My employee let a high profile customer leave with something that cost 1500 dollars...?

Question

I was at Jury Duty for 3 days so I wasn't there to babysit my employees (Thats what I call it because they need someone to watch them at all times) and one of the older women that work for me let a customer take a product that was worth 1500 dollars. Even though he said he was going to bring it back he is the most un-honest person I have ever met. She has been working for the company for 16 years but it still doesn't give her the right to let someone take a product out of the store without paying for it. His original product was broken (mind you he purchased the product as is, no refunds or exchanges are allowed. She even called corporate office and they told her the same thing). I would hate for her to lose her job over this but at this point Im not sure what to do. Monday I will be talking with her after I call the corporate office to decide what I am going to do. Before I call my corp office should I give her the option to either go get the product back personally and give her

a write up, Make her pay for the product if she can't get it back, or fire her? She is less than 1 year away from retirement. Im so fed up with her thinking she is the boss.

Answer 1

Well, I think the best response is to offer her two of the options you suggest. Let her know that she is expected to either produce the property or reimburse the company for the loss. I assume you can talk to your payroll department and just have the sum pulled from her check automatically. Otherwise you need to bring option three into play and let her know that if she doesn't exercise one of the first two, you will be forced to exercise the third and let her go. This is not something you want to do to a person just before they retire, but retirement is not, as you said, carte blanche to do as you please.

Answer 2

Considering her long association firing doesnt seem right.First call the guy who took it and request for it back and if that doesnt work,try telling him you are gonna file a theft case.....mostly you will get the stuff back but be firm act like it will be no effort for you to take him to court.
Talk to her why did she do it?..if you think she is unfit for her duties and are convinced,then just designate her to different work.Seeing an old employee treated shabbily or fired will fill your team with a lot of discontent and besides you do not fire a 16yr old associate over 1 product theft.
NO.Do not fire her in haste,its just money!!! it can always be made back.The best managers back up their employees unless a breach of trust is obvious.
People are far more valuable than money and besides this is just one off incident you can recover from.The company should chase the customer instead,he is the dishonest one and like a typical "corporation" do not find a soft target and whack it.

Answer 3

I would make her personally call the customer she handed the product to or if its a local business drive to the customer and get the money or at least part of the money back.
If she is such an old faithful employee its not like she is stealing its more like she trusted the customer. You must live in a small town for her to do something like that. See if she at least wrote up something that says the customer owes the money. Or was this all verbal? it would be really ashamed to let her go with one year left for retirement.
See if corporate would consider letting her have an early retirement ,since she seems to be losing her common sense maybe a medical disability then regular retirement would get rid of her and get you off the hook.

Answer 4

Since she's worked there so long, it would be nice for you to give her the option of getting the item back or paying for it herself. Chances are she was probably snowed over by the customer into letting him take the item. The guy probably sweet talked his way into taking it and took advantage of your employee. That doesn't mean it isn't still wrong, but find out all the facts first. Give your employee some options. She probably has seniority over most of your other employees so give her a chance to fix the situation.

Answer 5

stealing anything more than $100 is a felony
tell the employee in question that.. ask her what she plans to do about it and give her a time frame of 72 hours ( in writing- with the employee signing the written demand) in acknowledgment

if nothing done, item not paid for or returned

tell corporate, and give the signed letter to them


stealing in the workplace IS intolerable

Answer 6

Call the "customer" and ask them to give you their credit card numbers for the item so taht if he tries to pulla fast one and return the damaged one, you can ding his credit card.

If he won't do that, firmly insit that it be returned within 72 hours.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Well I guess she better keep a low profile now.. Tell her to go get it back.. if not then pay for the difference...then write her up and remind her she is not the BOSS......

Answer 8

can 'em all and start fresh.