Ethics Question?

Question

My son was selling coupon books for school. I ordered some & brought one to work Wedsnesday so a coworker & I could take advantage of a buy one get one free lunch. Another coworker asked to see the book, asked if they were still being sold. I told her "No, but I have an extra one. If you want it, they cost $15". She kept it at her desk to look at it.
Yesterday, she was out for most of the day but before I left, I made a point to get the book returned. Last night, when I went to use it, I noticed that she had taken several of the coupons out of it, some of which I bought the book for.
Anyone that knows me KNOWS that if you just ask me, I will share. But, she did not ask, she just took what she wanted.

Am I being petty about this? Neither of us is in a better situtation than the other. But, I teach my kids that stealing is wrong & to me, this is stealing.

Please give me your honest opinions.

Now, to add details I did not tell you. She steals from the people she works for (snacks etc out of there desk, food/drinks out of fridge). We are all just fed up.

Dim, I understand your point about this being a small thing in the bigger view. BUT...
When you have cracks in the foundation, the building could fall. One day it is coupons & personal items from coworkers & office supplies (not cheap ones either). The next day, what is it? What if she stole from our clients?

Would you invite her to YOUR home & leave her unattended?

Alberto, you think I am unethical for selling things at work? I work in a very small office. We have 5 people there. My boss sells things for her kids fundraisers. We are allowed to do so as long as we just handle things as adults (no pushing etc) and do not try to sell to the company's clients. Ethics is not about selling stuff at work, unless you are breaking company policy or doing so in secret b/c it is prohibited. I am doing neither of these.

Answer 1

It is absolute wrong to steel, even if it is something small like coupons from a coupon book. Unfortunately there will always be someone like her in every work place.

Answer 2

I would not invite her to my home and leave her unattended. Either she has mental problems where she doesn't know she is even stealing or she is just a spoiled brat used to getting whatever she wants, when she wants it. Age doesn't ever stop that behavior either. You are right this is stealing. You just don't help yourself to whatever belongs to someone else because you want it. I believe I would call her out on that coupon book. Tell her that you will need the $15 for the book and hand the rest of it to her. Say it nicely with a smile and don't say anything else. Let her talk. If she just stares at you, stare back with a smile and insist on the $15. Tell her you will be happy to take a check. Don't back down. She sounds like the kind of person that is used to acting badly. Good luck!

Answer 3

Well first of all I would confront the thief and tell her to pay you $15 for the book, if she fails to do so report this scumbag to the boss. If the boss doesn't do anything about it and you and your other co-workers want to get rid of the employee then hire a private investigator to install hidden cameras in the office and around the lunch room to catch her in the act. Then shove the tape in the bosses face after she's caught in the act. If the boss fails to do something about it then take a copy of the tape to the police and find out what you can do legally against the company.

Never invite a person like that into your home, you worked hard for what you have, it wasn't given to you so why give her a chance to take it from you. And don't trust a single word that comes out of her mouth.

Answer 4

I think she sounds like a very rude, immature, selfish person and that she should be confronted. I would play a low key approach something like, "hey I picked up the book from your desk because I did not think you wanted it. But I guess I was wrong, I noticed you used some coupons so obviously you must of wanted to buy it. Here's the book, do you have the $15 in cash? If not a check will work."

Answer 5

No, I certainly would not invite her to my home.

I would just let it go; she will do something more serious one day and your boss will have to do something about it.

She has no ethics and it is stealing. What a tacky, tacky thing for her to do.

You are not being petty at all.

I will tell you a funny story about a woman my sister and I worked with. She didn't actually steal that we knew of but she would ask for anything from anyone. One day my sister was taking some over the counter medicine for a headache. This woman asked for some, so of course my sister handed them over. She took several and put them in her purse - for later. I thought we were going to break down before we got away from her. We both laughed so hard at her tackiness and cheapness. My sister did not have a lot of the medication with her because one person can only take so much, but it is hard to remember to replenish the supply in your purse. She also asked for gum in the that same manner. She always put it in her purse for later. I know how petty this sounds but we had over 50 people working at a time. Do you wonder how much "free" stuff this woman got each day?

Answer 6

yes, ur completely right. but sometimes its the way u say or do things that make them what they are. For instance. say u went 2 the skool, and took the coupons out of the book. That is stealing. but, what if u asked some1 running the event if u could, and they said yes. Personally, i dont think that is. Sometimes people r embarrassed 2 ask something even though they no it is the reason behind the action. maby that's what she felt. i am in no way condoning her. u r right what she did is stealing, just think about it. especially in an office setting, she might have thought it an inappropriate question to ask when she was supposed 2 b working.

Answer 7

No, you're not being petty. This woman was sneaky and deceitful - she ripped you off.

I would ask her why she felt at liberty to take the coupons - and wait for her answer. Insist that she either pay you $15 for the book or that she return the coupons...all of them.

This is not a time to be humble or philisophical about her outright displays of deceit, but instead, a time to set the record straight.

I find it strange that nobody has yet confronted her especaily considering her pilfering is repetitive. Don't second guess yourself.

Answer 8

First the stealing from the book.. I'd approach it like this, Hey, I got my book back and noticed some of the coupons were missing. What do you know about them?

Now as for stealing food from co-workers, get them to make up dog food/cat food sandwiches, and leave them in the fridge for her to steal...eventually that will stop the behavior...

Answer 9

it is stealing. she was just trying to get any coupon she could without paying for the whole book. talk to her about it and tell her that you think it was wrong and you would have given her some coupons if she had asked. and if you want to get into it, you should bring up the fact that she takes a lot of other stuff from people without asking and maybe after that other people would start bringing it up and talking to her about tit too.

Answer 10

Stop setting yourself up for this! 'She kept the book at her desk to look at it'? You knew she steals small stuff, you should've asked it back. Okay, let's be clear, I'm definitely not saying what she did was right. But if you know she can't be trusted, don't let her keep it to look at, let her leaf through it when you're standing right there and then ask for it back.
To resolve this, tell her 'hey, I see you started using the book, I guess that means you wanted it? Can I have that $15 now?'. Then in the future, don't make it this easy on her! Of course she is wrong for stealing but if you know someone is dishonest you also have to protect your own stuff, don't let your stuff laying around on her desk!