Hi All

I applied to go on a first aid course at work. 5 weeks ago the People manager sent an email out to all line managers informing them of the colleagues that had been selected to go on the course. It included me.

On Saturday I asked one of the colleagues in personel if there was any news on the first aid course. I was told there was a course which she thinks starts on Tuesday but she didnt know if I was on it or not and to see the People manager at 1pm. I did this and she said yes there is a first aid course next week and you are on it.

I went to see my line manager and told her that I was due to attend the first aid course this week, she said it doesnt start on Monday does it ? I said I dont think so. I was then told my line manager would see the People manager and sort it out.

Having not heard anything on Monday I went into work for my normal shift (6am -1), my line manager didnt start until 1pm so I didnt see her. Today I went in for my normal shift (6-2). I went to see the colleague in personel at 10pm who I had seen previously and told her that I was working alone on my department from 6am until 8am and there would only be the 2 of us all day and I couldn’t do the first aid course. I also told her that on Monday there were only two people on the department all day. Leaving 1 person alone would have led to very limited production and empty shelves.

At 2pm I went to see the People Manager who was absolutely furious, she said that I had chose to stay on my department on Monday and today rather than do the first aid course, I was told I was on the course and should have walked off my department at 9am on Monday and gone to the first aid course, I can never ask to do any more courses again as I will be told no and I owe the company £200 for the cost of the first aid course as it had been paid for and I hadn’t gone and I am too unreliable.

My line manager did not go to see the people manager on saturday and told her today that I had chosen not to leave my department and go on the course. The course I did not know where and what time it started. The people manager has said I have told her one thing and my line manager has told her something else. I explained that I was not told where and when to attend the course and how could I just walk off my department or even just tell my line manager I am going. I seem to be being blamed for this and it doesn’t seem fair when my line manager had 5 weeks to tell me and plan the staffing levels around me not being available and I also feel the People Manager should have told everyone who was due to go on the course where and when it was. If the whole situation was clearly communicated then I feel this whole situation would not have happened.

Any advice or view points would be very welcome. Thanks Anthony.

Anthony Bradshaw