Stealing from employer?

agrinnall

maninthestreet wrote: »

Blackberry bushes = brambles
How could they be anything other than wild?

Very easily, here's just one example.

https://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/soft-fruit-bushes/blackberry-plants-bushes

In this case I suspect they are in fact wild, but it can't be assumed.

haras_nosirrah

unless the employer is in a blackberry related business I doubt very much it would be considered stealing.

maybe check with your line manager but I doubt very much this is an issue - it isn't like you are taking their stamps for personal use or anything like that

bugslet

HurdyGurdy wrote: »

Today, my colleague commented that I was stealing from my employer,

I worry about some people, I really do.

Frankly I'd carry on picking, just out of sheer bl00dy-mindedness:o

TBagpuss

Are you on good terms with your line manager? If so, the I would mention it to them and say in light of the allegation made, you wanted to run it by them to double-check that there is no issue, and to make clear that if you are told by anyone in authority to stop, that you will of course do so, although it is your understanding that as the brambles are wild there would in any event be no legal issue.

(I's also be very cautious of that employee. It's possible that they've had a bad experience in a previous job and are genuinely concerned and wanting to warn you, but it is also possible that they are simply a busybody who likes causing trouble. )

ElefantEd

Or maybe the colleague was joking and the OP misinterpreted it?

ceegee

There was a crab apple tree growing on council land near me. My daughter wanted to pick some to make crab apple jelly. She phoned the county council to ask if it was OK to do this and after a few minutes they came back and said that was fine, as long as we left some for other people to pick if they wanted to.

Seemed a sensible and fair response!

RuthnJasper

I work for a local authority and have picked blackberries from the surrounds of one of our car parks with no problems.


I'm assuming that your head of department or local member hasn't come into the office and said "who has been picking all of my blackberries?"


Probably a good idea to ask and get a response just in case your colleague is minded to be silly over this, but I can't see why it should be a problem. The only potential would be if you were picking them during work time.


If you've been doing it for seven years and the managers haven't complained, I can't see the issue with it. I would be glad to think that someone was enjoying the fruit, rather than letting it go bad.

PasturesNew

Technically, yes.

It is private land - you'd not let yourself into a family member's garden when they weren't watching and pick their fruit and run without having a word with them to check it's OK to do that.

Same kind of thing.

They'd not mind, but it's polite to ask. Technically it's stealing and therefore you should be mindful of the fact that at some point somebody may take a disliking to you and find it an easy way to sack you.

Fireflyaway

This sort of issue just just sums up Britain in 2017! You can't say or do anything in case it offends someone ( even though most of the time nobody knows who the somebody is!) Common sense has been replaced by the threat of legal action, everybody wants compensation for every little thing. Everyone wants to get everyone else in trouble and be little goody two shoes! OK not everyone, but you see my point. 20 years ago would this even be a post?!
Rant over. Legally I have no clue. Sorry! My opinion though- carry on eating the berries! Lots of them! Its not a blackberry farm is it! Its you or the birds. Then...make a pie or jam for scones and take it in for everyone to share. Certainly wouldn't waste time asking management and I suspect your colleague was joking anyway.

andygb

The OP's colleague has got more than a "few screws loose" IMO.
Keep picking the blackberries and don't worry unless your boss objects to it.