Case of employee theft: what would you do?

18 Comments

So here is the situation. I am an assistant manager at one of those chain stores that pays their employees shit. Recently, we have been seeing an explosion of "missing" inventory (past two months or so) and inventory is MY alley. I did my investigating and discovered that we have been experiencing a phenomenon of shoplifters and I will do something about that myself.

However, after reviewing surveillance tapes, I found out that a female employee (a pee-on crew member) that just had a baby has been stealing small amounts of baby supplies from the stock room. On one hand, she is raising the baby herself and needs the supplies. On the other hand, she has been caught stealing baby supplies (less than $10 worth) before and I have clearly told her that I noticed... The manager has not noticed yet because I wrote it off as shoplifting but sometimes he does randomly check the security cameras himself so I'm risking my neck for her in NOT telling him.

So what do you think I should do about this?

Report Them 16
Keep Quiet 6
Help Them Continue Stealing 3
Talk to Them, if they repeat it, report 24
Cut their hours 1
Take it from her pay check 6
Other (comment) 1
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Comments ( 18 )
  • dappled
    11 years ago

    Two years ago I put my job on the line to save the neck of someone at work who was struggling. I was asked to report them and I didn't (preferring to handle it myself). I didn't get caught out but every time the boss asked to see me, I feared the worst. It was horrible. I wouldn't do it again.

    In your case, I wouldn't even admit to the person that you've written off their previous thefts (puts you in a compromised position if things get nasty). As assistant manager you have some scope to make your own judgements so I'd be blunt, say she's been discovered and that it isn't acceptable. Ask her to make sure it never happens again.

    At the same time, you could talk with your employer about offering a staff reduction on certain (or all) items. If staff can save money on their shopping, it's effectively a pay-rise. It's also more money in company coffers as staff will be induced not to shop with the competition.

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    • SharP
      11 years ago

      I'm still on the fence. On one hand my boss is usually pretty easy on single parents because she is one but on the other that lady is already on her shit list for fighting with her boyfriend in the store before she went on maternity leave so this will probably get her fired.

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      • dappled
        11 years ago

        Well, that makes it even more complicated still. When I first read your story, it seemed like one of those without an easy answer. Still seems that way.

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        • SharP
          11 years ago

          Yeah well she works tomorrow so I am going to go and tell her. Honestly, I don't care much for her as an employee because she is usually lazy and gossips with the other co-workers when she should be doing her job. But that is how a lot of our staff is, it's just very difficult to fire someone, esp if they are non-white, just for being "lazy". if we crack the whip we are accused of working them like dogs and if we don't we hardly get productivity. middle ground is kind of difficult to find in a situation where you have over a dozen employees all with different levels of "good" productivity to be expected from them smh

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  • wigsplitz
    11 years ago

    I'd just say plainly and firmly:

    "I am not willing to risk MY job turning a blind eye to your theft. I don't want to see you lose your job, but I care about MY job more than yours when it comes down to it, so guess what? Do it again and you will be reported without warning or hesitation."

    Perhaps you could jot down the phone numbers of some local charities/social services and just hand it off to her as you walk away, as a form of helping her I guess. I dunno, maybe, maybe not...just a thought, and it might help you be more firm if you're not the confrontational type or if you feel the least bit bad about doing this.

    Then walk away, don't even give her a chance to respond, because she has no defense or excuse, and anything she says would be one of those things, which you don't want to nor need to hear. You don't need to hear some sob story, don't even let her try to worm her way out of it or into your soft spot. Plus it shows you mean business if you just say it, clearly and firmly, mean it and walk away. Like a BOSS!! Then of course you have to follow through if she does steal though!! I'd advise to do it if she does, you have to look out for yourself too, and it's also the 'right' thing to do for your employer, regardless of how much (or little, rather) they are paying you.

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    • SharP
      11 years ago

      I know she knows about public assistance because she has been on that train before. she has a 3 year old kid that is not living with her and i believe that she was on welfare to work which is why she took this job. i don't even know how the hell she got it, we get tons of applications every week from unqualified starters.

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  • Mando
    11 years ago

    Tough call - but me? I'd turn a blind eye and look for a new job myself with a better employer. Tiny amounts of baby supplies vs penurious wages. Whose the bigger crook?

    Do the least harm.

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  • jondoerandom
    11 years ago

    Talk to her again, don't rat. She really needs that, otherwise she wouldn't do it. If she doesn't listen -well, you've done all you can. report.

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  • DieselEstate
    11 years ago

    Wow. Your posting has restored some of my faith and respect for humanity. You are a truly conscientious person. Thank you for taking the time to consider the position this thief is in. Your altruistic manner obviously shines out to your colleagues because, you're being taken advantage of. Compromising yourself helps nobody. You have to report the thief. Then reassure yourself that no-one but the thief is to blame for this sticky situation.

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  • Devyn
    11 years ago

    Talk to here and tell her to stop stealing it, then just buy baby supplies for her. If it's under $10 then surely this wouldn't be much of a problem and would be the best course of action?

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    • SharP
      11 years ago

      The first time that she stole was under $10. And if I bought baby supplies for her, I would have to buy them for every single mother that drifts in and out of our payroll.

      Now it is an excess of $50-$100 stolen directly from the stock room, no bueno.

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  • RinTin
    11 years ago

    Report. She did it twice she will do it again and again trust me.

    In all honesty unless it isn't possible for her to get any type of assistance for having a child(don't know where you live) don't feel bad for her.

    I knew this girl who got a good position at the place I use to work (even though she didn't have experience) and she was getting full time but told the manager to cut her hours down so that she could keep getting public assistance, food stamps, WIC w/e. (She didn't tell the manager, she told other employees.)

    This guy who got a job there too was stealing and pricing things down to get them for cheap and he had food stamps. Guess what? He was stealing FOOD. His family members worked there too and they stole from the company as well.

    Basically what I'm trying to say is why would you risk your ass for someone who would probably NEVER do the same for you? She'd probably rat your ass out in a heartbeat if it benefited her. I'm just saying that because 1, she didn't take your first warning and 2 she didn't have the decency or common sense to not fight in front of customers at work. Now I don't know her but this is just my opinion based off what you've said.

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  • thinkingaboutit
    11 years ago

    take from paycheck and if she does it one more time, report.

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  • GuessWho
    11 years ago

    It you don't do something about it, they'll have YOUR ass.

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  • [Old Memory]
    11 years ago

    Pee-on? haha Do you mean peon?

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  • Captain_Kegstand
    11 years ago

    Pretty much the comments of dappled and wigsplitz are exactly what I would do in your situation. There smart cats, listen to um.

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    • [Old Memory]
      11 years ago

      ah ah, the correct english are "they is smart cats"

      I are a college graduate.

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      • Captain_Kegstand
        11 years ago

        I R GRADIATED 1CE 2! TEy TaUt mE 2 TiPe LiK ThIs AlL dA TyMe, ItS RlY KeWl!!!!!!

        Good lord, that was actually difficult for me to do. I'm done now lolz.

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