Staff helping themselves to stock

[Mpg]

Despite all our staff agreeing that all staff drinks and food go through our Till (At a discount for them and so we can keep an eye on levels) Our Manager seems to have decided that this doesn't include him.....

Or his Girlfriend (who also works for us)

Last night he was seen giving her a large glass of wine when she came to meet him at the end of his shift. She wasn't working but she does know the rules

Without trawling through weeks of CCTV to find other instances. Where do we stand with regards to the Girlfriend accepting free drinks from her Manager/Boyfriend.

The Manager is most likely going to be dismissed for Gross misconduct ( I've been told of other instances I just need to go through CCTV) which will obviously make things awkward with his girlfriend

Thanks

 

[Mr D]

Does she know from the evidence available that its a free drink?
Or is she accepting a drink?

 

[MOIC]

If the manager is going to be dismissed, it’s probably normal to expect she will follow him out the door. Her relationship will be more valuable to her than her job.

Was you planning on dismissing both?

 

[Mpg]

Does she know from the evidence available that its a free drink?
Or is she accepting a drink?

That's what isn't very clear. She accepts the drink for sure. So she may have thought that her boyfriend was buying her a drink and he has neglected to put this through the till.

Just to add as things come to light, this isnt the only time this has been going on apparantly he's been "borrowing" from the till. Another member of staf has seen him replace some money he's "borrowed" but nothing to say how often this happens

I'm just gathering as much info as poss before I confront him

 

[Mpg]

If the manager is going to be dismissed, it’s probably normal to expect she will follow him out the door. Her relationship will be more valuable to her than her job.

Was you planning on dismissing both?

We've not discussed these issues properly yet. I'm still gathering info. But I would also think she would follow him.

If I can prove he has been having away with stock then he will be going.
Another member of staff was seen putting a bottle of gin in her handbag today. After a quick review of the CCTV the manager, His girlfriend and another member of staff were involved.

Under more scrutiny of the CCTV we can see that what has happened is they have poured what was left into a new bottle and she has taken the empty home (probably to decorate. Bit of an Eco warrior) So I'm glad I didn't jump to the obvious conclusion.

 

[MOIC]

Once 'pilfering' starts, it just gets worse.

Get rid of all that you have evidence of stealing.

What stock controls do you have in place?

 

[Mr D]

That's what isn't very clear. She accepts the drink for sure. So she may have thought that her boyfriend was buying her a drink and he has neglected to put this through the till.

Just to add as things come to light, this isnt the only time this has been going on apparantly he's been "borrowing" from the till. Another member of staf has seen him replace some money he's "borrowed" but nothing to say how often this happens

I'm just gathering as much info as poss before I confront him

So you cannot confront her about the drink.

On the issue of tills, I'd look at your processes for money management if can borrow or return money without it showing up.

 

[Ian J]

We've not discussed these issues properly yet. I'm still gathering info. But I would also think she would follow him.

Once upon a time many years ago I owned a restaurant and the staff weren't allowed to take home any of the food and any unused food had to be thrown away.

 

[Alison Moore]

His girlfriend could argue that she was just accepting a drink that she's assumed he had paid for. I'd say in this instance the issue is with the manager and not the girlfriend. You'd need to have evidence of the girlfriend actually doing something wrong in her own right to confront her about it. Chances are though, if you dismiss her boyfriend, she'll probably leave as it will be awkward for her to continue working for you.

 

[Overloaded]

As a business owner whose been the victim of massive and small thefts - this shrinkage costs you dearly , I don’t trust anyone anymore
Problem is , they don’t think they are doing anything wrong - for instance one guy I had , was obviously giving customers cheaper prices to be their ‘mate’ . if I worked the till and I own everything , people would pop in , ask where he was , I said why I can serve you . And their response would be no he gives me cheaper prices and better deals - giving my purchased stock away -
once questioned ,
He denied it , but people still made this comment although I watched like a hawk - hard to stop it
Also disposals of meat - not recorded , but taken home repeatedly -
Anyone who steals anything expressly or unknowingly should be sacked on the spot - and no staff member allowed anything for free or on iou
Small thefts grow to bigger ones every time

 

[Overloaded]

Any my margins jumped from 26% to 40% gross profit Every week when I started watching this behaviour
4K turnover a week - you do the maths and you be suprised what these little things cost you

 

[Bob Morgan]

Despite all our staff agreeing that all staff drinks and food go through our Till (At a discount for them and so we can keep an eye on levels) Our Manager seems to have decided that this doesn't include him.....

Or his Girlfriend (who also works for us)

Last night he was seen giving her a large glass of wine when she came to meet him at the end of his shift. She wasn't working but she does know the rules

Without trawling through weeks of CCTV to find other instances. Where do we stand with regards to the Girlfriend accepting free drinks from her Manager/Boyfriend.

The Manager is most likely going to be dismissed for Gross misconduct ( I've been told of other instances I just need to go through CCTV) which will obviously make things awkward with his girlfriend

Thanks

EMPLOYER: How long have you been with us now?
EMPLOYEE: Just short of 2 Years, Boss
EMPLOYER: Then I think that is quite long enough!

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I have been here for 12 years and this will be the third time I have said "sack them "
Ironically all 3 times have been this year and it is only the 9th of January

You know what to do @Mpg Get them out !

 

[Mark T Jones]

How good is this employee?

Most people are susceptible to being minor accessories to crime - that includes anyone who has handed over cash on the understanding they are escaping tax; or anyone who has bought anything cheap believing it to be knock -off.

It doesn't make them criminals.

re-iterate the rules. Make it clear there is zero tolerance. Sacking the perpetrator will have helped this message.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Once upon a time many years ago I owned a restaurant and the staff weren't allowed to take home any of the food and any unused food had to be thrown away.

Not ideal in this era of not wasting food.

 

[Ian J]

Not ideal in this era of not wasting food.

There no misunderstandings if staff aren't allowed to help themselves to "left over food" and that includes deliberate over ordering. My rule applied to me too

 

[Newchodge]

Despite all our staff agreeing that all staff drinks and food go through our Till (At a discount for them and so we can keep an eye on levels) Our Manager seems to have decided that this doesn't include him.....

That is a slightly strange phrase.

You imply that you have told your staff that is is their choice. Employees do not AGREE that their purchases go through the till, they KNOW. They have been INSTRUCTED, or whatever.

 

[GFI]

That is a slightly strange phrase.

You imply that you have told your staff that is is their choice. Employees do not AGREE that their purchases go through the till, they KNOW. They have been INSTRUCTED, or whatever.

I could not agree more!

I was once a general manager of a large turnover supermarket. The entire team knew the rules - and there were many!

Damages were reduced and put on sale for customers, if they were still there then staff could buy them after clocking out.

Random "leaving the building" spot checks were in the signed T's&C's and they happened frequently. Receipt required.

Break spot checks were carried out. Receipt required.

If any team member can reduce damaged stock and buy it, a proportion of the team will deliberately do so = loss.

If team members can just go on lunch knowing there won't be a random receipt check, guess what...

Might sound a bit ruthless, but I still apply the same principles to my own business. Reasonable rules to protect the business that are checked and enforced when required. Open rules that are understood with fair and reasonable management of said rules will always help honest people do well and weed out the dodgy ones.