Desperate for help & advice please!

[Don4071]

Hi. Im not sure if theres anything I can do or what angle to take this from.

I worked for a public sector company as a temp and recently was taken on permanently. A couple of weeks ago I was suspended due to emailing myself a document from work, to work on from home - which isn't allowed. I did this whilst working as a temp i.e. before I was permanent.

The organisation wanted to carryout an investigation. Yesterday, without warning 2 people from the organisation came to my house basically to offer me the opportunity to resign! or to go to a gross misconduct hearing.

I havent given them a decision as to whether I will resign or go to disciplinary hearing.

I need some advice!! From the vibe I got from their conversation basically if it goes to a disciplinary hearing Im going to be fired and with only 1 of us working I can't afford this! Im not sure what to do - resign which will be immediate or fight them?

Any ideas please.

Thank you.

[bluebottle]

Re: Desperate for help & advice please!

Hi Don and welcome to Legal Beagles.

Firstly, do you belong to a trade union? Secondly, which public sector company is involved? Thirdly, who the hell are these two "persons" who turned up at your home? If you can answer these questions, it will be easier to advise you.

BB

[Bill-K]

Re: Desperate for help & advice please!

Hi Don, and welcome to you. The way I see it is this. If you resign, you have lost the job - game over. If you take it to a hearing, then the game's not over, and you still have a chance of keeping your job. Even if the hearing finds against you, you may be able to appeal, and therefore keep your job for a little longer while you look around for alternative employment.

Just my humble opinion, but if the hearing is to be fair, then it must examine the motive for emailing yourself a document. If it was purely so that you could work on it at home - presumably in your own time and at your own expense - then that in itself should be considered commendable. However, if a strict rule was broken in doing this, then I guess you must be "put on trial" - but given a FAIR trial, not a 'kangaroo court.'

If your motives were honourable, then I personally think it would be a bit harsh to sack you for being conscientious. If a rule was broken, though, then a lesser disciplinary measure seems more appropriate to me.

Just my humble opinion, though !!!