Employer Disposing Of Employee's Personal Property

[Halifaxmum]

I bought a pair of Clarks £65 shoes to use for work as I am on my feet for 8 hours a day.

I have been off sick for 14 weeks and just went back today. In the time I've been off, my employer has "had a clear out" and thrown away my shoes without telling me.
The shoes were kept on the floor of the staff area, along with many others, by the lockers, not in my locker, as they make it smell.

I asked my employer about this today and was told "you'll have to buy some more."

If I took something belonging to my employer and disposed of it without asking, I would be sacked and prosecuted for theft. Why are they allowed to get away with this? My union rep says that because they weren't in my locker, I don't stand any chance.

Thank you for any advice.

[Canary42]

Employers have the upper hand these days and can (and do) treat their workers like s h i t .

Any action by you will only bring retribution from them, be warned.

[Zacs-Master]

By you're own admission they are a bit pongy. After 14 weeks they probably walked out on their own.

[hc4361]

Your union rep is correct, your locker is for your personal belongings and even then the employer has the right to force it open and dispose of your property, for example if you had left fruit in there that had gone rotten, attracting flies.

[DTCwordfan]

Put an expense note in and see if it flies....

[woofgang]

Sorry but I only have a little sympathy.....in your locker, ok but outside your locker then they are fair game for the bin, especially if they were smelly.

[Peter Pedant]

I think your union rep is correct