Asked by Tumi0ne on 08-09-2015 16:18:22
Question posted in the General Law category relating to Gauteng
Question posted in the General Law category relating to Gauteng
I need advise. I work as a PA to the Managing Director, I am however a qualified graphic designer. I have thus been asked form time to time to do graphics at work, a printing and packaging company. I get overwhelmed with all the website design, printing and packaging designs I do , over and above everything else.
Now, today I was told I had made a mistake on a label. The customer picked that up and returned the label. I
had designed this label to size, and sent the artwork to the plate makers, it has come back to the company for printing. The printing press operator received it and didn't show it to me or the printing administrator.
He then ran the job on his machine, it is 10 000 units, and the job was packed and the customer collected only to return to say the job is incorrect.
I have fixed it and we are running the corrected job as soon as the printing press operator comes back form his personal leave.
I now find that management is acting distant and they had a closed door meeting without me and only involved other departments. I am made to sit in reception long after the agreed time and as a result the rest of my work is falling behind, but atleast I can send this email in peace.
Rumors are already circulation that I will pay for this job, its a LOT of money. My contract says I am a Personal Assistant, my salary slip says I am a Personal Assistant. I am scared if I don't pay, I will loose my job.
Please advise.
Kind Regards,
Tumi
Now, today I was told I had made a mistake on a label. The customer picked that up and returned the label. I
had designed this label to size, and sent the artwork to the plate makers, it has come back to the company for printing. The printing press operator received it and didn't show it to me or the printing administrator.
He then ran the job on his machine, it is 10 000 units, and the job was packed and the customer collected only to return to say the job is incorrect.
I have fixed it and we are running the corrected job as soon as the printing press operator comes back form his personal leave.
I now find that management is acting distant and they had a closed door meeting without me and only involved other departments. I am made to sit in reception long after the agreed time and as a result the rest of my work is falling behind, but atleast I can send this email in peace.
Rumors are already circulation that I will pay for this job, its a LOT of money. My contract says I am a Personal Assistant, my salary slip says I am a Personal Assistant. I am scared if I don't pay, I will loose my job.
Please advise.
Kind Regards,
Tumi
Message from the Lawyer
Posted by Att. Patrick on 08-09-2015 19:17:32
Hi there and thank you for your question,
There is really not a lot I can tell you without you first knowing more, like: is the company going to ask you to pay for the mistake, is the company going to have a discilinary enquiry, is the company going to give you a warning...
Your argument against all of the above is that you were asked to do something that does not form part of your job description, and accordingly you shouldn't be held liable if something went wrong. Your other argument is that the correct procedure wasn't followed in respect of checking the job, and if it had, then the mistake would have been picked up.
You should watch to see if all of a sudden they take your responsibilities away, and treat you differently, which could mean that they are trying to constructively dismiss you. i.e. make the work place such a difficult place to be in that you only have a choice to resign.
That they can't do, and if they try, then you must refer the matter to the CCMA for a hearing.
I think what you need to do is to relax, and know that it was not your fault. Engage your boss and explain that you were doing stuff above your job responsibilities, and that while you're happy to do it, you can't expect to take the blame if something goes wrong. People who take the blame on their shoulders get paid to take the blame! i.e. your boss.
If there is something else that happens, come back with a further legal question.
If there is a part of the answer which you need more advice on, or clarity please continue in this same thread instead of opening a new question.
Att. Patrick
Please remember this is a dialog if you have follow up questions please use the REPLY button and ask. If I did not answer the question you thought you were asking, please respond with the specific question you wanted answered. I hope you found my answer helpful, and you have finished asking your questions, please click on the GREEN ACCEPT button in order to mark the question as closed.
There is really not a lot I can tell you without you first knowing more, like: is the company going to ask you to pay for the mistake, is the company going to have a discilinary enquiry, is the company going to give you a warning...
Your argument against all of the above is that you were asked to do something that does not form part of your job description, and accordingly you shouldn't be held liable if something went wrong. Your other argument is that the correct procedure wasn't followed in respect of checking the job, and if it had, then the mistake would have been picked up.
You should watch to see if all of a sudden they take your responsibilities away, and treat you differently, which could mean that they are trying to constructively dismiss you. i.e. make the work place such a difficult place to be in that you only have a choice to resign.
That they can't do, and if they try, then you must refer the matter to the CCMA for a hearing.
I think what you need to do is to relax, and know that it was not your fault. Engage your boss and explain that you were doing stuff above your job responsibilities, and that while you're happy to do it, you can't expect to take the blame if something goes wrong. People who take the blame on their shoulders get paid to take the blame! i.e. your boss.
If there is something else that happens, come back with a further legal question.
If there is a part of the answer which you need more advice on, or clarity please continue in this same thread instead of opening a new question.
Att. Patrick
Please remember this is a dialog if you have follow up questions please use the REPLY button and ask. If I did not answer the question you thought you were asking, please respond with the specific question you wanted answered. I hope you found my answer helpful, and you have finished asking your questions, please click on the GREEN ACCEPT button in order to mark the question as closed.
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