[Steve10]

Trying to work out who's fault this is. On Tuesday 2 workers where doing a job and it turns out they left the 50ft pole behind. We have gone back and it's not there. They where both using it taking it in turns. It is stored in one van as it's the only van it fits into. The man that last touched it is saying it's not his fault as it isn't stored in his van . The other man is saying that it's both there fault as he should have noticed it wasn't in the van but the other man should of put it back .  What do you guys think?

[dazmond]

the joys of employing eh?

id dock both their wages for that days work

[Slacky]

the joys of employing eh?

id dock both their wages for that days work

That’s illegal. You can’t do that. Would be different perhaps if they were subbies but not on the cards. The benefits of employing are the profits are all the businesses, but so are all associated costs.

You’d be sued if that happened IMO.


The original question, 6 of one half a dozen of the other. Implement better security practises from now on. If it keeps happening someone gets sacked.

[P @ F]

Not really a lot you can do , its life it happens , maybe it was robbed after being used and they didnt see !
If they are good workers why dock them to pay for it , you could end up with no blokes to use what poles you have left .

I used to chuck the pole on the roof in between jobs , I got to the next job and it wasnt there , it didnt fall off that i do know , it could have only been pinched whilst i collected  £3.50 from the old dear i had just cleaned , Gone in 60 seconds , i should have made a film about it 
But i sure was not sacking the bloke whos fault it was 

[P @ F]

What pole was it ?
You never know , it may well pitch up for sale cheap , some thiefs dont have a clue , and it may stop a member buying it !

[Steve10]

It was a streamline pole.

[Steve10]

In the past when things went missing we usually split the cost to replace. The lad saying it's both there faults is willing to help with the cost of a new one but the other lad is saying he won't as it's not his fault at all.

[dazmond]

It was a streamline pole.

ah well every cloud has a silver lining!

[P @ F]

It was a streamline pole.

I shouldnt say it , but they might have done you a favour there 
I take it that was an XR/RX then , never get it the right way round .
Look on the bright side though mate , a gardiner equivalent will be cheaper by a long way .

[P @ F]

It was a streamline pole.

ah well every cloud has a silver lining!

You beat me Daz 

[Soupy]

It was a streamline pole.

ah well every cloud has a silver lining!

Give them both a bonus for pointing out the error of your ways.

[Steve10]

Ok but who would you say is at fault

[Jonny 87]

Ok but who would you say is at fault

Why does anyone need to be at fault?

It was both their error.

Just need to take it on the chin, and put in a rule of work that you need to do a check that all equipment is accounted for before you leave the site.

Laminate a card and glue it to the inside rear doors “all equipment returned?”.

I’ve left equipment behind myself before. It’s easy done.

[nathankaye]

It was a streamline pole.

ah well every cloud has a silver lining!

Give them both a bonus for pointing out the error of your ways.

If this was my situation i would judge it similar to my kids, its that easy and these are grown men!
My kids know to tidy their toys up when they are finished and especially by bed time. Any toys left out get converskated for a day.
So your work men should know to put tools away.....regardless which van he was able to get it out of in the first place! Therefore the grown up who used it last would hold responsibility in my mind.

[Dry Clean]

In the past when things went missing we usually split the cost to replace. The lad saying it's both there faults is willing to help with the cost of a new one but the other lad is saying he won't as it's not his fault at all.

If you asked me to split the cost of equipment I would ask you to split the profits, unfortunately people make mistakes and as the
employer who benefits from employing its your problem to cover those mistakes, obviously if you have an employee who constantly makes mistakes then firm action needs to be taken.
Now stop being a tight wad, tell them both off for being careless with the equipment,  let the police know of the situation encase
somebody has reported finding it or seen who took it and so on, replace the pole and get on with your day.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

You can't doc wages unless there is a clause in their contract for responsibility.  All you can do is to take disaplianary action against them. If they are on a first or final warning it will motivate them to take extra care in the future.

[Steve10]

No I agree I'm not taking money off them for this but who should I give a warning to for being careless with equipment.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Both. Sit down and investigate them both indivually.  If one admits he was last to use it then there you go. He should have made sure he put back and should not have just dumped it on the floor with the expectation that some one else will tidy his mess up.

The other one has to admit he is responsible for the kit on the van. Yes to make sure every thing is packed away and saftey stored for transit.

Just hand them both with a written warning. They both are responsible for the equipment if they are both using it. 

[Stoots]

This one seems pretty obvious to me.

Tell them both they need to decide who is responsible for the missing pole.

If they can t decide then they are both responsible

In which case issue a formal warning to them both. Verbal or written up to you but witnessed and documented.

Thats it, replace the pole yourself and move on, mistakes happen, if they keep happening then it will lead to further disciplinary action.

[Dry Clean]

No I agree I'm not taking money off them for this but who should I give a warning to for being careless with equipment.

At the end of the day its the guy who carries it in his van who is responsible for it, would it be fair to give him a warning  if he wasn't the last to use it, I don't know.
As has been said I think your only option is to give them both a warning.