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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
UterusUterusGhali · 14/01/2015 20:38

Been thinking of you today, Jessie.

Really hope you're ok and they're not just looking to make savings by sacking people. :(

I can see both sides, but they've handlers this terribly.

clairemum22 · 14/01/2015 20:49

Keeping my fingers crossed for you. Hope the meeting goes well.

maddening · 14/01/2015 21:04

I think that behind the scenes they are aware there is stealing going on if it is as rife as you say - lots of companies have to crack down on everyone because some people are v selfish and steal - they may have had a warning by management to deal with the issue and here you are.

FightOrFlight · 14/01/2015 21:10

Piper

Unless the OP is a time-traveller you're going to have to wait another 24 hours or so to find out Grin

Original poster
Jessiepops · 14/01/2015 21:12

Thank you for the advise vivideye, and thanks to everybody else.
I'm starting to feel like I've let myself down now, all for the sake of a can of pop, why didn't I just go to the vending machine (I keep change on my trolley to do just that!!).
Now I see it from their point of view,, it being the principle, but I'm hoping they understand that if I thought I was in the wrong I'd surely have tried to hide it,, I was open and honest as soon as I was questioned then apologised and offered to pay for it.
I thought the matter had closed after I apologised, the housekeeping manager never said anything about having to take it further, she had a joke about the matter with me and another member of staff then came back later with the letter saying I had to leave.
Thanks agin I'll let you all know the outcome, I am however preparing myself for the worst.

OP posts:
LuluJakey1 · 14/01/2015 21:15

Hope it goes well. It would seem harsh to sack you.

Violettatrump · 14/01/2015 21:17

The can belonged to the guest, not the hotel. The guest had left the can behind as unwanted

FightOrFlight · 14/01/2015 21:18

vivdeye

"Have you asked them if you can bring a friend or nice colleague for support? They don't have to but might say yes."

Actually they do have to say yes if it's a colleague as long as they have the request in writing prior to the hearing.

"Taking someone with you to a disciplinary hearing

You have the right to take someone with you to a disciplinary hearing, but you must tell your employer about this first.

Your companion can be either:

a colleague
a trade union representative
a trade union official"

www.gov.uk/disciplinary-procedures-and-action-at-work/disciplinary-hearings

You're correct about the friend though, they don't have to agree to that.

flowery · 14/01/2015 22:16

Actually they don't have to say yes FightorFlight.

As has been pointed out several times, the OP has very little in terms of rights as she has only been there a year.

Her employer can sack her with no hearing at all and for no reason at all if they like, and certainly without allowing her representation from a colleague or union rep.

SaucyJack · 14/01/2015 22:20

Good luck dude.

We can argue semantics all day on here, but no one really deserves to lose their job over a poxy can of drink.

fluffymouse · 14/01/2015 22:56

Good luck op.

I hope the outcome from the meeting is good. I am staggered how they are treating you.

Unless you had been specifically warned not to drink leftover cans then I don't see the issue.

thewomaninwhite · 14/01/2015 22:59

Just popping by to wish you luck. I hope they are understanding tomorrow. I will be keeping everything crossed for you op.

storminabuttercup · 15/01/2015 10:01

Thinking of you today Jessie!

engeika · 15/01/2015 10:12

It does seem harsh but PP are right. You know now. I'd apologise, explain, say that you made a mistake and have learnt your lesson.

It is hard when others blur the boundary between what is ok to take and what isn't. And if people are being hard on you in moral terms I wonder how many think it is fine to take biros or copy paper from the office or happily make personal calls on work phones or dodge a bus fare....None of it right of course.

Good luck OP - a horrible situation to be in.

diddl · 15/01/2015 10:31

It does seem harsh & I would have thought that pointing that out & a reprimand would be enough.

I suppose it belongs to the hotel doesn't it, for the guests consumption if they wish?

If the guest doesn't use it or take it it still belongs to the hotel?

minibmw2010 · 15/01/2015 10:31

Good luck OP, although clearly taking the drink was wrong, I don't think you did it maliciously thinking 'oooh I know, I'll steal this and lose the company money'. I think it was a natural mistake and as you say you offered to pay straight away. Anyway, that's by the by. Good luck for today.

differentnameforthis · 15/01/2015 10:38

I left a coat behind the last time I stayed at a hotel, thankfully the staff in there after me handed it inand I was able to pick it up. are you saying op, that it is ok to help yourself to it, because I left it behind?

aside from anything else, you had 30 mins til break, so you didnt need to drink the drunk. Some other places of work, you have to wait for your tea break for refreshment!

Schooltripquestion · 15/01/2015 10:39

Good luck op.

differentnameforthis · 15/01/2015 10:40

giddly and I wouldn't want to stay in a hotel where staff thought it was ok to steal!

ghostyslovesheep · 15/01/2015 10:45

good luck OP I hope you get off with a warning

I do think you where in the wrong - you didn't know the guest had paid for it - as they didn't drink it they may well have not declared it in the final bill - and you taking it would have led to the hotel losing the money or the guest being billed for it.

I worked in housekeeping long ago and it's just a no no - we used to take bottles of water on our carts for drinking

but I do think they have over reacted so I hope they don't sack you x

theladylovescupcakes · 15/01/2015 10:45

Another lurker wishing you luck for today.

BitOutOfPractice · 15/01/2015 10:53

Oh OP fwiw Ithink they have totally over reacted I was clearly just a mistake / misunderstanding whch you now realise was wrong and won't happen again.

I can tell you that if I was your manager and I had such a clearly conscientious and nice person on my team as you, I would fight tooth and nail to keep you. As an aside I employ quite a few people myself and if this happened on my watch I would say something quietly and let it go. This whole thing is ridiculous!

Good luck today. Just try and stay calm and tell them the truth. I have everything crossed for you Thanks

BitOutOfPractice · 15/01/2015 10:55

The amount of money being spent in management time over this is probably 100 times the cost of a can of pop by the way. It's just ridiculous. If you'd been caught smuggling it out I could understand it more, but the fact that you had it openly on the trolley shows that you dd not realise it was a no no

Original poster
Jessiepops · 15/01/2015 11:07

Thanks all, I'm in a bit of a state at the moment, I really don't want to loose my job.
Of course I'd never take a coat or anything else, I hand anything I find into lost property with a note saying what date and what room it was found in. Even half empty bottles of shampoo/shower gel (not belonging to the hotel, any opened hotel shampoo bottles go in the bin).
However things such as food and left over drinks, are either binned or put in the store room for the staff.
I know this can belonged to the hotel now but at the time, as I've said before, I just thought of it as an unwanted item, it had been taken out of the fridge and left on the side with various other empty bottles and glasses, I was about to throw it away.
I know I was in the wrong now, but it was just an honest mistake.
I'm really hoping they can see this.

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 15/01/2015 11:16

I'm sure they will. Deep breaths and tell the truth. That's all you can do.

What time is the hearing? Have you got anyone going with you?

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