Do I dob them?

[Cinnamonrock]

Hi guys,
First post so go easy on me!! I am currently holding a temporary position where I am supervisor to 4 staff.They all work between 3-6 each week night.They have no other jobs.3 out of 4 live on a sink estate (poor things) and without wishing to sound mean they have that "I'm entitled" mind set.The workplace changed management recently which is why I am now in charge.I have had to implement the changes ordered by the boss and one of those was that he wasn't going to allow the staff to eat the food he has to supply daily for the clients.The staff were eating loads of it to the point it was pushing up costs.I compromised by saying they could still eat at work even though they do not work long enough to actually warrant a break by law.I said they could bring their own or we would have staff biscuits that they could tuck into.I also asked them if it was a big ask they said -no that they ate cos it was there.All sorted or so I thought.I was off for a week ill and on my return 1 of the staff has informed me that the other 3(from the sink estate) have pigged out on client's food the whole week I was away and have been constantly moaning behind my back at how unfair it is that they are only getting biscuits now.They have all day to eat before they come to work so the only thing I can see it as is that they don't like change.I have the opportunity to make this job permanent but am not sure I want to if i cannot trust the staff to follow the rules if I am away.So do I ride out the temporary contract and just tell the boss in 6 weeks,or do i dob them now,bearing in mind that temporary or permanent contract I am the one stuck with them every night and they will know that I told on them!Would the fallout be worth it? What do you think?They are great at their actual jobs by the way.

[mccfluff]

can you not not haul them in and give them a b0llocking instead?

[Cinnamonrock]

I'd love to Mccfluff but the boss retains all disciplinary powers-it is an odd set up.Mine is more of an administrative role I make sure that all policies etc are in place and that the boss' wishes are implemented.

[woofgang]

How tough minded are you and how much do you need the job?
Basically they are stealing and not stealing because they are starving but because they can. You can't do nothing about it, if you want to keep the job you have to deal with them. Me I doubt you will get a change of attitude...which means they get the sack.
I think I'd walk away if I could.

[mccfluff]

ok what about a quiet word

"Look guy's i know what happened last week, i don;t want to take this any further unless i have to but you have to change your behaviour, you can;t eat the food etc etc"

[Davethedog]

Before you do anything verify it. You have one persons word against three.

[bobjugs12]

Grass them up, without a seconds hesitation.
You are their supervisor not their mate. So what if they get a mardy on, you can just sit back eating biscuits knowing that you earn more than they do!

[daftgrandad]

If thats the case,the only thing you can do is report it to your boss and let him deal
with it.
In saying this,it seems an odd situation,to be a superviser and not have any powers
to actually manage.

[Cinnamonrock]

That would be perfect if all 4 had done it but the only way I know is because one of them told on the other 3.There is literally just the 4 of them and me where we work.She asked me to keep it confidential and she has no wish for there to be an atmosphere at work-she just thought I should be aware and she was upset that she could be blamed for eating when she didn't.

[joggerjayne]

If they get caught later, you can be sure that they will drop you in it.

They will say you knew about it, and "didn't seem to mind"

If you have acquiesced in the activity, then you might also be in trouble.

[ummmm]

Stuffing their faces for a week on what?

Surely it would be noticed when the food runs out too early...

[Cinnamonrock]

tell me about it daft grandad-it is the most frustrating thing in the world but it is for the Council need I say more!!!

[joggerjayne]

Where is the sink estate ?

[Bbbananas]

Me too doc - I held back because of that. No need at all to keep mentioning the sink estate thing. (And the poor things in brackets, I wasn't sure whether it was patronising or sarcastic).

[joggerjayne]

It sounded a bit patronising.

By the way ... Patronising is when you talk down to people.

[tamborine]

Right Adolf of the local council.....

If staff have regularly eaten on the job & its their place to prepare the food, then you could have tribunals from them if you dismiss them.

Do staff need to taste ingredients in the preparation for customer foods?

[Cinnamonrock]

ummmm, there is lots of food and if necessary I can make sure that we don't run out of client food by topping up with petty cash it will be at the end of the month when the costs are totalled that it will show which would be my proof that it happened.It would also highlight it was a week when I was not there.

[Sqad]

Odd isn't it....I lived half my life without ever using the term "patronising", but now, one can never go more than a day without hearing the word "patronising"

I wonder why?