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Original poster

Stolen Bottle of Champagne

183 replies

NameChangeAndLifeChange · 10/08/2024 15:30

A bottle of champagne, worth about £70, has been stolen from the office.

Our manager said that if it's not replaced then the four staff members will need to pay for it between us.

I've got an idea who may have taken it but I can't be 100% sure.

I'm simply not prepared to pay for it. Why should I? Everyone else thinks we should!

Apparently I may get a written warning for not contributing (whilst that thief walks free)!!!

OP posts:
Dearg · 10/08/2024 15:51

Well your manager is a fool. He cannot force innocent people to reimburse him for missing champagne- or anything else for that matter.
He needs evidence as to what happened to it, or he will land himself in legal shit.
Call HR or escalate to his boss if he attempts to progress this threat. I am angry on your behalf.

BobbyBiscuits · 10/08/2024 15:48

Who owned the champagne? Surely if it was part of the office 'kitty' set aside for celebrations then the business will just have to take it on the chin, if the culprit won't own up.
There's no way you should have to pay for something that went missing from work. How do they know it wasn't the cleaners, or a visitor, it just someone who snuck in?
Just say someone's Rolex went walkies, someone's Maserati was nicked from the car park? Where on earth would it end?
The office management should put out an official notice saying it's 'unacceptable and disappointing that it went missing. Theft is classed as gross misconduct. All alcohol will now be locked away in X cupboard. This will only be accessible by X staff member/ office manager.'
Also I'd have thought it would be covered on insurance if they were really pressed?

Flossflower · 10/08/2024 15:46

Who did the champagne belong to and why were they keeping it in the office?
It could be anybody. Even if the office is locked overnight it could be security or cleaners.

Catza · 10/08/2024 15:42

Written warning for what exactly? Call HR, then ACAS.

MyGirlDaisy · 10/08/2024 15:41

I wouldn’t want to pay for it either. Can they be sure it was one of the four of you? Could it have been someone visiting the office? Seems unfair that the guilty party will get away with it, whilst you have to contribute £17 or so to avoid a warning! Plus not everyone might be able to afford to pay. I think they would need concrete proof to give you a warning though and so I would probably refuse to pay.

skyeisthelimit · 10/08/2024 15:38

Contact ACAS for advice

theeyeofdoe · 10/08/2024 15:36

Of course that's not legal, you can only make deductions from someone's pay in very limited circumstances and even then it has to be written in the contract.

How do you know it wasn't the manager, or the cleaner.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 10/08/2024 15:34

Oof I'm so with you!

Does anyone else know if that's legal?

Are you in a union?