I have been suspended from work today.

[john_s]

Record the meeting for your record if nothing else. I wouldn't bother asking for permission.

If it gets to an Employment Tribunal and they have done something wrong (eg procedure not followed, said something that they later deny, etc) that you can demonstrate with the recording, the ET *will* consider it, even though you didn't declare that the meeting was being recorded at the time.

 

[plasmahal]

They haven't given the OP much info on what's going on.

Even if it's not him under investigation, they should state that so he doesn't worry unnecessarily.

Keep us posted and we hope it's nothing serious for you.

 

[MooMoo444]

6 hours to go

dis gon b gud etc

 

[Jamesyboyjim]

I have worked for a supermarket chain for 20 years.

I have never been suspended and never had a warning.

You must have done something wrong to be suspended.

Oh indeed I did.

first time was for swearing at another colleague who was rude to me, they cried to the store manager. Final written for that.

The second was for the old classic social media rant (not my rant but I foolishly commented my opinion) One of my good colleagues decided to screenshot it and kindly print a copy for HR, while remaining anonymous.

Also suspended for grazing as a large stash of drinks and food was discovered in the warehouse but without any actual proof, nothing happened with that one (nor am I saying I had any involvement anyway, quite a few of us were suspended on suspicion)

The first two were entirely my own hot headed stupidity in my younger days! I'm sure glad I don't work in a supermarket anymore!

Back to op's issue, if he wasn't the one being directly investigated, I doubt he'd have been suspended, I have been used as a witness before for an incident and all that happened was I was asked to give a written statement. Certainly not suspended.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

It could be an incident entirely unrelated to you, which seems it is, and your employer may just want everyone out of the way who may have direct or indirect contact with whatever happened to ensure their investigations are undertaken without an outside or inside bias.

I wouldn't be too worried if it was me, if you are worried then take someone with you to the hearing and ask if they can be present during, as others have said already.

This.

Follow all the other good advice re having a rep with you and recording the meeting/s.

 

[Lunawolfy]

Don't record it. Your employment will be terminated if you do. Read my posting

 

[MooMoo444]

Recording it is fine if you let them know. If they refuse, then it's already a bit dodgy.

 

[tom_e]

Don't record it. Your employment will be terminated if you do. Read my posting

Your post seems entirely focused on McDonald's procedures and rules. He doesn't work for them.

 

[Jamesyboyjim]

Recording it is fine if you let them know. If they refuse, then it's already a bit dodgy.

Where I worked, (sains) if you told them you were going to record the meeting they would postpone it. Basically they wont let you.

 

[Greebo]

Day off. Didn't leave the house apart from nipping to Aldi. I finished my Sat shift with my boss. Everything was fine.

Thats your problem there. I assume you don't work for Aldi? Traitor going to buy stuff from a rival

 

[D3K]

Did they find your IP address connected to the cameras in the women's toilets?

 

[Greebo]

The first few words of the letter read a little oddly to me.

They say that "As a result of the incident on 03.07.2016.... " which implies to me that the person who wrote the letter is assuming that the OP was aware of this particular 'incident', which he says he wasn't, and which apparently occurred while he was not even at work anyway!

It does all sound rather strange, and I do hope that this story will have a happy ending!

Hey the op might have switched all the freezers off at the end of his shift on Saturday so the incident is the next day when they discover it.

 

[Burnsy2023]

Where I worked, (sains) if you told them you were going to record the meeting they would postpone it. Basically they wont let you.

I don't see why employers do this? Surely in the interests of fairness an accurate record is valuable?

 

[Lunawolfy]

Your post seems entirely focused on McDonald's procedures and rules. He doesn't work for them.

That's word for word the standard McDonalds HR letter. That and Duty Manager and People Manager are both positions in stores.

And also I've got two filed away at my desk

 

[Jamesyboyjim]

I don't see why employers do this? Surely in the interests of fairness an accurate record is valuable?

Their answer to that was "you have a rep / witness with you to make sure you are treated fairly and by the book"

 

[Lunawolfy]

I don't see why employers do this? Surely in the interests of fairness an accurate record is valuable?

They don't want a fair outcome. They want the outcome which is best for the company.

Their answer to that was "you have a rep / witness with you to make sure you are treated fairly and by the book"

^^ This.

 

[tom_e]

That's word for word the standard McDonalds HR letter. That and Duty Manager and People Manager are both positions in stores.

And also I've got two filed away at my desk

Ok so it's a standard letter but he still doesn't work for them AFAIK

 

[dowie]

That's word for word the standard McDonalds HR letter. That and Duty Manager and People Manager are both positions in stores.

And also I've got two filed away at my desk

an interesting so OP works for Maccy D's

(or somehow his supermarket is using the same cookie cutter letter)

 

[Scottland]

OP, were you supposed to be in work on Sunday? Maybe double check and take in any rotas you have just in case this is the reason.

 

[deFiniLoGy]

Their answer to that was "you have a rep / witness with you to make sure you are treated fairly and by the book"

"Then I see no problem recording it "