Warning in Work

corkhero

Apologies if in the wrong topic.

Just wondering,

Is it legal to be issued with a verbal warning for refusing to chase travellers who stole from the store.

I am just a regular employee part-time through college. Not a security guard or anything.

3 travellers came in and stole a jacket, the manager suggested i chase after them as i was the only male working on the given day.

I refused as i wasn't a qualified security guard and also i wasnt taking 3 travellers on to try and get the jacket.

I was then issued with the warning for refusing to take orders,

is this fair?

Thanks

dsane1

I wonder what the case would be if you did chase /catch them and were injured in the process .I suggest you would be told you should not have done so .Whatever about this current situation you should have this clarified for future reference .

AARRRGH

It sounds unfair to me.

I would try explaining the situation once more to the person who gave you the warning, and if they can't see sense, escalate it to her boss.

herya

Also the fact that they expected you to chase them as you were the only male there is bothering. I'm not saying the girls should chase them - none of you should but to pick on you is specifically is unfair. That's what security guys are for.

Nody

Well they could have expected him to ask for it back but in general I agree with the rest that it is outside your expected work descriptions, esp. as there are A LOT of regulations around what a security guard can and can not do.

corkhero

Thanks for the replies.

I have a meeting with the owner tomorrow where im going to be asked for it to be removed.

Be interesting to see how it goes.

kayos

Huh thats wrong on so many levels.

A) It is sexist because they made the comment you were the only man
It was a request outside of your role
C) It was putting you in harms way

What should have been doen in the absence of a security guard was ring the guard's and let them deal with it.

I would tell them exactly where they could stick their warning if it was not for the current downturn. If you had gone after them and they had got violent and assaulted you would your employer be happy that they would be liable for it?

herya

kayos wrote: »

If you had gone after them and they had got violent and assaulted you would your employer be happy that they would be liable for it?

+1
Or if you harmed them in some way and they sued the employer.

doolox

I think this is utter nonsense.
As others have said it is sexist.
It would put you in harms way for definite. People who steal have an alarming tendancy to use violence. Would your lovely boss pay your sick days with a broken jaw or sprained wrist any one of which the average thief could inflict in the blink of an eye on any resistance to their thieving.
I think not.
Get the warning rescinded as soon as possible and as forcibly as possible.
Why didn't your "superior" go after the thieves if he/she felt so strongly about the theft of the jacket?????
What would be your position if you had to hit back in self defense and the thieves sued????
Would your merciful boss back you up as a defense witness??
I think not.
Would any of your colleagues back you up at risk to their position in their jobs and risk the wrath of the boss??
I think not.
You did the right thing at the right time and be happy with it. All too often untrained people rush into situations they are not equipped to handle and the A and E rooms fill up with the results.
Ask your boss is she needs electrical work done in the shop or books balanced etc.. These jobs take special training and legally required licences to perform. So does stopping thieves or other wrongdoers. They are called police or security and it requires years of supervised training to do it.

Shelflife

Forget the whole sexist issue,

I own a shop and there is no way that i would chase 3 shoplifters let alone ask someone else to do so.

It is your manager that should be given a verbal warning for breach of health and safety regulations and for putting you in a situation that you could be hurt.

crazy that he is even considering giving you a warning over this.

Shiny

I used to work in a shop and have chased people before but there was
no way I would go after 3 travellers.

These people fight each other with axes and slashers ffs.


Only reason you might deserve a warning is that when you saw them
coming in, you should have went right over to them and started "checking
the prices" on items next to them.

You have to make it blatantly obvious that you are watching them.

murphym7

I hope I catch you before you have your meeting.

If a warning was issued then it needs to be issued in relation to the breach of a company policy or in breach of your contract of employement which should include your job describtion and an outline of your duties.

If chasing thiefs from the store or genaral security tasks are not outlined in your contract of employement or your job description then no warning can be issued.

Warnings have to be issued in relation to a breach of Policy, contract etc..

masonman

corkhero wrote: »

the manager suggested i chase after them as i was the only male working on the given day.

I hope it went well today for you OP i.e the owner saw sense. I find it incredibly unfair that the Manager asked you to do this. But perhaps it was said in the heat of the moment. So I'd give her the benefit of the doubt to a point

However, If she continues to hold this arguement against you, I would seriously question her Management capabilities and if the owner has any sense he would see it this way too.

AARRRGH

corkhero wrote: »

I have a meeting with the owner tomorrow where im going to be asked for it to be removed.

Please let us know how you get on.

Mr. Incognito

Is chasing thieves in your job description?

What a ridiculous warning. Get that twit to have that removed- I'm guessing your boss is a woman?