a housekeeper.
As well as the standard rooms there is an option is to pay an extra fee on top of the room rate for an upgraded room, where they get a few extras like bathrobes, slippers,a range of complimentary drinks and what not.
Today whilst cleaning a room, I went to throw what I thought was an empty soft drink can away and noticed the can was un-opened, since whoever had paid for it didn't want it I opened it, had a drink and put it on my trolley.
A while later one of the managers came up to check my sheet, and asked where the can had come from, I told her it was what a guest had left in their room and she started going on about gross misconduct! And how it would affect her budget, for 1. I offered to pay for it but she refused, It had already been paid for in the room rate so if any thing they were making a profit on it,
And 2. It was a can of pop! I don't see it being any different to when the other ladies make themselves a cup of tea in their rooms using tea, milk etc that's been left there.
Any how that was this morning, so I went down for lunch and everything was fine.
Started back to work and had a conversation with said manager and another housekeeper about the pop, everything was light hearted, and the other housekeeper mentioned that she'd done the same thing herself before.
So it gets to 15 minuets before I'm due to clock out and the manager appers saying she needs to send me home as she's spoke to the head manager and they're suspending me till further notice.
I'm shocked to be honest, it was a can of pop for gods sake, it says on the letter that I was steeling supply's and why did they allow me to work for a further 3 hours before they sent me home?
So now I'm sat worrying that I'm going to lose my job over drinking a can of pop!

OP posts:
GlitteryLipgloss · 13/01/2015 21:08

I know it's a can of pop. But it wasn't yours to take or drink.

you may get off with a warning and a slap on the wrist but I wouldn't be surprised if they fired you.

It is gross misconduct.

Humansatnav · 13/01/2015 21:10

Oh dear. Do you have a hr dept. and have you got a copy of the policy that would class this as gross misconduct?

OriginalGreenGiant · 13/01/2015 21:11

So this was a can that a guest had left in the room, after checking out?

I think they're being OTT.

CatThiefKeith · 13/01/2015 21:11

It is theft I'm afraid. If a guest had left without having breakfast would it be ok to take home some sausages, bacon, eggs etc and half a carton of orange juice on their behalf?

It is a hard lesson to learn, but it really wasn't yours to take.

Bowchickawowow · 13/01/2015 21:11

If other people doing he same role make themselves tea and coffee using room supplies I can see why you assumed this was ok.

I would be prepared to apologise and offer to pay, but explain that you genuinely assumed that this would be ok. I am guessing that they would have resold it as it was unused?! Which even thought it was unopened I personally think is a bit Hmm - completely irrational of course, on my part!

makingdoo · 13/01/2015 21:12

I think it's harsh. I also think that you shouldn't have taken it.

I think you need to establish that other members of staff have done this before as they can't sack you over something that others are also doing

Original poster
Jessiepops · 13/01/2015 21:13

This was never explained to me though, fair enough it I'd taken it out of the stock room or from behind the bar, but it had been paid for and left, all the other drinks had been taken but for some reason they didn't want that one, it's not put anybody out of pocket and I offered to pay for it.

OP posts:
LadyLuck10 · 13/01/2015 21:13

Yanbu, it seems very ott. Hope it gets sorted out soon.

SaucyJack · 13/01/2015 21:13

I don't know why they're going on about their supplies when technically speaking it was the previous occupant of the room whose property you stole.

I know it was only a can of fizzy, but where do you draw the line? What if they'd left shampoo or chocolates behind? Would you take those too?

I hope you don't lose your job tho.

maddening · 13/01/2015 21:14

TbH I would think that if they took this line over a can of pop then either something else is going on - perhaps there have been theft issues and this pus your integrity in question or they are jumping at a chance to get rid of staff or you in particular. Or the woman doesn't like you.

I would look up contracts and policies and ask to speak to hr or your manager.

Original poster
Jessiepops · 13/01/2015 21:15

And about the breakfast,yes we do have the left overs ??
Whatever's left over from the buffet the chefs bring into the staff room for the staff to eat!

OP posts:
Fabulous46 · 13/01/2015 21:16

a range of complimentary drinks

It was a complimentary drink for the GUEST staying at the hotel, not for the housekeeper. In my view you stole something the hotel has provided for a guest. It's irrelevant that the guest had paid for it. Would you go and have a breakfast a guest had paid for but decided to not go for? I think not. You deserve to be disciplined, afterall, housekeepers are expected to be trustworthy. You broke that trust today.

maddening · 13/01/2015 21:17

Ps point out that if you had known it was wrong you could have drunk it all and put it in the bin with nobody being any the wiser - it was an innocently made bad decision and one that you can assure them you would never repeat now you understand that this is a no no.

Fabulous46 · 13/01/2015 21:18

Sorry cross posted.

TheChandler · 13/01/2015 21:21

Bit surprised you don't get this OP. Obviously a can of juice can be put back in stock if not drunk by the customer so of course its stealing. Its not really up to you what the hotel does with its stock. Doesn't really matter how much its worth, its the principle.

I've also never stayed in a hotel where cleaning staff had empty cans of juice on their trollies - doesn't look too good.

But I think overall its your attitude to it that is the bigger problem.

crumblebumblebee · 13/01/2015 21:22

You were wrong, it wasn't yours to drink but I think suspension is very harsh. IMO, a formal warning would have sufficed.

ilovesooty · 13/01/2015 21:22

I think you need to find out what it says in your Code of Conduct but if other employees are using the complimentary tea and coffee I think they'd be on dodgy ground firing you. In any case I'd think a warning would be sufficient.

However if you've been there less than two years they can get rid of you without giving a reason.

Original poster
Jessiepops · 13/01/2015 21:23

Is never take anything else (I do know a woman who has taken chocolates though).
I only took the pop because I knew it had been included in the room rate, usually the guests just take them with them when they check out along with toiletries.
I've been asked on occasions whilst using the vending machine why I'm paying for pop when there's pop upstairs (it's cold out of the vending machine). There's loads I could say about what others do (one takes the shampoo and soap) but I don't want to drop anybody else in it, I'm just mad in a way that she's seemed to turn a blind eye to everybody else yet come down hard on me.

OP posts:
CatThiefKeith · 13/01/2015 21:24

That's leftovers though, it's been cooked, and can't be reused. And that's not quite what I asked.

I am an ex hotelier. Housekeeping staff need to be 100% trustworthy, customers regularly leave large amounts of cash, valuable jewellery, high end electronics and even wedding presents in their rooms (and check out accidentally leaving them behind)

Look at it another way. If your employer can't trust you not to swipe a can of pop, how can they trust you with a clients possessions?

crumblebumblebee · 13/01/2015 21:26

For future reference, it doesn't matter what anyone else does. Their employment is not your responsibility. You need to do what is right, not what everyone else does.

SuggestmeaUsername · 13/01/2015 21:27

I dont think you should have taken it but I think they are OTT. a verbal warning would have been enough. have you had any problems with these managers before regarding anything else? how long have you been working there?

BadgersNadgers · 13/01/2015 21:27

It's wrong and the fact that some of your colleagues do it doesn't make it right.

diddlediddledumpling · 13/01/2015 21:28

there are two practices which think make what you did quite reasonable. 1. The other staff members use room supplies to make cups of tea, and 2. The leftover breakfast buffet items are freely given to staff.
In both of these cases, items which have been paid for by customers (within their room rate) are given to or taken by staff. If these have always been common practice while you have worked there, and taking advantage of them has not been classed as gross misconduct, then there's no reason why you would think it was breaking a trust to take the can.
I do think you should apologise profusely and I imagine they will crack down, at least on the tea making. but I think they would be unfair to dismiss you.

Fairenuff · 13/01/2015 21:28

So the hotel provides it and, if it's not used, the hotel can re-use it up until the can meets it's expiry date. By taking it you did take something that didn't belong to you. That is theft OP.

MinceSpy · 13/01/2015 21:29

Sadly for you it's theft, as is the cups of tea your colleagues help themselves to or the cans of pop the other housekeeper also drank. It's the same as taking pens or putting private mail through an office franking machine.
You may well loose your job, I'm so sorry. Yes I do think they are over reacting.