Please Please Help.........

[meg&mog]

Hi All

 

My hubby works for a large supermarket chain he has been there for 4 years full time he is a dept manager

 

On tuesday 27th he went to the store in the morning(to Shop)it was my birthday that day and he wanted to get my presents he picked my items plus card and paper etc he went to a self service till and scanned his items he called the lady to de alarm the items

 

he was in such a rush because he wanted to get them wrapped and get home before i woke he didnt finish the transaction meaning he did not pay

 

he did not realise never gave it another thought till thurs morning when he got a text msg from his manager saying someone had claimed he had taken items from the store he had no idea what it was about he did not realise his mistake on the tues morning

 

he reported to work last night (he works nights) and has been suspended pending a investigatory hearing he really did not realise this had happened he has been a good employee never had a warning or anything but we know this is gross misconduct so what do you think are his chances? will he be sacked? will they allow him to resign?

 

we are so worried and he is so sorry for what happened what do you guys think?

 

Thanks so much

 

Meg&Mog

[elpulpo]

Can the supermarket substantiate that he visited the self-service till, ie. he swiped a loyalty card, or put in a debit card but just didn't complete the transaction?

If his intention was to commit theft, surely the last thing he would do is put the stuff through the till? It strongly implies that he merely made a mistake.

If he was stealing, he wouldn't have done any such thing.

Don't know how the supermarket will see it, but that is what I would argue.

[meg&mog]

Can the supermarket substantiate that he visited the self-service till, ie. he swiped a loyalty card, or put in a debit card but just didn't complete the transaction?

If his intention was to commit theft, surely the last thing he would do is put the stuff through the till? It strongly implies that he merely made a mistake.

If he was stealing, he wouldn't have done any such thing.

Don't know how the supermarket will see it, but that is what I would argue.

 

 

Hi elpulpo

 

Thanks so much for your reply

 

Yes the store does know he went in he told them he did in last nights chat before he was suspended and also he works there so the staff know him

 

he also sat in the car park for roughly 10/15 mins after to wrap what he

had bought me in his car he also told them that

 

He thought he could use his discount card as proof he did pay last night (when they asked him about it)because he is so unaware of what he did if you know what i mean they scanned his card and it had not been used at all on the 27th so he did not pay which means he left the self service till with his items still listed and it asking for payment i know it is no excuse but he was in such a rush doing something nice for me and made a terrible error

 

Thanks again

[elpulpo]

Ok. Well hopefully there'll be other people along soon who can give their perspective.

That was the first point that struck me though.

I'd just wait for the investigatory hearing and explain exactly what happened.

Be straight forward, keep calm and hopefully it'll sort itself out.

Just a bit worrying because sometimes big companies can be a bit dogmatic about such situations and lose all common sense.

[as0ta]

Ok. Well hopefully there'll be other people along soon who can give their perspective.

 

Hi All

we know this is gross misconduct so what do you think are his chances? will he be sacked? will they allow him to resign?

Apologies in advance if i am coming across negative but I'm sorry to say he is in a position of authority and i suspect i know how this this will go.

 

Hi All

will they allow him to resign?

This might be the wiser option.

 

Hopefully there will be others who can advise on a way forward. All the best.

[meg&mog]

Apologies in advance if i am coming across negative but I'm sorry to say he is in a position of authority and i suspect i know how this this will go.

 

 

This might be the wiser option.

 

Hopefully there will be others who can advise on a way forward. All the best.

 

 

Thank You.........i think you are right also no harm in hoping

[as0ta]

Thank You.........i think you are right also no harm in hoping

Absolutely no harm. I agree.

 

But these large supermarket chains don't think twice about ruining a loyal worker's reputation or work history. Even if they can see that things don't add up and it may have been a mistake.

 

Resigning may even get him a reference to find other employment but if they dismiss him for gross misconduct, that's fours years of his life they sc*** up.

 

Again, apologies if negative and all the best.

[meg&mog]

Absolutely no harm. I agree.

 

But these large supermarket chains don't think twice about ruining a loyal worker's reputation or work history. Even if they can see that things don't add up and it may have been a mistake.

 

Resigning may even get him a reference to find other employment but if they dismiss him for gross misconduct, that's fours years of his life they sc*** up.

 

Again, apologies if negative and all the best.

 

 

Yes you are right i think he has decided if they do go to disiplinary he will resign such a shame he loves his job i feel bad for him

 

Thanks again

[as0ta]

With you on his side, he will be fine. Best to have the upper hand then let them ruin his reputation. But that's just my take.

 

The others will be along to see if there is any way forward in his current role.

Edited October 30, 2009 by as0ta

[elpulpo]

But he's not guilty of gross misconduct, is he? Was it his intention to permanently deprive the company of these goods, or the cost of them? No! It was just a mistake.

 

I do see as0ta's viewpoint; sadly, people can be very beligerant once they've made an accusation. And if it's not going well, quiting might sadly be the best option.

 

I just think that the fact he put these goods through a till is a clear defence.

 

Let me put it this way. This teatime I went to the supermarket, fought my way through Friday evening crowds and then went to a self-service checkout. Stressed as edit. If I'd been distracted, put my debit card in the machine but forgotten to put in my pin, and then left without paying?

There is no way I would subsequently be prosecuted for comitting theft!

Even Richard Madeley got away with it:D.

 

If they're accusing him of theft, tell them to report him to the police.

Edited October 31, 2009 by IdaInFife
edited for bypassing swear filter

[rebel11]

I think he will be fine. He called a member of staff to de alarm the products. He was recognised by a fellow colleague. If it was theft,

hardly the actions of a 'mastermind'. A severe talking too, a Verbal

Warning. What was the total value of the products?

It is very unlikely that he would compromise his position for that value.

Is he in a Union? I think he needs to fight it if he believes it to be unjust.

[meg&mog]

Hi All

 

Thanks guys for all your kind words i am hoping elpulpo is right he really did not mean to take the goods and not pay the total value was around £25 ish he knew he would be seen he knew people knew him i am just hoping and praying they take all things into account

 

He,s a good hard working man i really hope they see that

 

Thanks again everyone

 

p.s yes he is in a union

Edited October 30, 2009 by meg&mog
forgot something

[elpulpo]

Well good luck, let us know how he gets on.

[rebel11]

If he's in the Union it's a good idea to get them on board just for support. Plus thats what they are there for.

[deathbycrayons]

Subbing.. my hubby is going through a similar thing, he worked for a large well known supermarket chain too (the one with the Richard Hammond adverts). I hope it works out OK for you..

[deathbycrayons]

The first thing he needs to do is try and get them to view the cctv footage for that day and time, and also speak to the lady who removed the security tags from the item he 'took'.

[meg&mog]

The first thing he needs to do is try and get them to view the cctv footage for that day and time, and also speak to the lady who removed the security tags from the item he 'took'.

 

Hi All

 

Thanks for all your replies

 

He has told them to check the cctv to see him rush out they will do that i think and he asked at the "chat" why the girl had,nt called him back and they said to ask at the meeting

 

Thanks again

[meg&mog]

Hi Guys

 

Still not heard anything so i guess the meeting will not be tomorrow which was suggested

 

Making me feel ill now wish it would just hurry up so we know the outcome

 

Should we be thinking no news is good news?

 

Thanks Guys

 

Meg&Mog

[rebel11]

If he's told them to check the CCTV, probably adding weight to his stance that it's an innocent mistake. Just needs management to wake up.

[meg&mog]

If he's told them to check the CCTV, probably adding weight to his stance that it's an innocent mistake. Just needs management to wake up.

 

 

Thanks for your reply rebel11

 

He has told them to check cctv he sent a message to his manager last night saying i guess the meeting won,t be Monday since i have not heard anything and his manager said he had not heard anything either

 

Just wish they knew how sorry he is and gutted

 

Thanks again

[rebel11]

What he does need to do is make notes of events, such as what happened, times, dates, who suspended him, what they said. All communication. It's important.

[Consumer dude]

Thanks for your reply rebel11

 

He has told them to check cctv he sent a message to his manager last night saying i guess the meeting won,t be Monday since i have not heard anything and his manager said he had not heard anything either

 

Just wish they knew how sorry he is and gutted

 

Thanks again

 

 

 

Hopefully they have nothing to go on. Be prepared for an apology..

[rebel11]

I reckon the converstaion that should of happened is as follows, e.g.

John did you know that you forgot to pay, what happened?

John explains why he was in a rush.

O.K. John don't let it happen again, your in a senior position.

John I expect to see your till receipt before lunch tomorrow.

End of.

[meg&mog]

Hi Guys

 

Just a quick update...........nothing to report really had no letter about meeting not sure what to make of it other than it can not be as black and white as we are dreading

 

Do these things usually take this long? my hubby is up and down emotionally and i don,t know what to say to him

 

Thanks Guys

 

Meg&Mog

[rebel11]

meg&mog,

 

I was suspended whilst I was on holiday, Retail is a shocking sector, I should really write a book, I think it is worse if your honest and hard working.