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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:
BitOutOfPractice · 16/01/2015 16:35

Yes Jessie. I stay in a lot of hotels. PM me the name and I will boycott it!

tobysmum77 · 16/01/2015 16:49

Op that is appalling. When I worked in a hotel we used to help ourselves to biscuits/ tea and coffee while working. You should realise that mnetters are very sanctionious about anything stealing-related. If they didn't like it just say 'please don't do it again' problem solved.

But look on the bright side you're out of there.

RandomFriend · 16/01/2015 17:04

Sorry to hear that, Jessie. It seems very heavy handed and unfair.

I suspect the hotel wanted to make an example of you so as to clamp down. They could easily have done that with a warning rather than sacking you.

I hope you can get your old job back.

EdSheeran · 16/01/2015 18:14

tobysmum77 there has been very little sanctimony, so I'm a bit Hmm at your stirring comment. Jessie has been given lots of advice and support as well as having many of us agreeing that management have been too heavy handed.

YesIDidMeanToBeSoRudeActually · 16/01/2015 18:46

Jessie, I've just read this thread and am Shock for you. How shit.

It does seem so heavy handed. I know I probably would have been sacked for every job I've had, the amount of times I've gone home with pens in my case, or the odd personal call pre mobiles! Maybe we should start a campaign to make you feel better #IWouldHaveBeenSackedToo Smile

I really hope you get a new job soon, it sucks.

SuggestmeaUsername · 16/01/2015 19:35

I think that is really harsh. I am so sorry for you. it seems unfair they have now blemished your work record with this.

I think you should still phone ACAS ( 0300 123 1100 8am-8pm) still and Citizens Advice.

Did you have easy access to all the company's policies?

jessybelle · 16/01/2015 20:18

As an ex hotel H.O.D, although technically correct and well within their rights, the way the hotel and your manager have handled it was poor. They have been, in my opinion far too heavy handed for something very minor. I personally would have pulled you aside for a verbal warning and reiterated the code of conduct across the entire team.

tobysmum77 · 16/01/2015 20:37

i'm not stirring, but stating fact. The first 30 or so replies were Shock

tobysmum77 · 16/01/2015 20:38

and jesse, yes exactly you'd tell her not to do it again. The op would have accepted that and end of story.

Loopylala7 · 16/01/2015 20:45

Way too harsh. I guess if it is 'theft' it should be clarified to ALL STAFF what behaviour is deemed sackable behaviour. I think it would be over the top if they sacked you. It would be very harsh to get more than a ticking off and a don't do it again. Looks like you're being made an example of. Jobs worth springs to mind.

ProcessYellowC · 16/01/2015 21:31

So sorry to hear that you lost your job over this Jessie and hope that it works out with your old hotel. Since I read this thread it gave me the rage about how you were treated and, yes, how sanctimonious some of the earlier posters were.

Sure it will all work out in the end - these people must be toxic...

Coyoacan · 16/01/2015 22:02

there has been very little sanctimony

There has been a massive amount of sanctimony, what thread have you been reading, EdSheeran

To my mind the ownership of the soft drink was not even clear, and especially as several posters here said that they deliberately left such things for the housekeeper to take, it is not at all clear to a lot of people who owned the bloody drink in the first place, but that didn't stop a lot of other people going for the jugular.

OnlyTheWelshCanCwtch · 16/01/2015 22:45

While it seems harsh, it wasn't yours to take.

NotGoingOut17 · 16/01/2015 23:33

I'm really sorry to hear this OP,they have been very harsh on you, I really hope you manage to get a job back at your old place.

minifingers · 17/01/2015 06:58

I'm reading this thread and feeling like we've teleported back to the Victorian era.

Bizarre.

Everybody focusing on the technical aspects of the act and utterly missing the big picture. Why so hard faced? Is this how nasty and petty employers are now?

code · 17/01/2015 07:18

Agree with minifingers OP has been dealt a very harsh hand. I work as a manager in the NHS and the things people get away with in comparison (well there is no comparison). E.g. I had a staff member who spent months coming in in the morning then taking the whole day off (big NHS Trust with people working across numerous sites) before she was found out. I was only supported by HR to give an informal notice of improvement! Different rules for senior professionals as there was no way a 'lowly' domestic or junior admin staff would have received such leniency.

Greyhound · 17/01/2015 09:20

Shocked.

Why couldn't they just given the OP a warning?

The OP took the can in innocence.

I used to work in an office where someone (never found out who) regularly stole the loo roll.

diddl · 17/01/2015 09:42

"Why couldn't they just given the OP a warning?"

I agree, especially when staff regularly make tea with the stuff in the rooms!

Muddies the waters somewhat!

paperlace · 17/01/2015 10:15

Sorry if this has been explained already, but OP how did you know it had already been paid for when you opened it?

Sorry this is the outcome for you.

Christmasbargainshopper · 17/01/2015 11:41

In the hotels I know, stealing is automatic dismissal. Any items found in a room need to go through lost and found procedures. A can of drink however is a slightly grey area and could have done with a warning.

I'm sorry if this is out of turn, but how were you getting on working there anyway? Were you getting on with people ok and meeting your targets? I have a suspicion they were looking for a reason to get rid of you.

OnlyLovers · 17/01/2015 12:59

paper, the room was vacated by guests who'd paid a room rate that included complimentary drinks etc.

diddl · 17/01/2015 13:12

But if guests don't use stuff, it surely doesn't necessarily mean that OP can have it?

But as i put, I think it's odd that it's OK for staff to have some stuff.

OnlyLovers · 17/01/2015 13:49

I'm not arguing that it was OK for the OP to take it, diddl (if you're replying to me? Sorry, not sure Smile).

I think they were unduly harsh, though, seeing as she made it obvious she just misunderstood, apologised and offered to pay.

Notnaice · 17/01/2015 18:14

A teabag or a can of pop. The principle is the same.

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