Verbal Warning

stcarrol

I received a verbal warning in work for using the internet for non-work sites (it says in my contract I cannot use non-work-related sites), nothing inappropriate. I was given the warning by my Managing Director in a meeting with two co-workers and two supevisors also present. I heard that to do this publically is against employment rights, is this true? If it is true can I ask for the warning to be rescinded?

6th

Are you posting this from work now?

stcarrol

Ha ha, no I'm working part-time.

biko

There might be some answers here

stcarrol

That thread doesn't have anything on the form that verbal warnings have to take. I hear that in England there has to be one witness present for it to be an official warning...

uberpixie

stcarrol wrote: »

I received a verbal warning in work for using the internet for non-work sites (it says in my contract I cannot use non-work-related sites), nothing inappropriate. I was given the warning by my Managing Director in a meeting with two co-workers and two supevisors also present. I heard that to do this publically is against employment rights, is this true? If it is true can I ask for the warning to be rescinded?

Sounds above board to me as this was a private meeting with two collegues to witness.

Take the warning with a smile and keep your head down for a while and visably do a good job at work and you will be fine.
To fight against a warning you got for doing something that you know is against your contract reflects badly on you.

Eoin

What does the company's displicinary policy say? It sounds entirely appropriate for the two supervisors to be there, but why do you think the two co-workers would be there?

Personally I would accept the warning, because you have admitted you did do something wrong, but maybe have a polite word with your boss and say that you would prefer that any future HR related issues are not discussed in front of your peers.

Edit:

uberpixie wrote:

Sounds above board to me as this was a private meeting with two collegues to witness.

Hmmm, I think I would prefer to either chose my witness or chose not to have one at all. Having 6 people in that meeting sounds a bit much, and a little unprofessional to do it in front of the OP's peers.

stcarrol

The contract states that if an employee is guilty of a breach of contract then then will be put on notice. It then if there is a further breach then a formal verbal warning will be given. It doesn't state the form that the verbal notice will take. Though, for a first offence, i should only have received a warning, and not a formal one that goes on my record.

It was a regular meeting, with two of us being given warnings as part of the meeting.

Eoin

stcarroll wrote:

It was a regular meeting, with two of us being given warnings as part of the meeting.

That's completely different then, by not mentioning that you were all getting warned, you made it sound like there were 4 people to witness you getting warned on your own.

Disregard my previous advice then, and just take the warning rather than trying to wriggle out of it.

ArseBurger

A 'verbal' warning is only such if it's actually on paper and recorded in your file.

AARRRGH

Trying to get the warning removed due to some sort of technicality will make you look like a total spa.

Accept the warning and move on.

An Fear Aniar

Sounds like fair enough to me. I worked in the days when there was no internet. We had to work to amuse ourselves (typing this at work).



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stcarrol

2 of us were warned, one other co-worker was there, 2 supervisors and the managing director. One of my co-workers had nothing to do with it.

She did say verbal warning, have to see if she meant that would o on record

AARRRGH

stcarrol wrote: »

She did say verbal warning, have to see if she meant that would o on record

I would be very surprised if a "verbal warning" (especially if they use that exact term) was not put on your record.

ArseBurger

stcarrol wrote: »

2 of us were warned, one other co-worker was there, 2 supervisors and the managing director. One of my co-workers had nothing to do with it.

She did say verbal warning, have to see if she meant that would o on record

Stating that it was a verbal warning should be very specific and refer to disciplinary procedures. You should question it and ask if it is in fact an actual disciplinary warning or if it was 'advice' to stop surfing the web.

If you're surfing against company procedure - be prepared to take your medicine. After all, they pay you to do a job - not to surf.

However, your manager is delinquent in his/her duties by not fully explaining the consequences of their statement. And incompetent if in fact they were not issuing a disciplinary warning.

Be up front, and voice your concerns to either your manager or to HR.

Is this the first time it has been mentioned to you? Usually, before entering into the disciplinary process - a good manager will have taken their team member to one side and had a chat with them.

ArseBurger

AARRRGH wrote: »

I would be very surprised if a "verbal warning" (especially if they use that exact term) was not put on your record.

I wouldn't.

Many moons ago I was given a verbal warning that was contrary to employment law at the time. It was also stated in an email from my manager (who - at the time - did not know that email is considered a legal document in Ireland). I queried it with HR - who had no record of it. And as such it was quashed. My manager was also given a bollocking over it.

AARRRGH

Considering this "verbal warning" was given by his Managing Director in a meeting with two co-workers and two supevisors present, I think it's likely it's official...

If the OP was calling it a "warning" instead of a "verbal warning", then maybe it might be unofficial, but "verbal warning" is the phrase used for official warnings. In general, anyway.