Disciplinary matter

[waynecyclist]

Looking for some help and advice with the following matter, will try and keep it short.

3 weeks ago, I made a mistake with submitting a warranty claim (value less than £2k) and it was denied, told my service manager and explained that as I was going away on holiday will not get chance to sort but no matter what it would be sorted he was fine with that (I should add that at the time he was off sick but emails confirming this etc all to hand)

Been on holiday and returned to work on Monday, get called to the office and have a right royal telling off over the matter from the MD and service manager and was told that it would be going further as a disciplinary matter, later received a letter with points from the meeting plus another advising me of a disciplinary hearing (Thursday).

Attended hearing with another work colleague that I get on well with, was told that in basic terms I had failed to follow procedure and a written warning would be issued, I would add that this was the first time I have ever really been in trouble and have been with the company 16+ years.

I was issued another letter yesterday confirming outcome from the hearing and giving me 5 days to appeal if I wish.

A short while later the claim in question was agreed and paid in full after some work from myself, so the company has not lost financially in anyway.

My question is that should I appeal now on the basis that the claim has been agreed or accept and move on?

Might seem a daft question just never really been in trouble before and wondered what is best.

Thanks all

[Hammer67]

Did the MD see the emails between you and the SM? Sounds like the SM has been arse-covering at your expense.

I wouldn't be at all happy with that situation.

I'd be appealing like an Indian spin bowler.

[Silenoz]

Hammer67 said:

Did the MD see the emails between you and the SM? Sounds like the SM has been arse-covering at your expense.

I wouldn't be at all happy with that situation.

I'd be appealing like an Indian spin bowler.

Appeal, and raise a grievance against the service manager.

[condor]

It's not a final written warning, so as long as you follow procedures from now on, you should be fine. Your company handbook should give you information on how long the written warning stays on file for.
Surprised your service manager didn't back you up at the disciplinary hearing, although as he was off sick at the time - you should have mentioned the warranty mistake to whoever was standing in for him or his manager.

[waynecyclist]

From the letter received the warning is valid or on file for 1 year.

I would also add that the service manager chaired / ran the hearing

[Marcellus]

The Service manager should not have heard the disciplinary as he was involved in the event.

I’d say appeal but to whom? The M.D. has already been involved in the process!

[thebraketester]

Just move on.... i think appealing will ruffle feathers and will worsen relationships.

[waynecyclist]

Marcellus said:

The Service manager should not have heard the disciplinary as he was involved in the event.

I’d say appeal but to whom? The M.D. has already been involved in the process!

This is the issue, the latter states 5 days to appeal but I have to put it in writing to the MD

[Marcellus]

Well appeal and drop the Service Manager in the mire, then look for a new job!

[Thats What She Said]

Marcellus said:

Well appeal and drop the Service Manager in the mire, then look for a new job!

^This, unfortunately.

With your long service, they are probably seeing you as a piece of furniture that they can do with whatever they want.

Any appeal, would involve dropping the service manager in it, thus making an enemy of him. The service manager has clearly been whispering sweet nothings into the MD's ear while you were holiday (good opportunity for him... you arent there to defend yourself at the time).

I would say you can either:

1). Suck it up and keep your head down. The service manager wins, and whats to stop him doing similar in the future, now he knows he can try it on with you and get away with it.

2). Have a one to one with the MD and tell him exactly what happened (showing him the emails). Ride out the following storm with the service manager. If he gets out of order with you, either take it further or leave.

Best of luck. Office politics are the worst.

[Lotus Notes]

Hammer67 said:

Did the MD see the emails between you and the SM? Sounds like the SM has been arse-covering at your expense.

OP - It would be interesting to know if these were submitted during the investigation - This would show the true colours of the SM and his relationship with the MD. Your run down of events also hints at the investigation / disciplinary procedure not being followed properly as the SM & MD appear to 'bob in and out of the process' as they please.

However, you were disciplined for not following procedure - I would say that his is clear-cut and wouldn't advise you to appeal. Whether costs were incurred or not, procedure was still broken. Your ability to put the situation right has no bearing on the failure to follow procedure.

Is this harsh? If this is the only mistake in 16+ years with the company, I would say a resounding yes and it might be a good idea to refresh your CV and look elsewhere. If you can swallow this bitter pill, then stay - I know I couldn't, but we all all have differing choices.

[eliot]

Seems odd to go straight to written warning over £2k for someone that’s worked there for 16 years.
I seen cockups costing ten of thousands barely get to a verbal.
Maybe you are being managed out?

[Cyder]

I cocked something up and cost my employer around £1.5m I’m recalls.
We all had a jolly good laugh, looked at how to stop it happening again and moved on with the next project.

I guess the level of company turnover and size of the organisations has an effect but it does seem like they’re taking the piss.

[ozzuk]

Why appeal, you made the mistake. I'd just forget about it. A warning isn't a punishment, it is an indicator that if you carry on making mistakes then there will be repercussions - perfectly fair. If the company does nothing then it encourages limit testing behavior.

[Jasandjules]

Yes Appeal (at least) on the basis that new evidence has come to light which was not available at the time, namely the matter has been rectified and the warranty claim was successful..

The other things you say are a touch dodgy it seems however as well.

[longshot]

In your situation, I think the first thing I'd do is go talk to the service manager and ask him what happened while you were on holiday and take it from there.
Keep it friendly, ask about the emails and see what he says.

The holiday time is a grey area I'd want to colour in and know what happened in it before I decided what to do.

[Andyhb]

From a different point of view

You made a mistake on a warranty claim, putting a customer at a disadvantage and reflecting badly on the company.

You then went off on holiday without rectifying it.

Seems like quite poor service to the customer who I assume pay the bills and dare I say it a blasé attitude to it.

Imagine if your parents were declined a warranty claim because the person dealing with it clocked it up and went off on a jolly.

[Hammer67]

Some interesting views on this thread.

I'm reading this as the SM, the OPs line manager, agreed with and was happy about the situation pending the OP sorting it out when he returned from holiday. Which he did.
In the mean time the SM appears to have conveniently forgotten that and instigated disciplinary procedures.
No way would I lay down and take that. I'd be printing out the emails and knocking on the MDs door.
Service Advisors with 16 years service are rare beasts, almost certainly more use to the company than the SM who sounds like an Ocean Going stwalloper.

[NDA]

eliot said:

Seems odd to go straight to written warning over £2k for someone that’s worked there for 16 years.
I seen cockups costing ten of thousands barely get to a verbal.
Maybe you are being managed out?

This was my thinking too.

[Jasandjules]

Andyhb said:

From a different point of view

However you seem to be ignoring the fact that the manager who was involved then appeared to be involved in the disciplinary..