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?

You'll be fine. The office manager is an arsehole escalating this.

So fucking petty.

I’d be fucking livid if our office manager behaved like this and I’d make it clear it’s unacceptable to throw their weight around in this way. (office manager reports in to me).

Would I want staff posting all their Christmas cards from work? No.

Does a one off item of less than £3 even register? Also no.

They need a line in the sand
post is expensive if everyone did it it could soon add up to a few thousand a year

Apologise, offer to refund

and look for a new job while claiming for every extra minute, any expense incurred for work. That's what I'd do. I can't work in petty offices - because it's give and take.

Thanks all, I’ve taken away from this experience that I should always ask permission and to not just agree to last minute things for work without discussing the financial impact and asking for reimbursement.

Maybe once I properly explain the situation to the office manager tomorrow she’ll realise it’s not a big deal but if they decide to make an example out of me, I’ve learnt my lesson

Yeah, there's nothing quite like being the arsehole when you're the one who's done something wrong... Don't do this OP.__

If she often travels for work they may well have agreed to her posting her passport at work

But if everyone did it, it would cost the company loads. You should have just used an inpost locker or something. There’s plenty of options these days.

I spent time as a union rep and we had exactly the same issue....however, it materialised the guy had sent over 200 letters for his wife who.was running her own business!!! So I can understand why they are invrstigating.

personally I'd go to.the meeting, apologise but point out you were planning to deliver it in person but had to rearrange due to having to work.. You may get a verbal warning. I would accept it but say that you won't be able to be so flexible in future

Unless you had every intention of paying it back, it really won't sound good if you actually say you had no intention of theft.

A sincere apology is the route to go down

I used to do all the company franking and used to post loads of things 😂 perk of the job. Only bloody one.

"personally I'd go to.the meeting, apologise but point out you were planning to deliver it in person but had to rearrange due to having to work.. You may get a verbal warning. I would accept it but say that you won't be able to be so flexible in future"

Seriously? I'd be on the first bus out of there with no notice given waving two fingers at the OM!

But then at this stage in my career I'm worth more to the people I work for than £2.80 😉

I was working for a large American company when I had my baby. I went on a course when my baby was less than a year old, to a location where I had to stay for 3 nights. All food was provided and as much alcohol as you could drink as well as as many newspapers as you wanted delivered to your room. I was quite tired working F/T with a young baby, I drank no alcohol and I ordered no newspapers. Many delegates really hammered both these things.The hotel was in the middle of nowhere. I had forgotten my toothbrush and asked the hotel for one. They put it on my bill, it was barely anything. I paid the bill with my Corporate Card & thought no more of it. When my statement arrived & I sent it off for approval my Card was cancelled for abuse.