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!

Very harsh imo. Yy Waiting, I've done the same (in better days when I could afford holidays!), left stuff behind assuming staff would take it if they wanted.

YWBU to ask on MN as posters like to get their knickers in a twist about small things.

Should you have drunk the drink? Probably not but you'll know next time.

Is it gross misconduct, theft or worthy of being sacked? Absolutely not.

In your position OP, I would write to your manager, apologise profusely, and state that you did not think your actions through clearly. Perhaps if you were to contact ACAS, they could give you some guidelines.

It's a can of pop FFS.

To all those posters who say it was theft from the hotel, do you not realise that if the hotel has already sold that can then the hotel is actually committing theft by reselling it? The stock should not be affected as this can was already accounted for as being sold to the occupant of the room. This all sounds a bit shifty to me. I've worked in housekeeping in a hotel with a policy of holding stuff until customers had a chance to claim it and then returning it to the chambermaid who handed it in, drinks and food items were not covered by this rule and were considered a perk. (Especially from coach drivers who were regulars and appreciated staff knowing their preferences for tea and coffee etc.)

Really good replies here.

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.

I agree. It's not the can of pop itself, it's about boundaries between what's made available to you (eg breakfast) and what you decide to just pick up and have. I hope that showing you've learned this lesson will get you back in the job, done & sorted.

If not - they are probably getting anxious about the amount of little things adding up, with all the cups of tea and mini shampoos, and want to make an example of you. In such a case, I think it would be wise to follow the stronger advice above, demonstrating that other staffers do similar and they didn't instantly dismiss you, etc.

Hi Jessiepop,

Just wanted to jump in as someone who's worked for a few chain hotels. Yes it's normal that staff make themselves tea and coffee as they clean their rooms obviously within reason though. I can understand how you thought the can of juice was surplus and therefore ok to drink but I'm also not surprised at how management have handled your case. A mountain out of a mole hill yes but they make the rules unfortunately.

I'd asked them to look at your previous good work record as an indicator of your work ethic and commitment to the company. Tell them you made a wrong assumption about the can of juice and now that it's clear you were wrong you'll not let it happen again. Assuming this is your first time in trouble point that out too.

As for it being THEFT!!!! I don't think it is in the biblical sense so not something you'll have to atone for when you meet the Almighty (in fact I bet he doesn't even bring it up).

Work is another matter though so take all the advice given previously and good luck!

It's over the top. I'm guessing there's more to the story from their point of view - maybe they want to make an example out of you, or they have been unhappy with something else that they haven't told you about.

Why, the drink was included in the enhanced room rate. It was 'free' to the guest but the guest hadn't specifically paid for that item.

Different if it had been paid for from the mini-bar: then it would be a guest's property. And still not free to whomever found it.

If these drinks are kept in a fridge in the room, then it could be seen as you taking the can from the fridge.

Do not attend the interview unless you have a union rep or some legal advice behind you.

www.jobsite.co.uk/insider/office-politics-petty-theft-at-work-2933/

Tricky one. When I stay in hotels I invariably leave stuff in the room I pack too much every time
I always assumed the cleaning staff took it if they wanted it, binned it if they didn't. I have a tendency to leave juice, sweets, unused toiletries shoes and bags
I'd be pissed off if I thought the hotel were profiting from reselling my hotel bought items I leave behind. I'm obviously in the minority. Good luck op, hope it works out

Thank you all for your advice, some of the posts on here have got me worried, but I see how posting AIBU about this doesn't do much for me being sorry but I am, I don't want to be branded a thief, some of the horror hotel stories you hear are terrible and I'd never want to be placed in that category, I certainly would not intentionally put my job in jeopardy, I have 2 DC's and we would struggle on one wage.
Just hoping they understand it was just a lack of judgement and something I'll never repeat.
To be honest I doubt I'll be able to look at another can of pop!

I've worked in hotels most of my working life and done some housekeeping for holiday homes, Drinks and foodstuffs are generally kept by housekeeping staff or thrown away. Same in every property I've ever worked in.

You haven't stolen anything from the hotel OP, That can wasn't free to the guest they paid for it as part of the room rate. It was guest property not hotel property.

do you not realise that if the hotel has already sold that can then the hotel is actually committing theft by reselling it?

But it hadn't actually been paid for by the guest, it was included in the room rate. I never use the complimentary shampoo, bubble bath, shower cap, shoeshine blah blah blah that's included in the room rate but it doesn't mean that it's okay for the staff to take these items each time they are left untouched.

I don't think anyone commenting would argue that this is the crime of the century, just pointing out how management obviously see it. Taking something that does not belong to you without explicit consent is technically theft.

Would it be better if we all gave hugs and just said how awful the Hotel are being? It might make the OP feel better but wouldn't change the fact that this Hotel deems this to be gross misconduct.

flowery (who is very knowledgeable) also made the point that I made earlier.

Much of the advice is pointless (and in the case of the poster talking about discrimination, incorrect) because after a year's service if they want to sack you they can and will. I hope they don't.

Good link Piper

That would insinuate that Popgate is not sufficiently serious to warrant dismissal.

I know that I contradicted myself in my last post re: guest not actually paying for the drink because it was included in the room rate. You could, however, take that a step further and say that as I haven't used the complimentary toiletries, stationery and free wifi that it's okay for housekeepers to take the physical items and then log onto Mumsnet in my room after their shift. Where do employers draw the line? It's a lot easier to just have a No Tolerance approach and say that no unused items are to be taken by staff.

Jeanette I too have worked in hotels for years. This isn't a can the guest had bought with them, it was a complimentary one that the hotel had provided.

Are you honestly saying in every hotel you have worked in the housekeeping staff have pinched the biscuits, tea, coffee etc off the hospitality tray in each room if they are untouched? It's exactly the same thing, and we both know that isn't standard practise.

I can see it from both sides.

It seems a touch severe, but I can see why they are so keen to stamp down on this sort of thing and they need the staff to be utterly scrupulous as they are going in and out of people's rooms when there is likely to be valuables lying around.

I'm not saying you would do this, but imagine the furore if they'd let petty pilfering slide and they found that the staff had been helping themselves to the customer's money or valuables, your boss would be in a really awkward position if she'd let her staff help themselves to anything left in the room.

Cleaning isn't a high specialised trade and with the employment market the way it is, they will have plenty of people to pick from who can waft a duster around a hotel room and haven't compromised their integrity in this way. Whether you or I think your supervisor is being harsh, you've put yourself in the position where you are open to disciplinary procedures.

"Good link Piper. That would insinuate that Popgate is not sufficiently serious to warrant dismissal."

They don't need anything to warrant dismissal. At this stage in her employment they can sack her because they don't like the colour of her socks if they want to. They don't need a reason at all.

Catthief Yes, Where I have worked housekeeping staff including the head housekeeper would make use of the untouched comps, Make a cup of tea with perhaps a shortbread finger to dunk in it.
We gave homemade tablet in superior rooms and the staff got to eat that as well if left. (possibly a different issue as homemade?)

The management knew about it and I don't believe it was ever raised as being an issue.

Superior rooms were also provided 2 mini Prosecco bottles, No one ever left them though.

That's the pitfall of 'accepted pilfering' though, isn't it. It's like pinching the pens from work - pretty much everyone does it, accidentally or on purpose, but it is theft and grounds for dismissal. If you happen to be the one who gets it in the neck, tough luck. Everybody else may be thieving, too, but that doesn't help you. (Technically it might do, with long service and an exemplary record - but not if you've only been there a year.)

I'm wondering if they've been told to cut the staff budget and this is the easy option?

They don't need to come up with an excuse, due to her lack of service they could dismiss her for no reason, as flowery said up thread.

Superior rooms were also provided 2 mini Prosecco bottles, No one ever left them though

< stops looking for jobs as a housekeeper >

FightOrFlight
Holiday home cleaning is where its at for leftover booze ;)

Thanks for the heads-up Jeanette

I sense a new -and well oiled-- career looming!