Rem. my work prob. thread, now I'm fired

[Tiggeroo]

If anybody remembers I posted last week about a prob I was having at work. My drawer and bank were continually missing money. I was not the only one with access. I went to the gen mgr again stating my concern with the situation. I told him that the store mgr made me uncomfortable with some of the things she was doing. I also said that if they could not find the problem and my drawer was off again I was going to have to leave. This is only a part time summer job and I was not going to take responsibility for a problem like this for a few bucks a week. Also I teach and therefore I can't have negative marks on my reputation.
After this conversation on Mon. I was not scheduled until Tomorrow. Today the mgr. called me and fired me. He said they need to clean house and get rid of anybody who might be responsible for this problem. I was floored. I am not sure he was even telling the truth about letting other people go. Suppose he fires me, then the person taking the money gets smart and never takes another cent. They will be, like, we got rid of the thief. The general mgr. assures me he doesn't believe I am the guilty party. He says the instruction came from above him. I am so angry/hurt/upset about this. I've never been fired in my life. And kids who I teach at the hs work at this place. I believe that the store mgr is going to walk around badmouthing me to them now. I have heard her badmouthing people behind their back before. Any suggestions.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Very sorry to hear that, Tig. No suggestions though, but sure is bummer. I would feel as you do.

 

[C.Ann]

First of all, let me say how sorry I am to hear that this has happened to you.. You are clearly quite upset and with good reason.. I haven't been around to follow your other thread, but being fired - directly or indirectly - for "stealing" or suspicion of stealing is very serious..

The first thing I would do is to request a copy of your termination papers. VERY important! If there is any suggestion - or even a HINT that you were fired for stealing they could be in serious trouble if they are unable to back up that accusation - or "assumption" - with some sort of substantial evidence..

If it IS in writing that you have been terminated you need to get to a lawyer pronto! This is one of the WORST "black marks" you can have against you and you must demand that they provide proof..

As for any kind of "gossip" - take notes: names, dates, times, exactly what was said by whom, etc..

This is nothing to fool around with so PLEASE do NOT let it drop!!

 

[Tiggeroo]

On my last day there I started recording my every move in a notebook. Every time I went into the bank and took out money and put larger bills in I recorded it with the exact denomination. I gave this to the gen mgr. and made a copy for myself. I've called a lawyer who said NJ is an at will employment state. Which means they can let you go for any reason. I doubt they would be stupid enough to say I was fired for theft but I'm going to ask for a copy of the papers to be sure.
As to gossip, I'm not there, and I didn't work there long enough to have any friends. Plus people are afaid for their jobs and not likely to speak out now. I called wage and hours and civil liberties where I was referred and they all said there is nothing they can do. I don't know who is taking the money and even if I have suspicions they are only suspicions. This store mgr is a sneaky so and so. She is the sort to cover her butt by throwing blame on anybody she can. I have seen her do this. I don't need the references from this job. I'm worried more about gossip and anything coming up in the future.

 

[doxdogy]

I am sorry that this has happened and it really stinks. I would still talk to a lawyer in regards to what you can do if the manager slanders you in any way. Explain the situation, tell him that some of the high school students that work there, attend the same high school where you will be teaching in the fall.

 

[snoopy]

That is horrible! I feel so angry for you!!! Please get a lawyer and fight this injustice!!!

 

[snoopy]

Can you take a lie detector test to prove that it was not you that took the money?

 

[Lewski709]

The thieving won't stop because you are gone. It may temporarily, but it was so easy for this person to do it....it will start again. It's an addiction most likely. Easy money.

As for the "record", check your state laws. Most states are only allowed to give a start and end date and last position. Sometimes called beginning date and termination date, whether you voluntarily left or were let go. Termination is the end, that's all. Most states can not divulge information on whether you teminated the employment or they did.

I would get a copy, as previously suggested, of your employment file. If you and the gen. mgr are good, they should have no problem allowing you to see and get a copy of the record.

 

[Pugdog007]

That stinks.

 

[Saffron]

Oh that's awful! I hope you can find a solution to this! That just makes me so mad! I can only imagine how you feel, because I can imagine how I would feel if it was done to me, I'd be horribly upset.

 

[Jeanny]

Originally posted by Lewski709
The thieving won't stop because you are gone. It may temporarily, but it was so easy for this person to do it....it will start again. It's an addiction most likely. Easy money.

Exactly.... it will stop for a short time, then they'll start taking money again. They won't be able to help themselves with this addiction!

 

[orvilleair]

So what about the security cameras. You would think that would provide the evidence needed to clear your name. Completely ignored by the mgr. The manage culpible? hmmmm

Like others said. Try to get a written statement from the gen mgr regarding your employment and be on the lookout for slander. I worked at a place where I could not give my opinion on an ex employee because the company was afraid of lawsuits. I would say most employers would just give the dates you were employed.

Your manager would have bad mouthed you regardless of how you left the company. He's a creep.

As for being fired, it sucks. I've been there and it's worse than getting laid off. You know you did nothing wrong so build on that, and I'm sorry it turned out this way. P&PD.

 

[Tiggeroo]

So what about the security cameras

There is a close circuit tv showing all the different views of the cameras. I have come to the conclusion that they never have tape in them. And they don't want employees to know this. Otherwise this problem would have easily been solved. There are alot of checkpoints to catch theft and banks and drawers are counted by many people at many times of the day. The one larger sum of missing money we can pinpoint within 7 hours the time it disappeared. I was the person who counted the bank the night before and first thing in the morning. This makes me think that it was an experienced person figuring that with a new cashier on they could get away with it and they would get blamed. Or it was a dumb kid who didn't realize how quickly the loss would show up. I'm also suspicious of the mgr. and I believe she lied about her previous work history. I flat out caught a kid in the bank/safe. He made up an excuse and I told the gen. mgr.
The gen. mgr apologized, claimed he did not want to take this course of action, and said that if they found the thief in the upcoming weeks they would hire me back. Yeah right, I'd go back!

 

[nativetxn]

I'm really sorry to hear this It would hurt my feelings to have this happen. What a blow. {{{HUGS}}} sweetie

 

[Pop Daddy]

you took the money, didnt you

 

[Tiggeroo]

you took the money, didnt you

Yep and I'm using it to fund my next Disney trip. With all the bucks I took I should be able to stay at the Floridian and do a VandA dinner too.

 

[WillyJ]

I'm sorry to hear you're going through such a frustrating and unfair ordeal Tiggeroo. . .


I have no clue what you can do to protect your reputation on something like this, but I agree you should get in touch with a lawyer and at least find out. . .


I think I know you well enough to trust you didn't take a dime, but just in case I'm wrong, can I to WDW with you?






Seriously; sorry to hear your going through this and much luck with everything; please let us know how things go.

 

[Tiggeroo]

Willy, I sure did miss you. It's upsetting. It's not about money. I live in a shore town and I imagine I could walk down the boards and get another job starting tomorrow. It's the point. I feel very taken advantage of. Sort of like, we need a scapegoat. And I do teach a few of the kids there. Nothing I can do about it. Hopefully they're smart enough to know that it could have been anybody.

 

[Mskanga]

This was the same story daily at my old job , and people came and went on a daily basis. They would hire them and then fire because they were stealing , but they could never prove it. If there's no way for them to prove you stole , there's nothing to worry about , and they have to prove it via surveillance camera or something like that , not in a piece of paper.
I wouldn't worry about that, those who know you, know better than that.

 

[Beth76]

I can sympathize, sort of. When I was in college, I worked in the video dept of the big grocery store in town. We also had a postal service that we were in charge of. Well, over the course of a few months, lots of money was "missing" from the postal drawer. I think the grand total came to about $1000. It was taken out a little at a time. Now, this was a HUGE deal because it's a federal offense to steal from the post office.

They had some people come out to investigate and the first name they came up with was MINE!!!! I was lucky on two counts. One, I had just left that job and money was still missing after I had left. The investigators must've "missed" that critical bit of evidence. And two, my manager (fortunately) stepped right up for me and said there's no way I would have done it.

It turned out to be this elementary school teacher who was there working a second job. Nice, huh?