just been sacked for theft in retail

williacg

I think that I too would be tempted to call in the police, having the label 'thief' on my records is not something that I would sit quietly and let happen without a fight.

Fairwinds

shaven-monkey wrote: »

I may be wrong here... but aside from the cash handling proceedures not being followed to protect everyone who was contractually obliged to handle cash and make counts...
The OP brought the matter of the short count to the attention of the manager immediately upon discovery.
Is it reasonable to believe that someone would steal cash from a count they were making and then report the shortfall immediately rather than ... say correcting the count to hide their theft and leaving the next person who does the count to take the fall?

An employee who should not even be taking the count ends up accused of reporting their own apparent crime... did anyone ask them to empty their pockets? (oh look here's £180 which tallies precisely with the short...)

My thoughts exactly why would they report it two minutes after stealing the cash - hardly likely

milothewestie

WhiteHorse wrote: »

Managers dipping into the safe to cover short term debts is a well known phenomenon. It's also quite possible that the manager was negligent, didn't follow company procedure, and thus enabled someone else to steal it.

These are the most likely.

If the company really doesn't want to involve the police, ask yourself why and involve them yourself.

how can i involve the police,it would have to be the employer that made the allegation surely

HO87

Absolutely not. There is nothing to prevent you from reporting the theft and let them know that you are being accused of it. The problem that may arise is that the company decline to cooperate and whilst that may be reprehensible from a practical perspective it makes an investigation doubly difficult.

williacg

Reporting it to the police might force them to look deeper into all of the other opportunities for the money to have gone missing, and it won't be so easy for them to sweep under the carpet the fact that a member of management might have had something to do with it.

On another note, have you managed to find any legal help yet?

milothewestie

williacg wrote: »

Reporting it to the police might force them to look deeper into all of the other opportunities for the money to have gone missing, and it won't be so easy for them to sweep under the carpet the fact that a member of management might have had something to do with it.

On another note, have you managed to find any legal help yet?

i have to appeal first in which i will be represented by a union official and after that i presume a tribunal with union again,if not cab or a solicitor

williacg

milothewestie wrote: »

i have to appeal first in which i will be represented by a union official and after that i presume a tribunal with union again,if not cab or a solicitor

There have been some excellent points made on this thread, especially with regard to company procedure on cashing up at the end of the working day, I would take time to go through them and list all of the relevant points in preparation of your appeal hearing. You were probably too traumatised at the original hearing to bring to light some of the valid points that have been highlighted here. You need to be really prepared, as it's not just your job that's at stake, it's your reputation, that old saying mud sticks, it certainly does.

ps - Make sure that your union rep is fully up-to-date and on the ball.

WhiteHorse

HO87 wrote: »

The problem that may arise is that the company decline to cooperate and whilst that may be reprehensible from a practical perspective it makes an investigation doubly difficult.

But raises all sorts of interesting questions when it comes to the tribunal!

Paulgonnabedebtfree

HO87 wrote: »

Absolutely not. There is nothing to prevent you from reporting the theft and let them know that you are being accused of it. The problem that may arise is that the company decline to cooperate and whilst that may be reprehensible from a practical perspective it makes an investigation doubly difficult.

Though unlikely, there could then an issue of people in the HR department being called to account of "obstructing police in the execution of duty" - a criminal offence and one that can be taken quite seriously.
It is very important for the OP to get resolution on this.
It's not just about a crappy job of working for "A", it's about employment prospects for the future. I realise that employee blacklists are not permitted but I'm sure that "A" would be happy to inform a future prospective employer verbally.
So it may possibly be about being able to ever work anywhere ever again.

milothewestie

i have drafted my appeal letter gonna send it tomorrow thanks again for all your help:beer::beer::D