Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
CatThiefKeith · 15/01/2015 12:40

How did it go op? Hope you had good news. Thanks

ChippingInLatteLover · 15/01/2015 12:47

I hope they've acted sensibly. It was a genuine thoughtless mistake, that's all. You have a good history with handing guest property in etc. I don't think there's any harm in comparing it to the staff using the guest stuff to make hit drinks or to the food/drinks they give you that are left over. You now understand why it wasn't 'ok' but before didn't see it any differently. It also bodes well that you weren't hiding it and were upfront about it.

FightOrFlight · 15/01/2015 12:47

flowery

Okay, but I don't get why the Gov site says "You have the right to take someone with you to a disciplinary hearing, but you must tell your employer about this first". It doesn't mention anything about how long you've been in the job Confused That's very misleading to an idiot like me.

Hope everything went well today Jessie x

PrincessFiorimonde · 15/01/2015 13:01

There's a world of difference between lifting a coat that's been left behind and helping yourself to a can of clearly unwanted pop. I've luckily never left behind an item of value in a hotel room, but couldn't tell you how many toiletries, packets of biscuits, drinks, etc I've left in my wake, always with the assumption that whoever cleans the room will either take the stuff or chuck it as they see fit.
So although I can see that what you did might not have been within the (not clearly spelled out by the hotel) letter of the law, I also can't see you've done anything deserving of more than a warning at most.
And next time I leave my shampoo or half a bottle of gin in a hotel room, I'm going to leave a note too!
Best of luck, OP.

morningtoncrescent62 · 15/01/2015 13:13

I haven't waded through the entire thread, but I was just going to say what PrincessFlorimonde said. I'd always assumed that housekeeping staff would help themselves to the unconsumed toiletries, refreshments etc in hotel rooms - I make a habit of deliberately leaving them behind so that staff who are for the most part women on low salaries can make use of them. This thread's an eye-opener for me, because I thought it was common practice.

OP, it sounds like you're going in to your hearing with a productive attitude - explaining why you misunderstood, apologising for the mistake, and assuring them you now understand. I do hope that's enough and that it goes well for you. No one deserves to lose their job over a simple mistake like yours. Fingers crossed for you.

And like Princess I'll leave a note next time I check out!

bbcessex · 15/01/2015 13:27

morningcrescent62.. I don't think that would work; unless the items you're leaving behind are specifically ones that you have brought in yourself, then imo they're not yours to give.

The hotel has provided them for you to consume / use during your stay. Yes - most hotels understand and accept that people will take toiletries / biscuits etc. away with them if they want, but I don't think they would agree that they are yours to give to the staff.

It's a bit like taking food from an 'all you can eat' buffet and giving it to the waiting staff; not the done thing.

bbcessex · 15/01/2015 13:28

or maybe I'm wrong, and they ARE yours to give?! I usually leave a tip and a note - no confusion that way :-)

Debinaround · 15/01/2015 14:36

Hope everything goes ok for you today. Thinking of you.

ilovesooty · 15/01/2015 14:40

I hope so too. I'm getting a bit tired of seeing posts from people harping on about the theft aspect.
I loathe dishonesty but you took something and have admitted you didn't think the implications through. I hope they see how ludicrous sacking you would be. Fingers crossed.

Debinaround · 15/01/2015 14:43

Hope everything went ok today. Thinking of you.

youarekiddingme · 15/01/2015 16:54

Been thinking of you today - hope it went ok

Jessiepops · 15/01/2015 17:04

Hi all
Unfortunately I have lost my job, they said that seen although it is classed as a case of gross misconduct they have no other option but to dismiss me due to company policies.
It's been a very valuable lesson for me.

OP posts:
PuppyMonkey · 15/01/2015 17:05

So sorry Hmm

YoullLikeItNotaLot · 15/01/2015 17:05

Oh no! I'm so sorry.Do you have any right to appeal?

Again, I'm so sorry.

Thenapoleonofcrime · 15/01/2015 17:12

I'm sorry, I would have thought like everyone else, that a clarification of the hotel's position and a warning would have been enough.

But then I am the kind of person that every now and again (every few months) phones my husband from my work phone, I take paper and pens home (to work from home) that sometimes get used by the kids, so I am clearly a dishonest type who steals anyway according to this thread.

Personally I can't see it was to the hotel's advantage to sack you given that my guess is most of the staff would have a cup of tea whilst working (in similar circumstances)- I would take legal advice if you can be bothered, if you can't then I would just go and work elsewhere (hopefully you don't need their reference).

ilovesooty · 15/01/2015 17:15

I'm so sorry. Did they say anything about a reference?

You must be gutted just now but can I make you an offer? I work in careers advice and I'd be only too happy to look over your CV for you if you PM me.

storminabuttercup · 15/01/2015 17:21

Oh I'm so sorry! That's just silly. I wonder what will happen to the other lady who said she did the same. No consolation to you though.

I really hope you find work soon. Best wishes. Really gutted for you

SauvignonBlanche · 15/01/2015 17:32

I'm sorry to hear that. Sad Flowers

minibmw2010 · 15/01/2015 17:33

I'm really sorry. Huge over-reaction on their part. A warning would have sufficed. Hmm

Namechangeyetagaintohide · 15/01/2015 17:34

I'm sorry OP. I did rather think this would be the outcome. Gook luck with finding another job.

engeika · 15/01/2015 17:40

I am sorry that you lost your job - that is really unfair. You are clearly not dishonest or a thief - you just misunderstood the policy. Wow.

When I think what some senior bankers/ execs get away with and still do not lose their jobs - at worst they get a Golden Goodbye and a chance to resign with reputation intact.

I wish you all the best for the future OP.

Allstoppedup · 15/01/2015 17:52

How bloody ridiculous.

So sorry OP.

Flowers
thewomaninwhite · 15/01/2015 17:54

I am so sorry op, that is awful news. I am gobsmacked. It seems rather heavy handed.

expatinscotland · 15/01/2015 17:55

Aw, that totally sucks!

JeanetteDanielsBenziger · 15/01/2015 18:09

That's shit Jessie, I'm so sorry.

Swipe left for the next trending thread