As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/
Options
I fucked up really bad!! What should I do?? Caught stealing from work
Unbitible
Registered User new member
Registered User new member
I'm from the UK. So I've worked at this job for 7 months now and last night I got caught stealing something as I was walking out the door after closing, the employee there was the supervisor for the front end of the store so tills and stuff. She asked for my receipt and I said I threw it away because what I had taken was a big commitment it was a £107 drill and £22 drill bits and I didn't want to go back on it. Anyway she took down the barcodes and let me go she then went to see if those products had been bought today or within the last week. My mum was waiting outside to pick me up and she noticed something was off because of how heavy I was breathing and I was starting to sweat because I knew I was about to be in trouble. We barely get down the road and my manager calls me to come back to the store and she had told him. He asked what had happened and I told him I was borrowing it for the night and I was going to bring it back the following morning. My mum of course was extremely upset and disappointed in me, we turned around and went back. My manager was waiting for me by the exit. He filled out a form for gross misconduct and made me sign it. He then told me that this really isn't between us as when the front end supervisor went to tell him the duty manager was there who is effectively the second in command after the store manager. She had told my manager to immediately suspend me. Now my manager has asked me to come in for a meeting to explain the events. When I asked him for advice he told me that it would be best for me to just resign and that the duty manager had confirmed that. So now he has asked me to come in tomorrow so we can have the meeting. I'm really scared and I don't know what to do, I don't want to get into any trouble because of this how can I just had in my resignation and apology letter and leave it be (I did this today and theyll see it tomorrow morning)? Please I really need some advice here my chest is pounding and I'm not sure what'll happen next, I'm seriously scared that if I go in they'll call the police.
0
This discussion has been closed.
Posts
You should speak to an attorney as soon as possible, and stop talking about the case to anyone but an attorney. You need independent legal advice that isn't coming from your manager.
Fixed.
Steam: Elvenshae // PSN: Elvenshae // WotC: Elvenshae
Wilds of Aladrion: [https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/comment/43159014/#Comment_43159014]Ellandryn[/url]
Don't even fucking consider it for any other reason because you can ruin your fucking life over petty selfish bullshit. It's a childish petty impulse you are feeding, be better then that.
Come Overwatch with meeeee
If your employer reports it to the Police it depends on your previous history. Have you done anything like this before?
If not it'll potentially be dealt with very lightly by the police via something called restorative justice which doesn't appear on your criminal record.
I don't want to upset you but if they're going to call the police they'll be calling them regardless of whether you go to the meeting or not.
Not meeting your managers will likely antagonise them. It could be seen as a positive sign that they want you to come in for a meeting and haven't already immediately fired you.
For such a low level value of theft I highly doubt the police will be there waiting to throw you in custody, they simply don't have the time and resources to do that.
Also, the bit about being scared about going in because they might call the cops. Well, they have your phone number and probably your address. Not showing up does precisely squat to the police being able to find you. Just man up and go in.
This.
For the police to do anything the store will have to make an official complaint.
Because they've asked for a meeting it sounds like they want you to apologize and then for you to resign. From experience if they wanted to prosecute you they wouldn't be calling you back in as they'd know your details to pass to the police directly.
Be humble and apologize profusely and take this as an opportunity to examine what you did wrong and to learn from it.
Listen to this advice. Attend the meeting and just be very apologetic. If the U.K. is anything like the US in this regard, the meeting may consist of just your managers, or your managers and Loss Prevention rep depending on the company. They most likely just want to find out if it was a one time thing, or if you had stolen before, and if so will want whatever it was returned.
In terms of the OP.
I have mixed emotions about this. I've fired people for theft before, it's the most common thing I've had for cause to terminate. I've even terminated someone for tool theft before. I personally have never referred anything like that to the police.
Since your in retail you probably can't afford a Solicitor to get advice from.
If it were me personally I wouldn't go in give a statement and hand them the tool back, because that is admitting guilt giving a statement in front of witnesses and essentially giving the police a slam dunk case. I personally would retain legal counsel, whatever I could afford, then I'd call and resign. They would likely hold my last check to pay for the tool. I would not fight this particular one in labor court.
I would find another job, not talk about it and not post about it on the internet.
And don't steal shit. It's a terrible practice.
On the other hand, seeking legal council might be overkill for this.
What would I do? I'd probably return it or pay for it, apologize for the confusion and hassle, and put in my resignation.
What you should do? Probably go in, and don't admit to or do anything until you know what they're going to do. If they don't want to press charges and just want you to return it and resign, then do that. If they're going to press charges regardless of whatever you do, then do what So It Goes and Dispatch said.
Write an apology. I am super paranoid, so I would not put anything in it that could be considered a "confession". Merely apologize for you actions (in general), state you made a mistake, lapse in judgment etc. Also type up a resignation letter.
Also, remember the feeling as you walk in there and face the music and let that be etched in your brain, should you ever consider to "borrow" items ever again.