Tribunal or take a hit?

[celtic]

Short advice needed guys, I have worked for a company for 22 months, car,phone and laptop and a good salary, on the 29th January I was in the office and the new sales managers laptop was open and I noticed a letter with my resignation typed on the laptop apparently written by me, I confronted her about it and was asked to go to the meeting room downstairs where she then shoved two pieces of A4 paper in front of me and asked me to sign one for my resignation or the other one saying I have been sacked for Gross Misconduct, no reason was given for the latter charge and was told if I sign the resignation letter I can keep my company car for two weeks and will receive Febuarys salary at the end of February, if I choose to sign the Gross Misconduct letter I would leave the office in the next 30 minutes with nothing and 80 miles away from home....... not much of an option, your thoughts on how to proceed further would be a help, one law firm says I should have not signed but like I said I had no option, one firm is happy to proceed but concerned about the cost, not doing the no win no fee situation as there is still a big charge plus 29.5% of any outcome if succesfull. By the way I have a new job starting on 3rd March so not a financial worry as yet but feel totally that companies can do this.

is there something missing from this post?

Why were you looking at her laptop? She really left it on, with your letter clearly visible?

What would/could they have done if you refused to sign either letter? Would they have physically stopped you from leaving the premises? If so, how?

[RED-DOG]

Reading private stuff on the manager's laptop = Gross misconduct.   

[celtic]

Reading private stuff on the manager's laptop = Gross misconduct.   

Well, that's what i was thinking, but wasn't sure. I'm sure its a fairly serious offence though.

[The Camel]

I remember 2p phone boxes Tom

There are still public telephones though, and surely you can find somewhere (a pub maybe) where someone will let you make a phone call if to tell them you're stranded. Even the police will phone home for you if you're stuck.


I ran out of fuel on the A1 near Tuxford at about 3am once. I flagged a police Range Rover down and he gave me a lift to a garage and then drove me back to my truck.

After I put the diesel in it wouldn't start so he gave me a tow, then to finish off he gave me a ticket for having a bald tyre.

I didn't mind though. Fair's fair. He was a decent bloke.

When I was stuck somewhere and lost my wallet, the police station gave a permit to travel form which meant I could get a train and taxi home without any cash.

This was about 25 years ago though, do they still offer this service?

[Doobs]

Reading private stuff on the manager's laptop = Gross misconduct.   

Well, that's what i was thinking, but wasn't sure. I'm sure its a fairly serious offence though.

Leaving an unprotected laptop open on your desk never goes down well either.  I don't think leaving a company laptop open with a fraudulent resignation letter on show would be something that would be welcomed either.

[George2Loose]

All sounds dodge. Did she mean for u to see it? Surely you'd be super carefulif you knew an employee was about when you've drafted their resignation letter?

[flushthemout]

Maybe George, but i went upstairs and it was there by the photocopier and visable by anyone,  and she slammed shut it when she came up and seen i had noticed it,no hidden agenda, just thinking she was new and wanted her own sales team in possibly, never gave a reason for gross misconduct even when i asked for one.

[flushthemout]

Short advice needed guys, I have worked for a company for 22 months, car,phone and laptop and a good salary, on the 29th January I was in the office and the new sales managers laptop was open and I noticed a letter with my resignation typed on the laptop apparently written by me, I confronted her about it and was asked to go to the meeting room downstairs where she then shoved two pieces of A4 paper in front of me and asked me to sign one for my resignation or the other one saying I have been sacked for Gross Misconduct, no reason was given for the latter charge and was told if I sign the resignation letter I can keep my company car for two weeks and will receive Febuarys salary at the end of February, if I choose to sign the Gross Misconduct letter I would leave the office in the next 30 minutes with nothing and 80 miles away from home....... not much of an option, your thoughts on how to proceed further would be a help, one law firm says I should have not signed but like I said I had no option, one firm is happy to proceed but concerned about the cost, not doing the no win no fee situation as there is still a big charge plus 29.5% of any outcome if succesfull. By the way I have a new job starting on 3rd March so not a financial worry as yet but feel totally that companies can do this.

is there something missing from this post?

Why were you looking at her laptop? She really left it on, with your letter clearly visible?

What would/could they have done if you refused to sign either letter? Would they have physically stopped you from leaving the premises? If so, how?

just a nit for signing the easy option, like i said Hindsight is a wonderfull thing

[flushthemout]

Reading private stuff on the manager's laptop = Gross misconduct.   

Private Tom? was addresed to me

[flushthemout]

All sounds dodge. Did she mean for u to see it? Surely you'd be super carefulif you knew an employee was about when you've drafted their resignation letter?

They drafted it for me George in my name saying i was resigning from the company and giving two weeks notice and going on gardening leave.

[flushthemout]

Anyway thanks for your views and suggestions, New job March 3rd lesson learnt, Same industry so may get some payback reading there customer base.

[celtic]

Reading private stuff on the manager's laptop = Gross misconduct.   

Private Tom? was addresed to me

It couldn't have been addressed to you if you wrote it!

Anyways, it seems you have sorted a new job out now etc, prob best to let it lie. You missed your chance IMO.

[StuartHopkin]

I'm not an especially hard man, obviously harder than most, but still open to reason.

They would have had to assault me, pretty grievous for them if they chose this route, to get the phone and car keys off me.

Don't mean to make light but I mean what I say there

Or they could just call the police!

[StuartHopkin]

If your starting your new job the day your notice ends then you have to let it go as you have no or very little loss of earnings to claim and that is pretty much all they look for.

[nirvana]

I'm not an especially hard man, obviously harder than most, but still open to reason.

They would have had to assault me, pretty grievous for them if they chose this route, to get the phone and car keys off me.

Don't mean to make light but I mean what I say there

Or they could just call the police!

Don't be a silly billy.

Dear Plod, please come and arrest one of our employees for leaving in his company car with his company phone