Posting something from work

[Drummend01]

I was meant to be meeting my friend for her daughter’s first birthday on Friday evening at our other friends house, who lives in between everyone so is a good base. On Tuesday I was asked to attend a work meeting in France as my boss’s son was having his tonsils out and she’d messed up her dates. I was to fly out Wednesday evening and get back on Friday night at 9pm, so would miss the bbq. I agreed to this even though it was quite inconvenient. I had to pay for a last minute dog sitter, lost my money for Thursdays kick boxing class and obviously missed time with my friends.

When I was in the office on Wednesday, before I left straight from work to go to the airport, I posted the birthday present (a personalised baby grow, blanket and card) using the work franking machine. It was literally £2.80. I wouldn’t have had any time to post it before her birthday in my own time because of how last minute the plans were.
My friend lives 2 hours away so it’s not like I can pop over to drop in the present.

I don’t know how work found out, I wasn’t trying to hide it when I packed the stuff into the box that morning because I didn’t think anyone would care. My own boss posted her passport the same way a few months back. But I’ve been questioned about it this morning and the office manager has put a meeting in for tomorrow morning when we are in the office face to face.

I could have waited to post it to her myself the week after, a baby doesn’t know when her birthday is. But I felt like I’d rearranged my plans enough already and was doing my work a big favour so £3 postage really wouldn’t have mattered.

AIBU to think they’re really blowing this out of proportion?

Petty and hypocritical of your boss.

I understand all the stuff about work sending you last minute, I really do, but you shouldn’t have used the work franking machine without permission .

Difficult.

Technically it's probably fraud.
However if there is precedent that your boss did it, do you know if she got permission, or agreed in advance or paid for it?

I'm not sure. I think they do have the right to raise it b it it's a bit rubbish of them.

I wouldn't assume I could send parcels using office facilities but perhaps at the meeting you can point out what you lost out on to help out and say you'll pay the £2.80 but can they pay what you lost? Again they could say you could have refused to go.

In your meeting, I would have the exact amount, in change, and hand it to office manager. If they want to be petty ..I would also be prepared to ask for a copy of the policy on use if the machine, so everybody is playing by the same rules.

It's not fraud, it's potentially theft if you don't intend to pay them back and you were acting dishonestly.

Give the office manager the money for the postage. Ask for clarification of the policy on use of the franking machine. Not worth getting embroiled in a row over a minor matter.

Do not mention your boss using the franking machine in the past. Not your circus, not your monkeys.

They have to treat it seriously, although I think it'll be a slap on the wrist.
I personally think that it is over the top but I have seen colleagues take pens, clipboards, glue sticks, it adds up.
Nothing is ever mentioned.
Bring the change with an IOU note, saying that you intended to pay for the postage.

You should have explained the situation to your work and asked permission to use the franking machine. You can't just assume that because you are out of pocket for a dog sitter and kick boxing class they can pay you back in postage! If it was a major issue you could have refused to go to the meeting or asked that your costs be covered, especially as it was so last minute.

£2.80 isn't a lot and I see why you think it's petty of work to raise it but allowing you to do this sets a precedent. Are they aware your boss did the same thing? If she has been allowed to do it and you haven't then that is obviously unfair. But I suspect she was just lucky and got away with it.

You agreed to the last minute work trip and could have found a way to post it not at work (things like Royal Mail lockers for example) or posted it late with an apology

Your boss may have had permission, may have also been spoken to about it, policy may have changed since "a few months back", her passport may have only been an amount the office is used to sending so didn't stand out

The office manager may simply want to just check what you were sending as it was a parcel and came from their office and might have been something inappropriate

Whilst it does seem pretty petty to argue over £2.80, you should have checked really

It's going to be treated as theft. Same as stealing a stamp or too back in the day. It's cash theft.

Small value, I know.

It’s not my boss that has raised the issue, it’s the office manager. My boss is still off with her son but I think she’s in tomorrow so I will speak to her before the meeting if I can, she’ll probably laugh at the stupidity of it all. I don’t know if she got permission before, maybe because it was her passport renewal work would be more lenient because she travels a lot for work so needs her passport 🤷🏻‍♀️

I will offer to pay and I will explain the situation, usually my work are pretty reasonable and I’ve been there for 4 years and never put a foot wrong. In hindsight I wouldn’t have done it, but I definitely didn’t do it with the intent of deception or theft!

You could have saved all the drama by just asking first?

Yeah I should have asked first, in hindsight I would have. It was all a bit of a rush and everyone was busy so it wasn’t like I even saw the office manager in the corridor to quickly ask. But I could have gone to find her, I just didn’t think it was a big deal and worth interrupting her for

Don't worry too much. You might end up with a verbal warning. I doubt that they will sack you. If they wanted you out, this would be sufficient, as you've an otherwise good work record, it should be a warning.
Don't minimise the issue when speaking to your boss or bring up the passport as the passport relates to work

Frankly, on the circumstances I would be icily clear with the office manager that, given that I’d completely rearranged my week to make a work trip because of someone else’s date error, a rearrangement thst involved a huge amount of rearranging, cutting into my own weekend, and missing being able to hand over the parcel in person, I’d expect a more understanding attitude to my ‘fraud’, and don’t appreciate being hauled to a meeting about it. And to take it up with the boss when she returns.

I'd have asked for permission first explaining how their last minute change of plan had made things inconvenient for you. Using the franking machine, taking stationery and using the photocopier for personal documents are all forms of theft however minor so you have to be careful.

What a jobsworth. A meeting over £2.80? This is someone trying to justify their existence.

I would of explained to my boss that I can cover her time in France but I have no one to look after the dog at short notice so I would have to pay for a dog sitter and that I had paid for plans on the Thursday. I would see if they could help cover costs seeing as you are helping cover your boss who messed up on dates.

You should of asked before using the franking machine.

Pants!! Too late to edit!

Theft is probably correct rather than fraud as ppl say

Yes I won’t by throwing my boss under the bus about her sending her passport, that’s nothing to do with me and she’s a good boss, she doesn’t deserve to get in trouble either

OMG this. The absolute brass neck of some people. What an absolute fucking jobsworth.

I know in your head you think it’s petty (I guess it is a bit…) but they are 2 seperate issues. If you’ve lost out on quite a bit of money to attend in your bosses place you need to make that clear.

Maybe unpopular opinion but if I had to put my pet into a sitter or pay for childcare or have plans booked and paid I would ask my boss to cover costs if I was to cover him at work

I would say that you were going to deduct the amount from your expense claim for missed class and dog sitting costs that you incurred due to covering at such short notice.

I would definitely advise your manager that you'll be claiming for the dog sitter and the lost kick boxing class on expenses, plus if you repay the cost of postage - claim that too. I've done that under similar circumstances!

In your meeting, I would have the exact amount, in change, and hand it to office manager. If they want to be petty ..

Or 28 cheques for 10p each 😁

In all seriousness though, does the office manager actually have the power to summon you to a meeting? She’s not your boss - in fact she sounds like a puffed-up administrator. I’d be tempted to decline the meeting request and tell her to complain to your boss if she thinks there’s an issue.