My receptionist is stealing $.

[luvtoto]

I caught my receptionist stealing $30 yesterday. I've been watching her for the past few months and yesterday she finally slipped.

 

She knows, that I know, that she knows. I just didn't out and out say, "Hey, I saw what you did, I am calling the cops, and you'll be fired!"

 

I just kept my mouth shut, and kept it to myself. Didn't even tell MY boss/owner.

 

What the heck is wrong with me? Am I a coward?

 

Our professional chemistry is awesome. She makes my job easier. After two years of working side by side, we have a work rhythm going between the two of us. I had a feeling though.

 

I almost feel like letting it slide............ :(

 

I guess that makes me as guilty as her, huh?

[Adunaphel]

I caught my receptionist stealing $30 yesterday. I've been watching her for the past few months and yesterday she finally slipped.

 

So you already knew, or felt, that she was stealing money?

 

Or is there a "missing money" problem in your office?

 

 

I don't think you are a coward, or as guilty as her. You are just a human being, and you don't feel like reporting a person that you would otherwise like, that you've known and worked with for a long time, and you get along well with. Luckily.

 

Perhaps the money disapparitions will stop automatically, now that she knows that you know.

Also, you could have a talk with her about it. She might be extremely embarassed, or she might deny everything and get mad.

I wonder if she'll act the same way as before towards you or even bring up the subject herself.

[alphamale]

I just kept my mouth shut, and kept it to myself. Didn't even tell MY boss/owner.

 

What the heck is wrong with me? Am I a coward?

Heres what you do LUVTOTO...tell her you busted her and she needs to replace the ca$h. Also tell her next time you catch her you'll start singing like a canary.

[Adunaphel]

I forgot to add, I would not be surprised if you got some "a couple of times I borrowed some cash from the office, but I always returned it" kind of excuse.

[Guest]

You need to tell your supervisor what you saw and let management handle it from there.

 

If she gets caught and your boss finds out that you knew and said nothing they will not take kindly to that.

 

If a friend of yours was stealing from you and another friend knew and did nothing to warn you and you found out later then you would most likely not trust that friend that didn't tell you what was going on.

 

You don't have to bust her out totally and file a complaint. Just tell your boss what you saw and let it go.

You didn't create the scenario but you are responsible for letting it continue at this point.

[superconductor]

Ask her for a cut, say 60%.

[littlekitty]

Is it known there's an issue with missing money?

 

It might be better to report her and have it cleared up, rather than perhaps allow suspicion to go on, and indeed possibly find yourself a suspect?

[luvtoto]

So you already knew, or felt, that she was stealing money?

 

Or is there a "missing money" problem in your office?

We've had a money shortage for the last few months. Seems like when I cash out the drawer, the money is just not there anymore. I've been telling my boss of my suspiscions. The last time, I mentioned something to him, he was ready to call the cops, but didn't. It's just my word against hers, basically.

 

I don't think you are a coward, or as guilty as her. You are just a human being, and you don't feel like reporting a person that you would otherwise like, that you've known and worked with for a long time, and you get along well with. Luckily.

I have worked with her for a long time, she's a hell of a worker. I know her kids, she knows mine...we are friends. I'd feel really bad for turning her in. UGH!

 

Perhaps the money disapparitions will stop automatically, now that she knows that you know.

I am hoping. She knows I caught her. She got really nice to me after it happened. She had a long excuse about something that didn't make any sense. Something about how she thought it was her money, but then she found her money in the trash in a bag from her shopping. Talking really fast and not making eye contact. I've never seen her talk so nervously before. I figured, she'd put it back, but nope.

 

Also, you could have a talk with her about it. She might be extremely embarassed, or she might deny everything and get mad. I wonder if she'll act the same way as before towards you or even bring up the subject herself.

The last time I had suspiscions (sp?) of her stealing, I did say something like, "Hmm...I wonder what is happening to the money? This is very strange." She said that she could never steal from the owners, they are next to God in her eyes. Plus, she would have to answer to God in the end".

[luvtoto]

It might be better to report her and have it cleared up, rather than perhaps allow suspicion to go on, and indeed possibly find yourself a suspect?

There's a thought....

[superconductor]

All this God stuff is real nice, but if she's stealing, she's stealing.

 

If you know about it and don't say anything, you could be considered an accessory after the fact.

[alphamale]

I have worked with her for a long time, she's a hell of a worker. I know her kids, she knows mine...we are friends. I'd feel really bad for turning her in. UGH!.

Thats the reasoning behind not mixing your business life with your personal life. Dont' date or become friends with people you work with. Its always a bad idea.

[hotgurl]

But really what kind of friend is she? If she can justify stealing from work what else can she do. Do you really know her or just think you do.

[littlekitty]

There's a thought....

 

Since she didn't replace the money, and seems content to lie about it to you, this may not be the end of the missing money.

 

I certainly don't envy you having this decision to make, but you also have a responsibility to the owners - they pay your wages.

[luvtoto]

But really what kind of friend is she? If she can justify stealing from work what else can she do. Do you really know her or just think you do.

Just think I know her.

[alphamale]

Just think I know her.

Yeah and all of the BTK killer's friends and family thought they knew him also. Wasn't he like a church leader and all that? Yep, i think so.

[Road Rage]

People who are doing illegal things tend to try to include others in their scheme once they know you are aware of it. Don`t be surprised if she is ever busted by the boss she professes you were aware of her activity and made no attempt to stop it. Thus it is not so wrong on her part because you allowed it.

 

Or worst yet have devised a way to make you look guilty.

[alphamale]

People who are doing illegal things tend to try to include others in their scheme once they know you are aware of it.

Yes RR, I believe that accountants call it "collusion".

[Milf629]

Aren't you kind of putting YOURSELF in the position of being questioned if you say nothing? I asume you are her direct boss? Or is she a co-worker? I would not let it slide, paperclips is one thing, acutal $$$ is another. But what if the higher ups see things are amiss and mistake you! What will you say then? Oh well I knew so&so was stealing, go see her about it? If shes willing to steal isn't she then willing to put YOU in the hotseat to save herself?

[luvtoto]

Thanks everyone for helping me figure this out.

 

I decided to tell my boss about what happened. He just told me to crack down on her and get my fingers in everything she does. She'll straighten up.

 

He said that she is a good person, but that she has demons. She used to be addicted to painkillers, too.

 

If I just tighten security a bit, she should get the picture. I mean, she acted like a child that got caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

 

Whew!!! I feel soooo much better now. I don't want her getting arrested or anything.

[superconductor]

If I just tighten security a bit, she should get the picture.

No.

 

Tighten security a lot; as much as you possibly can. Three reasons:

1. It's far easier to lighten up security than clamp down, so if you go into this with a no-holds-barred security consciousness, you'll be better off when it comes to trusting her again;
   
2. It gives her a security goal to aspire to. That is, she'll now have to earn the trust of yourself (and everyone else at the company), instead of just making an assumption that she's trustworthy; and,
   
3. Legally, you and the company cannot be put in the position of condoning her actions by letting this slide.

Good luck.

[luvtoto]

No.

 

Tighten security a lot; as much as you possibly can. Three reasons:

1. It's far easier to lighten up security than clamp down, so if you go into this with a no-holds-barred security consciousness, you'll be better off when it comes to trusting her again;
   
2. It gives her a security goal to aspire to. That is, she'll now have to earn the trust of yourself (and everyone else at the company), instead of just making an assumption that she's trustworthy; and,
   
3. Legally, you and the company cannot be put in the position of condoning her actions by letting this slide.

Good luck.

Yes, I will forgive, just not forget.

 

Explain #3 for me a bit more.

[blind_otter]

Eeeeeek! a former painkiller addict? Those are hard to get off of and easy to relapse with.

 

I would tread lightly.

 

I have had fellow addicts (when I was using) steal cash from my purse when they were really into it....

[superconductor]

Explain #3 for me a bit more.

Well, let's use an analogy instead.

 

Let's say an employee has a habit of coming in late for work all the time.

 

In order to keep peace in the office, the boss doesn't bother with it. After all, if the employee is getting all the assigned work done, then there's no issue.

 

But one time she just pushes the limits too far, and in a fit of pique the boss fires her.

 

The fired employee could very easily make a case for a huge settlement, because since the boss never said anything about her being late before, then the boss hasn't set a precedent about punctuality.

 

Similar issue here. If some money is taken (embezzled), the boss knows about it either indirectly or directly, but no action is taken, then the employee could possibly make a case for the condoning of the action. It may not hold up in court, but who wants to go to all that trouble anyway?

 

In short, the infraction needs to be recorded. It can certainly be forgiven, but it does need to be noted.

[Mz. Pixie]

Well, let's use an analogy instead.

 

Let's say an employee has a habit of coming in late for work all the time.

 

In order to keep peace in the office, the boss doesn't bother with it. After all, if the employee is getting all the assigned work done, then there's no issue.

 

But one time she just pushes the limits too far, and in a fit of pique the boss fires her.

 

The fired employee could very easily make a case for a huge settlement, because since the boss never said anything about her being late before, then the boss hasn't set a precedent about punctuality.

 

Similar issue here. If some money is taken (embezzled), the boss knows about it either indirectly or directly, but no action is taken, then the employee could possibly make a case for the condoning of the action. It may not hold up in court, but who wants to go to all that trouble anyway?

 

In short, the infraction needs to be recorded. It can certainly be forgiven, but it does need to be noted.

 

What SC is saying is 100 true. Where I work I had to fire someone for cheating the time clock once. It was a bad sitch because she was a good worker but she was taking an hour lunch everyday and then clocking back in and taking another hour. Even worse she was getting overtime at the end of the week.

 

Your boss is making a mistake. In addition to what SC has said, say another employee is caught doing the same thing but perhaps then they are fired. Because they are not as good of a worker or whatever. If they find out or take witness statements and someone has to swear on the Bible and such- it may be asked if anyone else has ever done it. The minute someone says yes, that so and so did it, and the court finds out he tolerated it from one employee but not from another then he's going to lose and it's going to cost him alot of money.

 

Our president got up and talked about this girl cheating the time clock at a company wide meeting. He made a point of saying things along these same lines that we are telling you now.

 

Besides, problems or not, it's just business, it's not personal. Why should he allow someone to steal from him when perhaps he could let that person go and find someone more worthy of the position?? There are lots of people looking for jobs, and she put hers at jeopardy by doing this. Not you.

[luvtoto]

Thanks SC and MzPixie.

 

We are just a small business and we rarely do things by the book. I dont' think we even have a manual.