Wrongly Surveyed For Theaft At Work, What Can I Do

[jayne66]

I work for a large retail company for over 5 years. My manger has always watched me for theaft, with absolutly no grounds, I have never nor would I ever even think about stealing and as far as Iam aware never given her any reason to suspect that I stole anything. In the past though I was aware of it I didn't let it bother me as I had other colleagues and an assistant manager that were aware of the situation and so it felt like I had people that were looking out for me. Recently my assistant manager has left and so have the collueges that watched out for me and so obviously we have new staff and a new assistant manager. Not only does she continue to survey me she now has other people watching me, ie the new assistant manager and one of the collegues. I decided to confront her and obviously she denied it, I asked if there was anything in my behaviour that would cause her to think I was theiving, she said no. I asked her was my till always correct at the end of my shift, she said yes. She then suggested that I was mentally I'll and that I was suffering paranoia, this is not true! She has searched me for pockets, asked me leading questions and I've caught her watchinng me on cctv. Since I have confronted her she won't let me work with any of the other colleagues other than the two involved. Has anyone got any advise.

[boxtops]

Is it worth your contacting the people who have left, and asking them to advise you about this? It does sound as if this has become a bit of an obsession with you. What made you think in the first place that she suspected you of stealing? how do you know that the two new staff have been briefed to spy on you?

[boxtops]

PS If you work for a large company, do they have their own HR department? if so you could contact them, they will probably have a policy about bullying and harrassment (if this is what you feel is happening).

[tamborine]

Manageress in charity shop I volunteered in would pat me down after my shift. I later learned she was sacked for theft & her home was searched by police.

[mccfluff]

i agree with boxy, i think you ought to speak to HR and make a complaint about her

[tamborine]

Security comes with the job and often for staff protection. Best igmored if you enjoy the work.

[Eve]

Are you sure you are targeted more than others?

I worked for a large supermarket chain and we were regularly spot searched when leaving work - bags, pockets etc... and weren't allowed to carry any money or anything like that in pockets while on shift.

Have things been going missing generally, leading them to be more suspicious?

[DJHawkes]

I'm sorry but the manager seems to be doing their job and protecting the shrink and loss of the branch. It is a part of retail and a very pro-active approach like this is the best form of loss prevention.

[tonywiltshire]

In my view you have two choices;
1/ you put up with it.
2/ you make a complaint.
The worrying thing is that whilst they are watching you someone else may be stealing items.

[factor-fiction]

A third option is to leave if you feel things will always be like this.
If you want to stay, ask to speak with them saying they are making you feel uncomfortable. But ask yourself first why would they want to suspect you of theft after all this time and why would they treat you differently to others. You may decide they are treating everyone the same.

[jayne66]

Ok let me get one thing straight it hasn't become an obsession, though it is very painful! The assistant manager that left actually retired and one of the reasons she chose to retire was because she was sick of being told to watch me and having to listen to different ways that I could possibly be carrying out the theafts, it is my oppinion that it is my manager with the obsession not I! Believe me I completely agree with the procedure of loss prevention and protecting profits and anti theaft and I have played a big part in the store security wise, I back it up 100%, iam completely on board! This is why I don't understand why she does this. In the past I hsve been quedtioned over things I have purchased so I made the choice that if I was going to purchase anything then I would only allow a member of management serve me but then it got to the point that I now won't buy anything from my store and so I don't get to use my discount but id rather that than someone think I have stolen it. A while back it came to my attention that she was discussing with another collegue how I could afford the things I have, I have no bloody debt that is why! I have contacted the other assistant manager that retired and it was then that she told me that yes I was being watched and that she was obsessed with 'catching me in the act' well she's going to drive herself insane if that's the case coss therer ain't anything to see. The most worrying thing though is that a while back she actually 'miss laid' £200 and left it in an insecure place, fortunatly I wasn't on shift, the money went missing and loss prevention ripped the place appart, she blamed another collegue for the money going missing. Fortunatly the money was found but let's put it this way the morning that loss prevention came in and tore the place apart the collegue couldn't that she was blaming couldnt possibly have put it back yet the day the money went missing another manager went through the store with a fine tooth combe and it was anywhere in the store. She made the security breach no one else! Yes I agree that I should make a complaint to hr but you don't know her nd trust me I've, over the years, lie and prove it.

[joko]

... maybe its an elaborate cover ... maybe she is planning a theft - and planting many seeds of doubt about you to everyone one ... maybe she is watching the cctv trying to find a bit that looks a bit suspicious - a time whn you do something that 'could' be read as you being up to something ...so she can coincide it with her own act - thereby making everyone think she was right and allowing her to get away with theft

that happened to me when i was at college and did a series of work placements, permanent staff obviously took the opportunity of a student in the building to take something they had their eye on, so they could just pin in on me.
as far as i can see it happened twice.

its a perfect cover really as nothing went missing before...

[boxtops]

This IS harassment, if there is no substance to her fears that you are up to no good. You have grounds for speaking to your HR department. "You don't know her" doesn't wash - she's an employee, the same as you are, and she has to adhere to company policy.

[TWR]

Make notes / Dates / Times/ events / comments by whom / if heard by others / is this done to others / is it only you? /