Verbal warning from employer

[Belly]

I was late for work the other week - slept through the alarm - and after apologising to the boss when he talked to me about it, I assumed that was that. Then two days later I was given a letter which said 'This constitutes a verbal warning' and basically told me I needed to pay attention to my timekeeping.
Seems a bit harsh for a first offence, but my question is this: Is a verbal warning in print legal?

 

[fossyant]

It's a written warning. Late once FFS. I assume they conveniently forget when you work late ?

 

[Belly]

Don't get me started on that Fossy...Most nights I don't get away until at least 15 mins after they've stopped paying me!

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

Start issuing them with written warnings about breach of contract then... or an invoice for the extra time...

 

[SquareDaff]

If it's a verbal warning then there's no permanent record. Check your companies disciplinary procedures. It's doubtful that they can issue what is effectively a written warning without 1st issuing 1 or 2 verbal warnings. Get this sorted through your HR dept. If your manager isn't following the procedures the HR dept are usually pretty keen to sort it out!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Sounds like it started off as an informal warning and then he decided to change it to a formal one by confirming it in writing. Obviously I don't know your company policy on disciplinary proceedure but it sounds as though your boss might not either, there's usually a bit more to a formal disciplinary than a 'chat' followed by a letter.

 

[tyred]

Definitely check out the disciplinary procedure in your company and see how it compares to what they legally can and can't do. I had a situation where I was accused and disciplined by an incompetent boss for something I didn't even do as he was trying to cover his own mistake and chat with a solicitor and a solicitor's letter to the MD pointing out that correct procedure wasn't followed (and what he'd tried to do was in fact illegal) ended up with me getting an apology and the boss getting the sack. I was advised by the solicitor that even if the written warning I'd received was fully deserved, the cack handed way he had gone about doing it meant that it couldn't be applied in law.

 

[XmisterIS]

Sounds like the boss is a proper little Hitler! Way to completely destroy morale ...

Definitely check it out with HR. I'd tell them how much time you give to the company for free too, and is it really reasonable to have a warning for being late just once?!

 

[jim55]

it sounds like mine ,,i got a verbal warning and then a few days later had a letter to confirm ,,its a way of them having a record of issuing it ,,mine was defo verbal even though i got a letter stating i had it verbally!!!!

 

[Belly]

There is no HR dept as such. Family firm, the boss's sister is the sort of HR person. Perhaps needless to say, I'm looking for another job.

 

[jugglingphil]

You could tell the boss that you will ensure your time-keeping spot on, but feel demoralized that all the extra work you do is going unnoticed. However it all depends how you think he'll take it, it could be better to keep head down while looking for new job.

 

[oldfatfool]

The verbal warning in print is just a record that you have been given a verbal record ie a paper trail so that if you do it again and he gives you a written warning you can't deny having already received a verbal warning.

Depending on the manager he *might* think he is doing you a favour bringing it to your attention that it won't be tolerated so you don't make a habit of it, how late where you? and was it the first time?

If you feel aggrieved by it and feel it is totally undeserved then I would speak to the manager concerned and thank him for reinforcing in your mind the importance of good timekeeping, whilst promptly dropping everything regardless cock on your finishing time.

 

[User269]

The verbal warning in print is just a record that you have been given a verbal record ie a paper trail so that if you do it again and he gives you a written warning you can't deny having already received a verbal warning.

Depending on the manager he *might* think he is doing you a favour bringing it to your attention that it won't be tolerated so you don't make a habit of it, how late where you? and was it the first time?

If you feel aggrieved by it and feel it is totally undeserved then I would speak to the manager concerned and thank him for reinforcing in your mind the importance of good timekeeping, whilst promptly dropping everything regardless cock on your finishing time.

+1. It's a verbal warning, with a written confirmation, just as it should be. You can issue a written reply if you wish and/or consult your professional/trade union representitive for advice. Either way, your company will have a clear written procedure and policy regarding disciplinary procedures. Don't be late, arriving or leaving

 

[Deckitout]

In order to issue an official written warning, you must first be advised of a discipliary hearing and given 24 hours notice. You must also be given the right to have another employee present as a witness, or a trade union representative.
This follows ACAS guidelines and although companies do not have to follow it, it is advisable.
So in essence, they haven,t got a clue what they are doing, best course of action is find another job, but when you hand in your notice, tell them you are taking them to a tribunal for constructive dismissal, it wouldn,t be worth your while but watch there faces when you tell them..
I once assisted a friend drag out a dismissal case for 6 months by continually hitting them with technicalities and causing ajournments, in the end end we got a 5k out of court settlement out of the incompetent idiots after hitting them with an IT1.

 

[Red Light]

I don't know what the OP does, how critical it is that he be there on time and how late he actually was on this occasion. But there seems to be a lot of knee jerk response that being warned about it must mean he is faultless and the management is incompetent and exploitative without any knowledge of the realities of the situation. Leaving 15 mins late is hardly a massive amount of unpaid overtime - if it was an hour late it would be different but 15 mins is the sort of time people often take to gather their stuff and get out the door.

Having said that a verbal warning on first offence seems a bit harsh and I suspect there must be other dissatisfactions and this is just the convenient hook to hang a warning on.