Final Written Warning

[calmac52]

Recently I made an error of judgement under duress. Basically I am a service engineer on the road and on this particular day I decided to take my dog with me in the car.
I kept it in the passenger floor area, with plenty of ventilation etc.
Anyway my first job was at a biscuit manufactor. I did not have to pass any security or enter any restricted areas, I simply parked the car in the car park, left both front windows ajar for plenty of air for the dog, and proceeded to check in for the job.
The company issued me with their own protective clothing while on site however another member of this companys staff noticed my dog in the car and reported it to personell.
No mention was made of this while I was on site but after I had left ond on my way to my next job the Quality lassie sent an email of complaint to the General Manager of who I work for.
He then instructed my line manager to confront me in person at my next job, ( I can be tracked by GPS ), who then verbally shouted the odds at me as to why I had a dog in the car at a biscuit manfactory.

This happened on the friday, I was summoned to a dicipline meeting on Monday where I was given a final written warning, ( I had no previous warnings on file ), on health and safety and hygine laws.

I did appeal but it was upheld. I agree in hindsight I should have known better but does it warrent a final written warning.

[buildersmate]

Presumably the primary issue was hygiene, and this was made clear to you at the outcome of the disciplinary hearing?
These things are always management judgements, so it is impossible to say because no-one here can have insight into the policies and practices at your company. It may also depend on the rules at the clients.
FWW is what it says on the tin - keep your nose clean for the next 12 months (usually 12 months) and the FWW lapses.

[twix123]

Were you informed that you had the right to be accompanied by a friend (colleague or union official) at the disciplinary hearing?

I would think that this would only warrant either a verbal warning or a first written warning!

[buildersmate]

"Were you informed that you had the right to be accompanied by a friend (colleague or union official) at the disciplinary hearing?" - so what? Whilst this is true, it would be somewhat stupid to try and vary the warning because of a relatively minor process failing. It would just irritate the company. Different, however, if one had been dismissed - one has nothing else to lose.

[cassa333]

A lot of the time most people think their warnings are unjustified.

However I think that regardless it is most often better to just take it on the chin and get on with it. If you make trouble over something like this then your cards are well and truely marked!!!