Suspended - theft

TroubleAhead

robatwork wrote: »

Not directly relevant, but although I can understand customers in retail paying in cash, who are these suppliers who want to be paid in large quantities of cash?

This doesn't sound legal or good business sense - where is the paper trail when it goes wrong?

Having just re-read your comment about avoiding bank charges - is this the Winchester Club and your wife's boss is Arfur Daly?

The cash payments are legit and properly receipted. After the money was stolen, Jane contacted the suppliers, explained what had happened, and told them they'd be paid through the bank in future. Two were fine with this, but the other complained to the boss and he overruled.

TroubleAhead

paddyrg wrote: »

On the human level, it feels awful to be accused of theft from an employer, especially for such petty amounts that would be so immediately obvious, by a woman writing in finance. One of the most insulting parts is that they imagine she'd be so clumsy about stealing the money. I'm sure if she did want to rob the company, it'd be for a lot more than £2k and they'd not be able to detect it. Suggesting £2k in cash is a bit like underestimating her ingenuity and intelligence, which is worse!

Jane really appreciated your post, it sums up exactly how she's feeling. I could give examples of some ingenious ways she could steal money if she had the inclination, but I don't want to give anyone ideas...

What makes this worse is she's now on her second year of an accounting course at night school (would you believe her next exam is on ethics). She'd just found a job that would have paid less but given her relevant experience and was discussing terms when she was hit with this. She can't leave now because her reference may say she left while suspended and any hint of impropriety and she can wave her future plans goodbye.

Mr.Generous

This is where employment law is a nightmare, "Reason to doubt" being a valid dismissal. Good luck.

paddyrg

TroubleAhead wrote: »

Jane really appreciated your post, it sums up exactly how she's feeling. I could give examples of some ingenious ways she could steal money if she had the inclination, but I don't want to give anyone ideas...

I'm glad it helped - it's easy to feel alone and to also be suspected of incompetently stealing pocket-money can really hit the confidence very hard. It'll pass, just it stinks right now. Keep supporting her and it'll become a memory with time

TroubleAhead

I was wondering how difficult it would be to break into a filing cabinet without damaging it. Turns out it's incredibly easy (thanks, Google). Two paperclips should do it, and you might not even need that. Many have a hole underneath, you just need to tilt it, push in your finger and it unlocks. The office is only open Monday to Friday, but the building has workers in it seven days a week. The keys to the office door are on a hook where anyone can access them, so in theory any employee could have walked into the office and stolen the cash.

Assuming this is going to be an accusation of theft, Jane's argument will be that the security provided by the company to protect the money was inadequate, and practically anyone could have taken it so she should not have been singled out. Would that be a strong case and how might the company counter it?

FBaby

Assuming this is going to be an accusation of theft, Jane's argument will be that the security provided by the company to protect the money was inadequate, and practically anyone could have taken it so she should not have been singled out. Would that be a strong case and how might the company counter it?

To be honest, they can dismiss her easily on a number of accounts. In the above instance, they could claim that as a second in hand, in charge of the office, it was her responsibility to pick up that security wasn't adequate. That's why those in charge get paid more, they bear the fall out when things go wrong.

Her best chance to keep her job is to grovel. Say that indeed she should have been more aware of the security and take it upon herself to make suggestions about how to protect company funds and that she's now learned her lesson. If they really liked her, believe that it will be hard to replace her, then she might just get a warning. If not, no matter what she says, they probably have enough to justify a dismissal.

TroubleAhead

FBaby wrote: »

To be honest, they can dismiss her easily on a number of accounts. In the above instance, they could claim that as a second in hand, in charge of the office, it was her responsibility to pick up that security wasn't adequate. That's why those in charge get paid more, they bear the fall out when things go wrong.

You could be right. Jane has never had a job title or job description, and when she started she was just doing the books. She's still doing them now, along with other duties. I think that's part of the problem - the current system is a result of evolution rather than design, and it isn't clear who is responsible for what. But yes, the boss could probably argue that it was her responsibility even though it was never discussed.

lincroft1710

I cannot remember if you mentioned this, but have the police been informed of the theft?

TroubleAhead

lincroft1710 wrote: »

I cannot remember if you mentioned this, but have the police been informed of the theft?

Not as far as we know - they haven't come knocking anyway.

We were tempted to call them but a post on the consumeractiongroup forum persuaded us otherwise. I'd provide a link but I'm not allowed yet.

Fireflyaway

A similar thing happened to me. I worked in a shop and was responsible for cashing up and putting the money in the safe. Anyway unbeknown to me money was missing every so often and they worked out it only happened when me and another employee were on shift together. They told me not to come in for 2 weeks but they still paid me. I was obvioiusly worried that I was being suspended because they thought it was me. Anywasy it was the opposite. They wanted me out the way to confirm their suspicions it was the other person. Lucky for me she stole again whilst I was off so it was easily proved. She was sacked and I was invited back to work. Could it be similar here? Hopefully they will get to the bottom of it soon and your wife can relax.