To tell, or not to tell? Should employees tell if co-workers are stealing?
By tprudente125
@tprudente125 (3)
United States
January 3, 2008 7:21pm CST
I recently got my first job (I'm 16) at a retail company whose name I will not mention. The company itself has fake cameras in the store and items aren't count when they are put on the floor. It is very easy for someone to steal. I've been working there since November and have noticed that one employee (who I knew before I started working there) steals. He doesn't steal much, but enough to merit that he should have been fired months ago. He's been working there longer then any other sales associate and he even let his friend walk out of the store with a coat full of stuff that wasn't paid for. I don't know if I should tell or if I shouldn't tell. There's a $100 dollar reward but who knows if my manager will even believe me? What do you guys think? Should I or shouldn't I tell? Should employees in general speak up for the company? Or should they keep their mouth shut?
5 responses
@nanayangel (7879)
• Philippines
24 May 08
Hi there tprudente!
I think that you should tell your boss. I think that whatever is wrong shouldn't be covered up and since you know, you're now in it too.
As they suggested, you can tell your boss that you don't want to get involved with it.
@rajaiv0810 (1012)
• Philippines
14 Jan 08
You are in a difficult situation especially if this person is your friend. But as been suggested you can remain anonymous when you tell your boss. Tell him the name and don't want to get involve because you don't want to be in conflict with the person. Let the manager catch him red handed. But at least in that case they will already have an idea who has been stealing from them. But before you do that make sure first that he and the manager are not friends or else you will be put in a situation you wouldn't want to be in.
When you tell the manager about it don't make him feel that you are only after the reward but make him feel that you concern with the company.
It's good that somebody has to speak up. The company will not survive if the people working there are dishonest.
@mummybec (685)
• Australia
4 Jan 08
That is a tough one....
I think I would tell... the person stealing is in the wrong and should not get away with it - maybe you couls say to your boss that you want to remain annoymous (so no-one knows you told them)
If I had a business and someone was stealing from me I would want to know who it is.
@Elixiress (3878)
•
23 May 08
I think you should balance the pros and the cons, the pros are that you are doing the moral thing, the business won't have to increase their prices to cover the cost of the stolen items, so you are helping society and obviously the money. On the other hand the cons are that you may create a bad environment as you may get known as "the snitch" which would be unpleasant and this guy could go to prison. On the other hand the company does not seem to care about security as they don't take any measures to protect the store although they know someone is stealing from them.
