Is my employer in the wrong??

[Lakitu]

I've been with my Company for 6 years now. In September 2006 I transferred to another department and really enjoyed the job and was always busy.

In February this year I was asked to go on a 3 month secondment to our Clients premises to help them with a few things, which I did.

I came back to Head Office at the end of April and have been given very little work to do since I got back, despite me asking my Manager for something to do. What I am given, doesn't take me long to do and I'm sat twiddling my thumbs again.

I got into work this morning and my Manager asked to have a word with me, when we were behind closed doors he told me that I am to attend a disciplinary hearing on Thursday morning. I asked why and he told me it was about poor job performance and internet usage,

I'm actually livid. Never mind the 6 years hard work prior to this as proof I most certainly am not poor at my job (and why would he cherry pick me to go to our Client if he thought that were true?!).

I hold my hand up and admit my internet usage is high, but what does he expect if he's not giving me anything to pass my day?

My concern is that they will sack me for my internet usage as they have sacked people before, though I don't know the ins and outs of their cases. If they were going to, would they have dne it now if they deemed it to be gross misconduct? If they do on Thursday, would I have a strong case to take them to court for constructive dismissal since they're not providing me with anything to do?

I'm seriously considering handing in my notice right now and working my month and going temping, I just worry that I wouldn't always be in employment and fall behind with my mortgage if I do that.

[buildersmate]

You're right. For some reason, my answer was hidden from view until this morning. That's why you've ended up with it 3 times over.

[PatriciaH]

Dont forget to keep us posted
and good luck x

[Rosetta]

You obviously handled it well. Personally I would have been tempted to throttle him. He sounds so petty!
He was obviosly thinking you were just going to roll over, hence him getting irate.
Good luck!!!!

[Lakitu]

Patricia, I had an e-mail this afternoon inviting me to a meeting at 3pm tomorrow to discuss the outcome. They know I'm not going to accept anything other than the internet usage and I'll accept no more than a verbal for that.

I was very tempted to throttle him, Rosetta, I have to confess that I was a little bit cheeky, after I had said my piece, the HR rep was talking to me, so I was looking directly at her, she then bent her head to take notes on what I had just said and I took that opportunity to look directly at my Manager and very briefly raised and lowered my eyebrows to him. Hope you know what look I'm talking about there! LOL.

[Lakitu]

Oh, and strangely enough, I was given plenty of work to do this afternoon! Doesn't stop me fighting the temptation to tell him where he can poke his job though.

:o)

[lajohn]

Don't forget to keep a log of everything that said by you and everyone in this matter. Very important for future reference which hopefully you'll never need because all will end in your court. x :-)

[Lakitu]

I wrote down absolutely everything that was said this morning, despite HR taking minutes too. I'm getting a copy of her minutes tomorrow morning and I'm going to go through them with a fine tooth comb and check them against my own notes too.

Thank you for your constructive advice and your support x

[Lakitu]

Update:

3pm today I had a meeting with Manager and HR to discuss to outcome of yesterday's hearing. They ran through the minutes of yesterday and gave me both copies to go through in my own time and score out anything I don't agree with or sign and accept them.

My Manager went on to tell me that the decision they've taken is a verbal for abusing the computer policy, however, it's noted that I'm not entirely at fault as I didn't have enough work to keep me off the net. Fair enough, I've accepted that.

He then went on to apologise that I've been feeling comfortable since my return from the secondment and he's taking measures to ensure I don't feel like that again and to approach him if I do.

Since I got in this morning he's been handing over a heap of work and I've actually had a busy day! Result! LOL

[Rosetta]

Well done!!!

If the work dries up again in the future I would be inclined to keep a written record of workdone and requests for work.

Hopefully its all sorted now providing the creep keeps his word lol

[Lakitu]

That's a good idea, Rosetta! I'm still looking for another job though, I'm looking forward to the day I can tell him where to poke his job LOL :o)

[wolf63]

I have been following this thread with interest.

I am glad that things have worked out in the end. You were right to go into the first meeting well prepared.

Best wishes for a busy future.

:-)

[barb1314]

I've also been following your thread this week and really wanted to find out how you'd got on. Well done for staying calm and being prepared. Hope it all works out well for you.Good luck Lakitu.Keep busy!

[sara3]

Lakitu, wow.. I missed all this! at least you seem to have come out of this with your integrity intact.

employers will try all sorts to get rid of you if they want to. be careful in future that you don't stumble into something that may give them an excuse to kick off again.

well done for speaking out and keeping your wits about you.

you win!! X

[Lakitu]

Awww, that's really nice of you both, thank you!. I'm very pleased that it turned out the way it did :D

[Lakitu]

Thank you Sara! That's exactly was I was fighting it for, my integrity! :D

I've just had a bubble bath and half a bottle of wine, I'm not sure if I'm sleepy now the stress has gone or because of the wine! LOL

[icemaiden]

Wow! Lakitu, pat on the back for you.

So glad you had a good result.

[Lakitu]

Thank you :D

[LoftyLottie]

Just caught up Lakitu.

Well done girl, good on you!!! xxx

(I cried on Sunday - Hollyoaks funeral!! ;o))

[LoftyLottie]

Did you ever find out what the exact computer policy is Lakitu, i.e. is it really a clear cut policy?

[Lakitu]

Thank you, Lottie!

I know!! the Max dead storyline didn't particularly bother me, I found the baby story far more distressing but that funeral had me blubbing too! Did Steph sing wonderfully?!