A Warning

[STEVIEBOY1]

Beware what just happned to me, I was just about to add another comment, on this site, but got seen by my manager, I have been hauled into the big bosses office and received a severe reprimand for using the internet and emails at work for my own use. (I don't have that at home)! whoops, guilty as charged, fully my own fault. Must be more careful next time!

 

[Geezertronic]

Beware what just happned to me, I was just about to add another comment, on this site, but got seen by my manager, I have been hauled into the big bosses office and received a severe reprimand for using the internet and emails at work for my own use. (I don't have that at home)! whoops, guilty as charged, fully my own fault. Must be more careful next time!

And despite the warning and reprimand, you still went on to post the comment above?

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

And despite the warning and reprimand, you still went on to post the comment above?

Yes, I was not very clever was I. Both the manager and boss out of office now after handing me the warning in writing and docking me 2 weeks pay, I accept that they were fully justified and I now feel very humiliated & embarrassed, it was like having too see the headmaster at school. I'll have to go on line from internet cafes for a while. At least they did not give me the sack this time.

 

[rail-britain]

handing me the warning in writing and docking me 2 weeks pay

That would be illegal and grounds for constructive dismissal
Only a loss of revenue can be clawed back

The matter would have to be subject to being advised of the disciplinary hearing, typically suspended until that had occured

 

[Old Timer]

Yes, I was not very clever was I. Both the manager and boss out of office now after handing me the warning in writing and docking me 2 weeks pay, I accept that they were fully justified and I now feel very humiliated & embarrassed, it was like having too see the headmaster at school. I'll have to go on line from internet cafes for a while. At least they did not give me the sack this time.

They appear to have failed to follow proper disciplinary procedure.

The punishment is also out of proportion.

You are also allowed an option of Appeal.

I suggest there is something very wrong here.

 

[GNER 373]

Your being taken for a ride! They normally would dock you an hours pay for usage of the Internet during work hours (if you only used it briefly, if your hammering it then you get what you asked for!). If you have signed something to agree to the terms and therefore the punishment there's nothing you can do except not use the Internet at work! If not they've gone way overboard! It all depends on what kind of employee you are?

 

[Old Timer]

Your being taken for a ride! They normally would dock you an hours pay for usage of the Internet during work hours (if you only used it briefly, if your hammering it then you get what you asked for!). If you have signed something to agree to the terms and therefore the punishment there's nothing you can do except not use the Internet at work! If not they've gone way overboard! It all depends on what kind of employee you are?

Such an agreement would not be enforceable as it would breach Employment Law.

No Contract can breach any superior Statutory Law.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Your being taken for a ride! They normally would dock you an hours pay for usage of the Internet during work hours (if you only used it briefly, if your hammering it then you get what you asked for!). If you have signed something to agree to the terms and therefore the punishment there's nothing you can do except not use the Internet at work! If not they've gone way overboard! It all depends on what kind of employee you are?

Now writing from the internet cafe, not in office now. I prob would of got away with a lesser punishment, but at the same time as I was being disciplined earlier today, a couple of sweaters that I had ordered online (at work) were delivered to me at the office. Today's incident was my 2nd I'm sorry to say. It's only because I have worked here along time and can do certain things the bosses can't do, that I was not dismissed this time. However I won't go for the hat trick, as it will be the sack then. So no more internet use at work for me.

 

[Toad]

STEVIEBOY1 - As all are stating, the action taken against you is not correct.

Coming from a background/career advising and actioning D&G, Dismissals and Appeals..........I would love to get these clowns 'on the other side of the table'

The volume of Disciplinary, dismissals that get reversed because of poor processes being carried out by poor Managers is vast.

 

[Old Timer]

Now writing from the internet cafe, not in office now. I prob would of got away with a lesser punishment, but at the same time as I was being disciplined earlier today, a couple of sweaters that I had ordered online (at work) were delivered to me at the office. Today's incident was my 2nd I'm sorry to say. It's only because I have worked here along time and can do certain things the bosses can't do, that I was not dismissed this time. However I won't go for the hat trick, as it will be the sack then. So no more internet use at work for me.

I presume you do not have a Trade Union at work ?

There is a whole process to go through with regards to discipline, you simply cannot haul someone in an "punish" them instantly anymore. The whole thing is a minefield of Legislation and it looks as if your two dummies are walking blindfold across a minefield.

Under No circumstances must you accept this punishment. Ask for or obtain a copy of the Company's disciplinary procedure.

Alternatively if you feel so minded I suggest you go to an employment lawyer and take civil action for recovery of your lost earnings, as they have no right to withold your wages in the way they have.

If you decide to go down the Unfair Dismissal route I can safely say the only issue will be the quantum of the damages. And unless it is a small Company, your two dummies will be on the dole. If you have a HR Department I am sure the women in there will be having kittens as and when this gets out. If HR discover you are going to Tribunal they will throw money at you to make the problem go away. Either way it is an early Christmas for you !

For the avoidance of doubt I myself am a manager who is trained in this area. My former Company would only allow fully trained people to manage disciplinary hearings.

 

[CNX]

And I wonder how many employers ban staff from using work computers for accessing the internet, but expect them to check their occupational E-Mail, and respond if required, from their home computers at weekends and bank holidays.

 

[HST Power]

And I wonder how many employers ban staff from using work computers for accessing the internet, but expect them to check their occupational E-Mail, and respond if required, from their home computers at weekends and bank holidays.

This whole episode sounds ridiculous to me. Surely they cannot just take you in and dock your pay on the spot like that? You should appeal against this and certainly seek further action.

 

[CNX]

If the OP is not a member of a trades union, I suggest that he contacts his local Citizens Advice Centre, who should be able to point him in the direction of a lawyer who specialises in this field. Yes, he's done wrong, but the punishment should fit, and not outweigh, the crime.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

If the OP is not a member of a trades union, I suggest that he contacts his local Citizens Advice Centre, who should be able to point him in the direction of a lawyer who specialises in this field. Yes, he's done wrong, but the punishment should fit, and not outweigh, the crime.

I agree with what CNX says here, I am amazed by all these replies from what I just put up as a warning to others to be careful not to make my stupid error of judgement when using internet at work..(I am doing this in internet cafe en route to the office now), I fully accept that I was in the wrong and, however one of the bosses called me and we are hopefully going to smooth things over later today.
I think much of it was a heat of the moment thing.
Maybe they & I can all learn something from this.
Perhaps I'll stand them a few drinks in the pub?

 

[CNX]

I agree with what CNX says here, I am amazed by all these replies from what I just put up as a warning to others to be careful not to make my stupid error of judgement when using internet at work..(I am doing this in internet cafe en route to the office now), I fully accept that I was in the wrong and, however one of the bosses called me and we are hopefully going to smooth things over later today.
I think much of it was a heat of the moment thing.
Maybe they & I can all learn something from this.
Perhaps I'll stand them a few drinks in the pub?

Yes, say you were wrong, but feel that the punishment was far too severe. Back in my railways days, something such as this, would, after ignoring instructions and a verbal warning, would probably have resulted in a day or two's suspension without pay, but only after a hearing at which you would have been entitled to representation, and the right to appeal the decision.

Perhaps it was a heat of the moment thing, and your boss was just in a very bad mood at the time as a result of something totally unconnected with what you had done. Hold your hands up, plead guilty, and hope he's cooled down. Sounds like he has. Good luck.

 

[oattam09]

If you can do things they can't at work then it sounds like you are in a better position than you think. If you walked out, where would they be? In agreement with everyone else who has posted, this is not the dark ages, and employers cannot just dock pay on a whim.

Good luck.

 

[jon0844]

This is a wind-up surely?

I also reckon it's another drip-feed thread, where as people start to question more about the details, more stuff will be added to take it in new directions.

 

[tempests1]

Yes, I was not very clever was I. Both the manager and boss out of office now after handing me the warning in writing and docking me 2 weeks pay, I accept that they were fully justified and I now feel very humiliated & embarrassed, it was like having too see the headmaster at school. I'll have to go on line from internet cafes for a while. At least they did not give me the sack this time.

It's sounds like a horrible place to work, couldn't they have just told you off without written warnings etc, unless have you already received a verbal warning? You have always got to be careful with the Internet at work particularly as the IT Internet/email policy at some companies states personal useage/misuse of it, could be considered as gross misconduct

 

[HST Power]

Perhaps it was a heat of the moment thing, and your boss was just in a very bad mood at the time as a result of something totally unconnected with what you had done. Hold your hands up, plead guilty, and hope he's cooled down. Sounds like he has. Good luck.

This happens all the time. It's very rare it DOESN'T happen to somebody at some stage of their careers. Everybody's boss will flip out with you now and again but in truth, it's not you, it's something completely different that's annoying them!
I think you'll be OK if he said he wants to smooth things over.

 

[Greenback]

This is a wind-up surely?

That thought did cross my mind last night, but there are still employers and managers who think they can behave this way!

 

[jon0844]

If that is case, the OP might wish to seek legal advice instead of posting here and running the risk of being told off again. I presume that if they knew he was online, they could monitor where he's been - and this thread won't do any favours.

 

[Old Timer]

.......however one of the bosses called me and we are hopefully going to smooth things over later today.....

Sounds to me very much like they have tried to implement the "punishment" and HR have become involved and realised that the compensation cheque they will be signing if you go to the Tribunal will be significant.

Assuming the absolute veracity of what you have said, I have a feeling that a suitable conversation (in accordance with the correct disciplinary procedure) will be taking place between HR and at least one of your Managers in the near future.

If that is case, the OP might wish to seek legal advice instead of posting here and running the risk of being told off again. I presume that if they knew he was online, they could monitor where he's been - and this thread won't do any favours.

Oh I don't know about that ?

If they had come on here it my have brought to their attention the fact that they had walked their Company onto the losing side at a Tribunal with the consequent substantial compensation liability, and themselves into a Gross Misconduct charge.

Accepting what they OP has said, something has happened overnight.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

If anyone is interested, this regrettable matter has now been resolved, everyone has calmed down, apologies given and accepted on both sides and 2weeks pay won't be docked. I will now be very careful with internet & email use in the office, just use it for work and will use librarys & internet cafes etc for my own use at lunch time or evenings etc. It was a sharp warning for me though, I hope no one else will make the same mistake as I did.

 

[Nightrider]

If the OP is not a member of a trades union, I suggest that he contacts his local Citizens Advice Centre, who should be able to point him in the direction of a lawyer who specialises in this field. Yes, he's done wrong, but the punishment should fit, and not outweigh, the crime.

Correct.

Bet the bosses surf the net all day long.

I know i do.

 

[HST Power]

Correct.

Bet the bosses surf the net all day long.

I know i do.

And there's the morale of the story!

 

[blue sabre]

This is a wind-up surely?

I also reckon it's another drip-feed thread, where as people start to question more about the details, more stuff will be added to take it in new directions.

Can we check to see if this is from the same IP address tonyaryan (sp) used?

 

[Sun Chariot]

Bet the bosses surf the net all day long

Several years ago, in a previous company (a big'un at that), the CEO instigated a clampdown on employees' abuse of internet usage during working hours. Not checking the sites people looked at per se, but checking how many hours people spent surfing during office hours.

And the biggest offender?

Yep - the CEO.

We heard no more about that clampdown idea...

 

[HST Power]

Nowadays, a lot of the big companies install filters and proxies and other complicated software to block websites like Facebook that could potentially 'distract' employees during working hours.

Funnily enough, RailUK Forums was actually blocked in my old office. Thankfully, I'm no longer there, so my post count continues to rise on lunch breaks!

 

[passmore]

Yes, I was not very clever was I. Both the manager and boss out of office now after handing me the warning in writing and docking me 2 weeks pay, I accept that they were fully justified and I now feel very humiliated & embarrassed, it was like having too see the headmaster at school. I'll have to go on line from internet cafes for a while. At least they did not give me the sack this time.

There's sufficient grounds there for an appeal, the punishment is completely disproportionate to the act.
In the final years of my job just before I retired, my haulage firm were in the process of installing new-fangled PCs with internet capability. They were all checked by this team of web-wizzos to make sure that non-essential websites weren't accessible. Internet was not going to be banned as we were all encouraged to use on-line map planning to get our trucks from A to B.
I really cannot see how your firm could deem internet usage sufficient grounds for docking your pay, much less give you a written warning. We are in the 21st century where internet usage for the majority of companies, whether that be a cleaning company or a haulage firm, is a necessity.
I recommend getting a lawyer involved to meticulously study their warning etc, there's something not quite right here. Good luck with any appeal you decide to make as I strongly suggest doing so.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If anyone is interested, this regrettable matter has now been resolved, everyone has calmed down, apologies given and accepted on both sides and 2weeks pay won't be docked. I will now be very careful with internet & email use in the office, just use it for work and will use librarys & internet cafes etc for my own use at lunch time or evenings etc. It was a sharp warning for me though, I hope no one else will make the same mistake as I did.

It has been just one working week from your first post, to your making this post in which matters have been resolved without any loss of pay to you. it must have been a very worrying week for you have to endure.

You seem to made a new resolution about the use of internet cafe for your own personal internet use in your own time. Enjoy the Internet without having to worry about other people in future.