Fired from Work

[Mobius]

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1765609

[Incase Somethingawful deletes the thread]

A little backstory

My brother and I are 18 and 16, and both work in Tesco I've worked there for 2.5 years, and he has been there for around 6 months. Its a huge supermarket chain in England, that does everything from mobile phones, car insurance, home shopping, etc. They employ pretty much anyone, but mostly teenagers/university students...

...Anyway, at 5pm today my brother went into work as usual. I only work Fridays and Saturdays, so I was at home. At around 7pm Tesco rang my home to tell my parents to come and pick my brother up, which is weird. I've never had my work phone home in all the time I've been there.

I was pretty confused, but not that bothered. I figured perhaps he was ill or something. So 30 minutes later my brother comes through the door with my mum and dad, and tells me we're both fired.

Apparently for the past 8 weeks me and my brother have been working with a blonde customer in her 30's, who comes to our till and buys lots of random items (Microwaves, champagne) and then hands us loads of vouchers, bringing her shop down to about a tenth of its original price.

Tesco believe this is a scam we have formed, and are in league with this blonde woman. I literally have no idea who she is. Anyone whos worked in a large supermarket (Believe me, this is a VERY large supermarket) will tell you that you get all sorts of customers, and rarely do any stick in your head. We're handed hundreds of different types of vouchers, and all you do is scan it. If it scans, its accepted, if not, you hand it back explaining its an incorrect product/out of date etc.

I've got to go in tomorrow evening and speak to my manager about whats happening, but basically what they've told my parents is we can either quit right now (which we've done) or we can argue our case and the security fellow will call the police.

I'm fairly mad, to be honest. I've been there for 2.5 years which for a student in a part time job isn't bad, and I really do work hard. I've never had a sick day, and I'm always polite and helpful. I've even stayed beyond my scheduled hours to help out, for no extra charge.

The thing is I've already handed in my notice, and was due to quit in 2 weeks (I'm emigrating to Australia) so doesn't really help my case. They think its strange me and my brother would both quit around the time this happens, which admittedly does look a little odd. I want to try and argue my case, but if the police got involved it could affect my emigration, and the manager has told my parents we may even be called back from Australia to some type of court case.

The strangest thing to me is the fact that of the 300 or so people that work at the Supermarket, only me and my brother have been targetted by this woman. Neither of us have any idea who this woman is, and I had absolutely no idea what she looked like until the manager described her to my parents. Even then it didn't ring any bells. My parents think it might be someone they know, who knows we are related. Its to much of a coincedence that we were selected out of so many people (we don't look alike, we don't speak at work)

Sorry if this is slightly incoherent, but I'm a little pissed off right now. Do I have any case at all? If I've taken coupons which I wasn't mean to, then I'll apologise to them. They never told me though, nor my brother. They can't expect us to know every single acceptable coupon can they? I work twice a week, not full time. I come in, do my time, and leave. Is this a sackable offence? I'm not going to get paid for my last 2 weeks now, which was money I needed. I realize I'm leaving soon so its probably not a bad time for it to happen, but I don't want to go with everyone thinking I'm some sort of scam artist.

Can't be arsed to retype it, but that person is me. Can you believe that? Fucking *****. 2.5 years of loyal service for that.

Argh, I can't wait to get out of this cunting country.

 

[Ch3tan]

They've just used the fact your leaving the country to feed you bullshit, which you have accepted.

 

[Jupitus]

Mobs - if you can be 100% certain that your brother isn't involved without you knowing then I'd fight it somehow, unless he is also heading off to Aus. If he isn't he'll need his name cleared and you should help.

Any way you can postpone your departure?

Going out now - will read later.

 

[Ch3tan]

Oh, and another thought. Tesco's around here have very good cctv. Ask to see the incidents where you have accepted these vouchers. See if you recognise the woman.

Check the company rules regarding investigatory procedures like this -has your manger followed the correct procedure? Is there a union rep instore you can talk to for advise, or a company employee helpline. It seems odd you could manufacture a scam -how would you get the vouchers? Are they claiming they were stolen?

Seems very much to me like they are riding there luck with the info you have provided in your post.

 

[Will]

They haven't got anything on you that the police would be able to work with, or else they wouldn't have given you the option of just leaving, the police would already be involved.

 

[rynnor]

Its actually pretty likely that the woman doesnt know you but looked for someone in-experienced who wouldnt know her coupons were a scam - after having sucess with you she obviously saw you as a weak point and kept coming back - no point her trying someone else who might be wise to it.

I wouldnt take it as the literal truth that only you and your brother were targetted either - they could well have said that to a bunch of people...

Make sure you get the money for the hours you've worked if they want you to resign - they have no legal basis to keep that money.

 

[Embattle]

Personally I would check the companies rules regarding such situations, the fact is that all companies have procedures they must follow and ways in which you can appeal etc.

 

[Clown]

lolz 25

 

[Sar]

TBH Mobs I wouldn't give a flying fuck.

You're going to be out of the country permanently in a fortnight, so as long as they don't try to press charges then don't worry about it.

Although I'd like to see them try it on, because they don't have a fucking leg to stand on.

Did they even bother to question this blonde?

 

[Mobius]

I don't really give a flying fuck. I'll be in sunny Australia in 2 weeks, whilst those ***** spend the rest of there lives in a Tesco uniform. Its just the principle of the matter really. Believe it or not, I quite liked it at Tesco. I started the job at the age of 16 (It was my first job) and have come to enjoy going in. I've got lots of good friends there, and my managers seemed to genuinely like me. I'm one of the hardest workers, and always willing to help out whenever necessary. It just peeves me that after 2.5 years of "loyal" service (I never had a sick day, never skived off, etc) they can now threaten me with the sack, or face criminal justice.

[pasted again from the other thread, posted by me]

I just spoke to my dad and he says that he said to my manager (when he picked my bro up) "So you're sacking them for accepting some incorrect vouchers?" to which my manager replied "We're not sacking them, we're asking them to leave, or else security will have to get involved"

It doesn't sound like a very professional way for a conglomerate to work, does it? The only evidence they have (from what my brother/parents have relayed to me) is a till receipt from new years eve, from which they then found other bills on our "records" (which I wasn't aware even existed) ... I'm guessing they checked every single employees records from the last 8 weeks as well, then.

I wonder what grounds my manager will tell me I was sacked on, when I go to visit him tomorrow. My mums begged me not to kick up a fuss, but I want some sort of explaination.

I've had my friends mother (friend and mother both also being Tesco employees) come to my till and use multiple vouchers, whilst the mother is still in her Tesco uniform. Obviously I don't want to mention that to my manager, but surely by the same virtue she must also be scamming Tesco, or unaware of any voucher rules as well?

Honestly, I'm the sort of person who wouldn't let this lie. Were it not for me leaving the country forever in 2 weeks, along with my family, I'd probably attempt some sort of legal case, but the monetary costs, and time it'd take, makes it impossible. We've got flights on the 21st, and our house is being moved into by another family on that day. We couldn't stay, and my parents have basically said, try to clear your name, but don't do anything that will jeapordise our emigration.

Doesn't sound right, does it?

-------
Here is someone elses theory (I think he watches to much TV)

The store manager / management is trying to cover their own asses. Believe me I worked in retail for years and this is the way things work. I'll be this is happening in your store:

Regional manager to store manager: "Jim .. we have proof a woman has been passing bad vouchers at your store. This is unacceptable. How can you let this happen? You're responsible for security."

Store manager: "What! Let me investigate!"

<digs around, finds 2 kids who are quitting and leaving the country>

Store manager to himself: "Case solved. I'll scare these kids into quitting, then report to the regional manager that I caught them. Young kids .. didn't want to press charges, etc."

 

[Mobius]

Did they even bother to question this blonde?

I'm going to ask tomorrow. All I know so far is that they've cancelled her clubcard. Oh the horror.

 

[Gumbo]

You would win a settlement at a tribunal, no question, unless you are lying and in league with this woman.

They have to prove you were, not you prove that you weren't.

You would win a settlement at a tribunal...

Wether you could be arsed to take it to a tribunal is another matter.

 

[Guest]

lol, lots of shits gone missing and theres somweone leaving the country, erm ok, lets blame them so the management dont look stupid and have a scapegoat


that works.

tell himn your not going to oz anymore and that you are going to a tribunal if he sacks you, then watch him squirm. Get his name and ring the head office and get them to bring in the security from head office, they will investigate the fuck out of him.

 

[ECA]

Its blackmail, "quit or we'll call the cops" tell them to shove it up their arses, and you'll sue for unfair dismissal, if its like you say you just scan the vouchers, you surely cant have done much wrong.

 

[mank!]

i suggest you buy one of these and just forget about it.

tesco are *****

 

[Draylor]

Anyone whos worked in a large supermarket (Believe me, this is a VERY large supermarket) will tell you that you get all sorts of customers, and rarely do any stick in your head.

Sorry, but that bits bullshit.

Years ago when I was a student I worked part time in a supermarket for a few years. I can still remember some of the more distinctive characters, the scam artists and the smell of 1 particular woman who made more than 1 person physically sick whilst serving her.

As far as coupons go its too long to remember the details. There were various things that were meant to be checked, they were NOT to be accepted if there was any doubt, and mainly they were being accepted as cash so should be checked in the same way cash would be.

If shes buying various expensive (microwave/champagne?) items and paying the majority of the cost with coupons surely youd be suspicious: but if Tesco's systems are setup not to query this, and accepted the supposedly dodgy coupons, arent they as much to blame?

Unless we're talking a few thousand identical dodgy photocopies of 10 year out of date 10p off coupons

 

[Tom]

It doesn't sound to me like they're following their discipliniary code of practice.

Personally, I'd fight them - but thats me. All they have is circumstantial evidence.

Oh, and get me some coupons before you leave. I need a new tv for my bedroom.

 

[Chilly]

TBH mate, even if you got arrested for arson and let out on bail it wouldnt affect your emigration now. The arrest records don't instantly get sent round the world so when the aussie customs guy asks you if youv been arrested you just say no and his lookup will confirm.

And even if they did try adn arrest you and did still emigrate to australia, there is NO WAY IN HELL you could be forced to return to the UK (extradition on grounds of a tiny theft...come on) at their will. The worst that could possibly happen is that the next time you return to the UK you get arrested on arrival and then immediately set free because tesco has forgotten all about it.

Give them hell, tell them you didn'y do anything wrong and they can get to fuck if they think you did (assuming you are telling the truth). You ahve worked there for years so presumably you are entitled to some rights as an employee (unfair dismissal - they have to prove what you did, not the other way round).

 

[SAS]

Can't find the linkage, but what that manager has done is illegal. No way would a big company offer a choice of 'quit or else'. It's just a way for him to have a easy solution, telling his boss "the two gits left for australia we can't track them..."

I'd recommend talking to a lawyer, am pretty sure you'll have a case and there could be a tidy sum heading your way. Better still go to the Sun (if you are not bothered about lawyers). Again cash sum

 

[Mobius]

I went to speak to my manager today, and it was actually not that bad. He pretty much said, "we know you haven't tried to scam us, we know you're a hard worker/trustworthy etc, and because you're leaving in 2 weeks, its easier for us to resign rather than stay, in which case the security bloke would have to get involved and they would attempt to prosecute the woman, meaning me and my brother would be unable to continue working (as we'd be part of the whole scandal) He then wished me good luck in Australia, and thanked me for my work. They think we were targetted by a fraudster, who knew our family somehow.

I'm sure something stinks about it all, but its the best solution really, and I'm just going to forget about it.

 

[Tilda]

I went to speak to my manager today, and it was actually not that bad. He pretty much said, "we know you haven't tried to scam us, we know you're a hard worker/trustworthy etc, and because you're leaving in 2 weeks, its easier for us to resign rather than stay, in which case the security bloke would have to get involved and they would attempt to prosecute the woman, meaning me and my brother would be unable to continue working (as we'd be part of the whole scandal) He then wished me good luck in Australia, and thanked me for my work. They think we were targetted by a fraudster, who knew our family somehow.

I'm sure something stinks about it all, but its the best solution really, and I'm just going to forget about it.

Did he make you sign anything?

 

[Mobius]

Did he make you sign anything?

Nope!

 

[Utini]

Well if he's already backed down to this extent, explain you're pretty pissed off about all this as youve done sod all wrong, and say if we're going to do this the way which is easiest for everyone least he can do is give you a glowing reference for your next job rather than the whole hanging under a cloud thing. That doesnt cost him anything and he should be happy to do that if he's just trying to take the easiest route.

 

[rynnor]

Did you get paid for all your hours?

 

[Bodhi]

Maybe she just wanted a good spitroasting.

 

[Scouse]

Frankly, I think you've a duty to sue. As long as you're telling the truth this is cut-and-dried. The cash you'd get from the settlement would go a long way to plying the laydeez with teh drink on a beach in Oz

 

[SilverHood]

Get in contact with the tabloids, they love this sort of story:

Brothers leaving for Oz! Fired for convenience!

I can see it already. At the very least, you can get an aopolgy.

 

[ZiggY]

I went to speak to my manager today, and it was actually not that bad. He pretty much said, "we know you haven't tried to scam us, we know you're a hard worker/trustworthy etc

frankly that is not good enuf they bullyed you imo and made you feel like sh!t...what they did was unfair to you and your family.

Anyway good luck in ozzy land