Theft in Workplace - Incompetent Management?

Illya

Hi all, I work for a large chain - not franchise I thought I should add. For the past 4 or so months money and stock has been going missing from the workplace and tills. This has of course placed everybody under suspicion and it is starting to become a really (if you will excuse the term) crappy place to work. Basically the management are covering the theft by using thier own money (apparently) and staff tips to balance the tills and buying back any stock that has gone missing from the supermarkets. For some reason they don't seem to want to report the thefts to head office, I don't know why - surely it would benefit them to catch the scoundrels? There are no security measures in place to physically catch whoever it is but it is starting to get a lot of the staff down. It is incredibly frustrating to go into work and work very hard only to be cast under suspicion because of the thefts. What can I do to try to stop this and is management incompetent for not reporting to head office? Really unsure of the situation here so any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

LadyMissA

from what I have found in the past those with the most opportunity to steal are normally the ones to blame


If management want to cover it up then what can you really do? No one will listen to staff if they are covering for someone who is stealing possibly one of the management?

Emmzi

are you in a union?

have you kept quiet so far? if so, anonymous tip off to head office from an anonymous hotmail account.

kingfisherblue

I would definitely be contacting head office, possibly anonymously. It must feel dreadful to be under suspicion and know that you have done nothing wrong. It is also very odd that management are trying to cover up and not get to the bottom of the problem - makes me wonder why.....

Googlewhacker

You've just replied under your normal name, if you are trying to keep it anonymous I would suggest you delete the last message.

TrickyWicky

Emmzi wrote: »

are you in a union?

have you kept quiet so far? if so, anonymous tip off to head office from an anonymous hotmail account.

I kinda agree except I wouldn't do it annonymously. Past experience has taught me that colleagues that try to keep things 'under control' often have something they're hiding. It might not be directly related but there is nearly always something.

Besides, if you report it to HO that your managers are trying to keep it quiet it rules you out as a suspect and shows that the management are not to be trusted by HO who currently have no suspicion about them.

It could also be a game by the managers to keep staff on their feet and be able to get rid of them quickly. If someone upsets them there is a possibility that stolen goods might end up in someones locker/bag and get the frame and consequently sacked.

IMO, your loyalty is to the company - AKA Head Office. Not the local managers who sound like they're covering something up. I bet the books have been cooked too.

paddyrg

I would be anonymous - you never know what loyalties go on behind the scenes, anonymous tip-off and carry on as if nothing happened. It may be that the area/regional manager could make your life endless misery if they get a rollocking for one of their stores being corrupt and them not noticing.

People ALWAYS shoot the messenger.

ferrett100

I worked for a small company that did the same - covered it all up rather than get expert help in - mainly to cover their own ineptitude and they were already under the spotlight with head office for other failings, thereby they didnt want to raise another issue that would have gotten them the sack for poor management.
What about your colleagues there - do they feel the same? Perhaps approach HO as a group with your concerns?
I would also be concerned that someone would be about to get it pinned on them as a scapegoat for the situation.
I feel that you defniately need to inform HO though.

getmore4less

I would be moaning about not geting my share of the tipps if they are being used to cover the losses.


THey should be playing with the shift patterns and make everyone take a week of in turn. It will narrow the search and reduce the loses. Unless it is organised and morethan one person invloved.