Is the store manager of office-depot has the right to give something for free?

Question

if a product at office-depot will be throwing away. and instead of throwing it away, the store manager of office-depot decided to give this product to one of the employee for free.

do you think the store manager has the right to do this? and does it break any of the office-depot rules and regulation?

Answer 1

This is an age old issue.

The problem here is the company sets rules like " Unwanted merchandise must be thrown away. " because it is common for employees to do things or say that items are broken so that they can take items that they might want to keep for themselves. It is a form of stealing. I know I did it when I was a kid myself. (not proud )

Now if a manager has the authority to dispose of merchandise in any way they see fit, then it is ok, but if they don't then it is no different than any other employee that steals from their boss.

I have very mixed feelings about this because I have seen some very good items get thrown out due to company policy.

you have to know what the company policy is and then really it falls on the managers sholders as to whether it is ok or not.

I hope this helps, but I doubt it. sorry.

Answer 2

Richard is way off base about who owns trash once it is set out.

This matter has reached the Supreme Court, and trash once set out is considered abandoned property.

No way "the trash company" has any title in it at all until they pick it up.

As for the original question, it is not a matter of if a manger has the right - rights are granted by governments, but rather if s/he has the discretion. Big difference.

There is an Office Depot across the street from where I live - maybe I should go check out their trash later today :)

Answer 3

I don't know if your aware of this but damaged product and the like is expected to some extent and called "damaged out" Each company has their own policy. Mc Donalds has a waste bin full of food that has passed it's ten minute holding time they just throw away. Their policy is to not give it away however other companies will have damaged product, outdated or incorrect packaging that they know consumers will not buy or it is not cost effective to sell so they put it in accounting as damaged product and some companies will give these products to employees. Kraft and other big food producers will donate large lots of food to local food pantries that has out of date offers or incorrect package printings on them and I am sure they get a tax write off. A private company has the right to do anything it wants with it's merchandise and most managers are given discretionary powers to deal with grey areas like this so long as they are accounted for.

Answer 4

The only difference here between the manager giving it to the employee and the employee picking it out of the trash is a matter of timing.

If it would be thrown away anyway, then it is obviously of no value to the company, therefore there is no problem with a manager allowing an employee to have it.

Answer 5

I don't know what Office Depot's policy is, but most stores would give things away for free rather than throw them away.

Answer 6

Whether or not the manager can give it away is entirely dependant on the companies rules and policies. If they say he can, he can. If they say he can't, he can't.

Taking something from the garbage, by the way, is theft.

Once you put something in the trash, it belongs to the trash company, and it's illegal to remove it. In most places it's quite common for pickers who go through the trash taking recyclables to be prosecuted for it.

Richard