Difference between stealing?

Question

I am a bartender and have noticed that liquor bottles have been taken after my shift. The next day I realize this and tell my manager. My question is: having a couple of drinks at work while there, is this worse than taking a whole bottle? I understand that stealing is stealing, but having a drink here and there on the job seems okay. Should I tell on the person that I know is stealing? I would feel bad, b/c I drink aswell. Basically, is there a difference between stealing one drink or stealing a whole bottle?

Answer 1

Just remember, that the message of Jesus Himself, is one of Love and Forgiveness, not condemning, or throwing stones, & not keeping a record of wrongs. If you have concern about this person, maybe you should warn them yourself, before your manager does and they loose their job And stop doing it yourself. If they know you're having a couple of drinks, and someone gets caught, it might come back on you!
Jesus called that being a hyporcrite, He said,'First take the board out of your own eye, then, you may be able to see more clearly, to take the speck out of your bothers eye"

Would it be any less wrong to take $20 from a stranger, than a friend? Whether it is $2 or $2,000, doesn't matter, it's the ACT itself that is wrong, Do you think God turns His head?
He sees everything. And if it bothers you, and you don't know for sure you should do it, and you keep doing, that would be wrong.

There's a scripture that says," If you cannot be trusted with little things, how will you be trusted with more? Another place it says,"If you cannot be trusted with a neighbors house, who will give you your own?" God's concern, is with whether we are honest, and faithful, and kind to one another.

Do you pay for those couple of drinks? If that was money laying on the counter, instead of a drink, and you knew it belonged to the owner where you work, would you pick it up?

Do you expect others to pay for their drinks? Part of the reason you are the bartender is who ever hired you, trusts you. Just put yourself in the other person shoes. How would YOU feel, if you were the manager, and found out one of your employees was taking things behind your back, right under your nose, and other people knew about, and were stealing too, and nobody told you! What if it were your home, would it be ok to steal just a little from you, little by little at a time? Instead of, taking more at once? ?

It's no different from lying. Would you rather have some one use little lies, or big lies? or tell the truth-and be trustworthy and honest with you?

We ALL make mistakes-what matters, is that we learn from it, and come away from it a stronger & wiser person because of it. What matters, is recognizing when something is wrong, and turning away from it- and not stopping long enough to measure if it's a little bit wrong or alot. Just like you said, stealing is stealing: [there IS no "if's, and's, or but's"]

*Just do to other people, whatever you'd have them to do, to you- - it wasn't called the "Golden" rule for no reason.*.....

Answer 2

You are right to let your manager know if bottles are missing. This way your manager will not think it is you when he is doing an inventory check. If you tell him to keep an eye on that person you suspect the manager would probably appreciate it. Also ask you manager if he minds if you once in awhile have a free drink. If he says yes he would mind then don't do it because you could get fired if he catches you or someone tells him about you doing that. If he minds ask if you can get an employee discount. Both stealing one drink or a whole bottle is a matter of money lost to the business and to ones personal integrity.

Answer 3

There are two ways to approach the situation. First, you can speak directly to the person who is stealing. Let them know that you know and request that they stop. It's up to you whether you tell them the manager knows things have been missing.
Secondly-either quit taking a drink or start paying for them, and then turn the thief into the manager.
Your question shows you know there is a little something wrong with having a free drink, but I can't advise you on that-it's your own conscience.

Answer 4

It's a good thing you told the supervisor about what you noticed. Let him/her do the work of investigating, but at least you won't be the person blamed for this.

Now this might mean, that the boss might take more of an inventory, as well as mark the bottles, but better to do this that to lose your job over it.

If someone else gets in trouble, don't get in on the drama, just let it be and do your job, as well as hope for the best.

Answer 5

Depends on the industry. Some indsuties set their wages with a preconcieved notion that there will be theft. They figure out how much the employee will, on average steal, at set the wage as though they paid for it.
If you can figure out what that amount is, you should steal that much ( or they are stealing it from you) if you go beyond that amount it become morally quesionable. So, ask yourself, is the industry standard one drink or one bottle.

Answer 6

You would be right to inform your manager - but not out of morals but out of your own job preservation. You need to let him/her know now so they can set up a sting operation. BTW the last time I knew someone who owned a bar there was no way even an empty could show up missing - the California ABC demanded that empties get broken in a machine (to prevent good hooch from being substituted with rotgut).

Answer 7

some bosses may be lax and allow a little unofficial sampling and buy backs for customers, you should know your situation. I'm sure they don't allow you to take 20 -50 dollar bottles of liqour home. I never like to tell om people though.

Answer 8

Stealing is taking without asking. If you fancy a drink on the house...ask.

Answer 9

yea there is a different u stole a 10$ dollar drink and another persons stole almost 100$dollars worth of drinks< still misdemeanors though I DNT KNO IF U SHOULD TELL OR NOT IM NOT REALLY KEEN ON ALL THAT SNITCHING