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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

huge mistake

76 replies

Plumspearsbanana · 28/05/2023 16:49

I manage a small team of people at a private clinic. Person A has the responsibility to lock up confidential information (including samples) at the close of business each day and oversee CCTV is live. Person B works on front desk.

Recently there was a security breach. Some samples were stolen and confidential information went missing. A hadn’t locked up on one of the nights. Due to the severity of this breach I had to let A go.

B confesses that on that particular night A and B had stayed after close of business as A was upset about a personal matter and they had a few drinks and chat at work. A was a bit worse for wear and B promised to do the lock up for them before stumbling home. B forgot to do this and also ensure CCTV was in use. B was also drunk and forgot to do this too.

A has since tried to take her own life and is on life support. B is distraught as she feels responsible.

I hope and pray A makes a full recovery, but I am not sure how to deal with B?

OP posts:
SchoolShenanigans · 28/05/2023 17:19

Sounds fishy to me. Did B purposely orchestrate the cameras to be off and files unlocked?

Either way, yes, B needs sacking.

Why didn't A speak up at the time to say B said they'd do it?

MynameisJune · 28/05/2023 17:21

On todays episode of things that never happened…….

Littlethingsmeanalot · 28/05/2023 17:21

I also find it a weird coincidence. And who would steal samples and confidential info. Unless it was for famous folks? If not who else was with a and b and could a and b have done it, destroyed stuff?

Testina · 28/05/2023 17:22

“Sounds fishy to me. Did B purposely orchestrate the cameras to be off and files unlocked?”

Yeah, that should go into the book. B spiking A’s drink to get access to The Samples.

ghostyslovesheets · 28/05/2023 17:23

B is some sort of maverick Dr trying to uncover some serious drug fraud ... wasn't this just on ITV?

PollyAmour · 28/05/2023 17:24

I hope nobody you work with is on Mumsnet. Is it a private clinic or some kind of private entertainment place? Either way, how do you know that A or B or A and B didn’t nick the stuff while they were pissed?

JudgeRudy · 28/05/2023 17:25

Wow. What an awful position to be in. I'm unsure what business you operate but I'd be inclined to inform the Police. Those samples are clearly valuable to someone, so whether it's DNA evidence or frozen sperm or whatever its been stolen....It just so happens that both these women got drunk and left the samples unprotected (for the once and only time?) and coincidentally that evening their was a raid 🤔. Person A has now tried to take her life and person B feels that confessing all to you is the best option.
Both these women need to be sacked but is it possible they need protecting? A is on life support and B is so scared that losing her job isnt a priority. As I said without knowing the nature of your business and these 'samples' its hard to judge. If you're feeling kind suspend B on full pay this coming week whilst you decide what to do. But yes definitely involve the Police....I'm hoping you're not the Police!

Doggymummar · 28/05/2023 17:35

WHAT did miss Marple say???

ChrisPPancake · 28/05/2023 17:37

A gave B the responsibility (though I'm guessing it wasn't really theirs to give) and B then failed to discharge that responsibility. B needs to face the same sanction as A would in that case, so in your words needs to be let go.

Molowolo · 28/05/2023 17:38

This is almost the exact plot of a scandi tv show I watched on Netflix recently. I call fake.

Maireas · 28/05/2023 17:39

Doggymummar · 28/05/2023 17:35

WHAT did miss Marple say???

It was neither A nor B. It was the OP.
She spiked their drinks and stole the samples.

Thesunnymood · 28/05/2023 17:39

Maireas · 28/05/2023 17:39

It was neither A nor B. It was the OP.
She spiked their drinks and stole the samples.

Show quote history

Ooooooh the twist!

Maireas · 28/05/2023 17:43

But why? @Thesunnymood ?
Incriminating evidence from someone's blood sample......?

Beautiful3 · 28/05/2023 17:45

I'd let B go too, for drinking on site. A didn't have to try and end her life. I would have walloped in self pity for 2 weeks, then looked for another job.

Mirabai · 28/05/2023 17:46

Molowolo · 28/05/2023 17:38

This is almost the exact plot of a scandi tv show I watched on Netflix recently. I call fake.

Which one? I might watch it.

Thesunnymood · 28/05/2023 17:47

Maireas · 28/05/2023 17:43

But why? @Thesunnymood ?
Incriminating evidence from someone's blood sample......?

Cloning an army?
VIP blackmail?
Vampire and data alongside stolen to cover the list for blood?

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 28/05/2023 17:51

Assuming this is real - and there’s not much point in commenting if it isn’t - what sackable offence has B committed? Not locking up and implementing the CCTV? It was foolish of her to offer, but it was A’s responsibility to say no and to do it herself. Some things you can’t delegate.

Drinking in the workplace? Not a sackable offence by any means. In the last three places I’ve worked, we’ve had free beers and wine on a Friday afternoon as a perk - and that’s within standard working hours. Drinks after hours isn’t a sackable offence, unless there is something in the employee contract specifically forbidding consuming alcohol on the premises or being present outside of working hours (unlikely, given it would prevent overtime). Being unable to do your job because you are under the influence of alcohol is a different matter - hence A was sacked.

OP can warn B about her conduct, but she’d be on very shaky ground if she sacked her for forgetting to do something that wasn’t her responsibility in the first place.

ProfessorXtra · 28/05/2023 17:52

Surely due to the theft this wasn’t left with a manager. There’s legal implications too. Surely the legal team and HR were involved? Wouldn’t the sensible, non fiction answer be to update them. Not MN.

Both A & B should have been sacked and A probably still would have done what they did.

But for whatever script you are trying to do the huge plot hole is that there clearly was no proper investigation into what happened and the coincidence that someone didn’t lock up and someone happened to break in and steal something

weightymatters73 · 28/05/2023 17:52

B Now needs to go through your disciplinary procedure.

The disciplinary for A needs review in light of B's disclosures;

But from what you have said here A had the responsibility, and became drunk (on the premises? so this would be an additional problem) and devolved the responsibility to another (drunk) employee - so likely no change in outcome.

B needs a disciplinary for 1) becoming drunk on premises, 2) failing to lock up (you have to decide if she was responsible or not) and possibly 3) lying in another colleagues disciplinary (if she was asked what happened?)...depending on 2 and 3 she may be dismissed or may be given a written warning...

I'd suggest you get legal advice from a solicitor used to dealing with this; likewise you need advice about your liability on A's suicide attempt as there may be ramifications in light of B's disclosure (did you investigate correctly etc).

WhereTheSuburbsMeetUttoxeter · 28/05/2023 17:53

B needs sacking too.

A is on life support?

This isn't an AIBU.

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 28/05/2023 17:54

I'd let B go too, for drinking on site.

Not a sackable offence.

ProfessorXtra · 28/05/2023 17:54

WomanStanleyWoman2 · 28/05/2023 17:51

Assuming this is real - and there’s not much point in commenting if it isn’t - what sackable offence has B committed? Not locking up and implementing the CCTV? It was foolish of her to offer, but it was A’s responsibility to say no and to do it herself. Some things you can’t delegate.

Drinking in the workplace? Not a sackable offence by any means. In the last three places I’ve worked, we’ve had free beers and wine on a Friday afternoon as a perk - and that’s within standard working hours. Drinks after hours isn’t a sackable offence, unless there is something in the employee contract specifically forbidding consuming alcohol on the premises or being present outside of working hours (unlikely, given it would prevent overtime). Being unable to do your job because you are under the influence of alcohol is a different matter - hence A was sacked.

OP can warn B about her conduct, but she’d be on very shaky ground if she sacked her for forgetting to do something that wasn’t her responsibility in the first place.

Once she offered and that offer was accepted it was Bs responsibility.

If A had to leave early due to a family emergency or because they were sick and B offered to lock up. It would be Bs responsibility.

and drinking in the work place isn’t common place. And is a sackable offence in many work places.

Maireas · 28/05/2023 17:55

Thesunnymood · 28/05/2023 17:47

Cloning an army?
VIP blackmail?
Vampire and data alongside stolen to cover the list for blood?

Show quote history

All excellent suggestions. My thoughts are that it's Liz Truss' blood sample, and an evil genius plans to replicate her to destroy the West
.

ThirstyThursday · 28/05/2023 17:55

CherryBlossomPants · 28/05/2023 16:50

B also needs letting go. It’s hypocritical to let A go and not B when she said she’d lock up.

@CherryBlossomPants

its not. The arrangement was a private one between A & B

ThirstyThursday · 28/05/2023 17:56

I'm hoping you're not the Police!

@JudgeRudy

that shouldn't have made me laugh as much as it di!