Scared I’m gonna get sacked

[Badmistake999]

I took something that was ‘used’ home.
Between myself and my colleagues we usually do this as it would just end in the bin. But I feel a certain colleague has escalated an investigation as higher management would class it as theft.
I’m pretty sure I wasn’t seen by anyone in person or by cctv but I overheard a conversation about cctv being checked, an investigation to gather evidence, how the person in question shouldn’t assume they can do this just because of their long service.
When they realised I was present they then gave this person a gender by saying ‘him’ which I felt was for my benefit (to throw me off)

I don’t need to be told how stupid I am or that I deserve it.
I would just like some advice on how I should handle it (if/when) I’m called into a meeting.
Shall I view all evidence before commenting? Shall
I immediately go on the defensive?
Shall I admit it and walk out?

Realistically I need to keep the job, with xmas next month,kids and house to pay for.
Not to mention that if I’m let go I wouldn’t get a reference for a new job, how would I explain that to new employers?
I’ve been at my job 10 years.

Hard to say without detail, what did you take?

Has anyone asked you if you took something? It would seem very odd for them to go to the trouble of checking CCTV for evidence without first just asking you if you took something. If it's really the case that the thing would have ended up in the bin, I can't see there being a case to fire you ... unless the thing contains confidential information and should have been disposed of carefully? But even then, strange not to try to head off this sort of behaviour by e.g. sending a generic email to tell people not to take stuff home. I have no legal expertise, btw.

If you're in a union it would be worth getting their advice about this.

I’m pretty sure I wasn’t seen by anyone in person or by cctv but I overheard a conversation about cctv being checked, an investigation to gather evidence, how the person in question shouldn’t assume they can do this just because of their long service.

Sounds like passive aggressive bullshit to me.

Left over food?

Either way if you know management would consider it theft, you shouldn't have done it.

No one has asked me anything, but I wouldn’t expect them too.
It is generally their style to gather evidence before they question you.

Yes, Food and drink related.

The Waitrose near me sacked staff for eating leftovers which would have been binned.

Oh Dear OP, sounds stressful.

Doesn’t sound like food to me as their response is rather serious for that.

Do you have otherwise very good service? If you do, it might be best to tackle head on. Apologise. Profusely.

If you have a checkered history, they may well use this as ab excuse to sack you, I’m which case if you’re confident no cctv or witnesses - deny deny deny

Ah it is food

So fairly trivial

When you include “drink”, do you mean you took alcohol?

What exactly is the Company Policy? If it is that food and drink is to be binned and that the taking of said food and drink home by staff is classed as theft which would be considered Gross Misconduct then you are on a hiding to nothing.

'Everyone else does it' is not a defence that will work, I'm afraid.

Are you absolutely sure they are/were talking about you or is it just your guilty conscience making you think they are?

I think you need to wait and see what, if any, evidence they have and if it is you they are talking about.

The fact you said you were sure you weren't seen by anyone else or cctv when you took said item shows you know this practice isn't acceptable, stop doing it and, even though it seems wasteful, follow Company Policy and bin stuff.

They can’t sack you immediately unless the company policy states it’s gross misconduct ( unless you’ve had previous warnings) . However it does sounds as though you knew exactly what you we’re doing and therefore incredibly irresponsible, esp as you say with kids etc. You need to take the punishment on the chin.

I have a pretty clean file with no previous warnings.
But I have felt in the past that this particular colleague has tried to ‘push’ me out and make me resign.

It could just be my guilty conscience, it’s true I know how irresponsible it is to take things from Work. But I felt it was justified some of the time as it’s going in the bin, and sometimes we would be given permission to ‘get rid of it’
Just this time, I got rid of it before permission was granted.

Why didn't you ask permission of that was a common occurance?

Company Policy says it goes in the bin, there is no justification it matters not one jot what you think about that policy.

There may have been times when you have been given permission to have something but those are the exception not the rule.

If you felt the colleague was trying to 'push' you out did you complain about this? Hindsight is a wonderful thing but if you felt someone was waiting for an opportunity to catch you out it is wise to stick rigidly to rules and policies so as not to give them the ammunition.

You and I can speculate all we like but until the Company you work for actually starts a process against you there isn't any real advice that can be given, apart from be careful, stick to the rules and watch your back.

Does your colleague know you took it? Or any of your colleagues? Are they aware that you've taken things in the past?

Was it just you who took something on this occasion or did others do the same?

I will be taking that advice reddogsbeg.
I was actually asking for advice on how to handle the ‘meeting’ if there is one.
I believe this is going to take place tonight gathered by the conversation I overheard.
I didn’t have to make a complaint about feeling like I was being pushed out as after a series of meetings we all came to an understanding.
I don’t know how to take it on the chin like a PP suggested.
And ultimately I need to be able to keep my job, I have obviously taken the piss which I regret now.

Anything we as a team have taken have always been done privately so we cannot incriminate each other. Out of sight of people and cameras. There have been occasions that others have disclosed what they have taken in the past. But I have never done so, I knew it was risk taking, so I never made a habit out of it.

What did you take?!

“If I’m being accused of something illegal then it would be silly of me to comment before seeking legal advice.”

If they haven’t got CCTV or any other evidence then leave it up to them to prove it. They probably can’t.

And don’t do it again.

So there is systematic theft going on in the workplace? I think the only thing you candy is wait and find out if it is you that is subject of the investigation and if so out your hands up and grovel and hope wing disciplined/dismissed is the least that happens.

On this occasion it was shop branded drinks that we as a company would not be allowed to sell.
On other occasions it would be short dated food/leftovers.

If there is a meeting tonight can you take someone you trust into the meeting with you?

Listen to the evidence they have, ask for copies, take notes. Take time to consider any reply you make, don't 'drop yourself in it' if they don't have anything concrete.

It's hard to advise as it is impossible to know what they are planning to do, if anything.

If a disciplinary process is started against you tonight, you are dismissed, or asked to resign, there are people on this Board who can advise you where you go from there.

I’d ask if they want to lose their entire work force so close to Christmas as if they want to dismiss you, they’d need to dismiss everyone as you’re all at it
—Then take the sausage rolls out from under your jumper—

I hope it’s just my guilty conscience.
And I can silently learn my lesson.
I wouldn’t have thought that my manager would have the conversation I overheard in front of me if it was about me. But alarm bells rang when ‘length of service’ was mentioned. I am one of few that has been there so long

GinandGingerBeer

Love your lighthearted reply!