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

[Jessiepops]

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!

I've only been there year, I worked at a different one before but the hours weren't as long as I wanted, to be fair though the other hotel didn't mind if we helped ourselves to biscuits and bottles water for the rooms, I just assumed every hotel was like this.
Hopefully they're just wanting to make an example out of me, I am sorry for what I've done and I can see it from their point of view, but I really didn't think they'd mind.

I think you shouldn't have taken it. But I also think that in the circumstances it would have been best dealt with by reiterating the company policy to you and ensuring you were aware not to do it again rather than going down the path of formal action.

Waiting It doesn't matter if the original owner didn't take it, it wasn't hers to take. Albeit it's only a can of juice, it doesn't make it less of a theft because of the value.

Unfortunately Op as others have said theft is normally considered as gross misconduct ( i work in hr and this is what my company policy says - it doesn't specify there has to be a particular value to the item).

In terms of the 3 hour delay in suspending you, this is very little time and the employer will most likely be able to justify it - as said above, it is not an unreasonable delay and shows that your manager has thought through the repercussions etc and sought advice elsewhere rather than making an on the spot decision to suspend you.

I do agree that it seems over the top & you clearly weren't aware of the impact that your actions could cause but as has been said they need to draw a line somewhere and it appears they have a no tolerance of theft approach. You say that there is a culture of staff taking things but unless these have been reported to managers, it can't be expected that managers would know about these.

That said, the fact that other employees steal also is unlikely to help you (it will just mean that they too may be subject to disciplinary procedures) unless you can show that managers were aware that staff help themselves to unused drinks out of rooms and tolerated it. The breakfast thing is a red herring as already been pointed out because they would otherwise go in the bin.

What i will say is that just because you have been suspended doesn't mean you will be dismissed but it could happen so you need to prepare yourself for the potential outcome and prepare the best case you can. If it was me, I would go in extremely apologetic, pointing out that I am not a thieve (as evidenced by the items i have handed in) and that it was a lapse in judgement and won't happen again. Like i say unless you think you can successfully show that managers allow theft of drinks to occur (and even then doesn't mean you won't be dismissed if your employee handbook, guidance etc is clear that theft is unacceptable) i think all that will happen is that those employees will be investigated too but it won't change your potential disciplinary penalty.

I am sorry that this is the situation you are in, personally i think a warning would be sufficient for you to realise your error so I do wish you luck.

apologies for terrible typos and spelling (clearly i meant thief)

Can I just say I've never once said to the managers "it's only a can of pop" she asked me where it was from and I said it was left on the side in the room. She said it was gross misconduct and would interfere with her budget. I apologised, said I didn't realise and offered to pay for it, and she said it was all right and even joked about it to me later! I apologised again, laughed with her and said I'd run down to the machine next time (like I normally do and in hindsight am now kicking myself for not going down before I went in that room)

Thanks notgoingout17 think you're completely right. I'm in the wrong, all I can do is just hope they realise I've learned a lesson and that it's an error that will not ever happen again

I can see both sides but I just wanted to pop (no pun intended) on and say I do hope you don't lose your job over this OP.

Hopefully they will just give you a formal warning OP. When are you due to speak with them again?

I can honestly see both sides but it does seem a very heavy handed handling of the situation.

I just wanted to pop on (no pun intended!) and say I hope you don't lose your job over this OP.

FWIW I don't think the OP deserves to be sacked for what appears to be an honest mistake. If she is then it is very harsh indeed but I bet nobody else in the hotel will makes themselves tea, takes cans of drink etc. again.

What would be more appropriate to me would be a verbal warning to OP and a staff meeting that spells out exactly what is acceptable to management. Left over breakfast freely offered by the hotel - okay. using items left in guest rooms - not okay.

I hope the hotel does not use OP as an example to get their other employees in line.

Ahhh stupid phone - thought it didn't post the first one and deleted it!

Too many inappropriate s's in that last post

I'm suspended on full pay till further notice, she said they'd let me know, and I'll have to go in for an interview. I'm guessing it's going to be fairly soon as I can't see them wanting them to pay me when I'm not there for long.

My daughter had a holiday job in a hotel where the staff stole televisions from rooms etc!!

Whilst losing a job over a can of pop seems harsh, the management are sending out a clear message that NO stealing will be tolerated. Hopefully the OP will just get a warning.

OP I would take advice from someone experienced in employment law. If the Hotel does not have a clear policy stating that you must not use teabags etc. left in the rooms then you may have some wriggle room, especially as it was acceptable in your previous (similar) job. If you can show that there was room for confusion then they may accept that and re-write their policy accordingly.

If, however, it is clearly stated in your contract that this is not acceptable then I'm afraid you need to prepare yourself for the worst.

From Theft Act 1968:

A person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it.

A person’s appropriation of property belonging to another is not to be regarded as dishonest... if he appropriates the property in the belief that he would have the other’s consent if the other knew of the appropriation and the circumstances of it.

Therefore it wasn't theft.

Obvs I wouldn't recommend arguing this with them from the off! Go in apologetic for your mistake. But in the knowledge that you are not a thief. Good luck op.

waiting how can the op reasonably think she has the permission of the legal owner? She didn't.

Obviously in the real world the occupant won't care, but legally she didn't not have permission. Therefore: theft.

Good luck for whenever it is, i hope you don't get the sack.

Do people actually get fired for drinking a can of pop that probably cost less than 50p?

Ok, it was technically theft, but really? It was a can of pop!

I feel bad for you jessiepops, I wouldn't last 5 minutes in that kind of working environment! Good luck

Just realised the OP is called Jessiepops (how did I miss that?)

I usually leave stuff behind in hotels and assume/hope the staff will take it: I don't want it and if the housekeeper chased me down the corridor asking 'do you mind if I have your leftover shampoo?' My reply would be 'of course not'.

If for some reason I didn't want anyone to have it I would put it in the bin.

Oops, meant for that to be in bold, not strikeout. I'm not coping well with MN tonight

I think you have been very naive op but feel bad you might lose your job.

Unfortunately this is a lessons learnt around theft and how it viewed in your sector

Put it down to experience and move on