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Hubbys job at risk because of family

430 replies

Pickybitsheatwave · 24/06/2026 23:11

DH trusted his brother with his Clubcard employee card. He gave it to his partner to use as she was doing the food shops. She’s been caught twice stealing with a trolley full and hubby is now being investigated at work. Apparently BIL knew she had a habit with stealing as he already pre warned her not to use the card if she is going to be stealing. I should add that they are very comfortable and don’t need to be stealing. She is the other woman and I have never been able to gel with her. Now i can’t bare the thought of being around her even more. DH is in a management role so i can imagine they are going to take this very seriously.

I feel like DH is downplaying it all because he doesn’t want to rock the boat but I am fuming!!!

Am I over reacting? Hubby says he didn’t want to tell me because he knew I’d over react. She’s potentially put my husband at risk of losing his job.

OP posts:
Winter2020 · 25/06/2026 21:21

Sorry if this has been repeated many times but on the Tesco careers website the job adverts say under
What's in it for me:

  • Get 10% off and 15% at pay day weekends - save up to £2,000 a year with your Colleague Clubcard with an additional card to share with family outside your home

I know he should have ordered the additional card. But it seems the family one is for family outside your home. I don't know if the employee card offers a greater discount amount than the family one though.

Booboobagins · 25/06/2026 21:13

Presumably he admitted to giving the card to his brother but not to her. (i sincerely hope they prosecute her, we're all paying for these AH shoplifters!) has he said why he gave his brother the card ie was it fir his use or to do something for your DH?

I hope he doesn't get the sack, but it is a form of theft if its not permitted to give the card to his brother.

Big hugs to you, it must be horrible for you.

slashlover · 25/06/2026 21:04

I've worked for 3 different retailers with discount schemes over the past 30 years, although not Tesco. At each one it was made very clear that the card and partner card were for my use and others in my household, and that was it. When I moved out of my parents house and changed my address, I even had to sign a form to say I understood that my mum could no longer use her card.

At my current job I'm not even supposed to buy something for someone else and get the money back for it as it's considered gross misconduct. I do it occasionally but make damn sure that I don't mention it and it's something that I would buy anyway.

Pessismistic · 25/06/2026 20:53

H op at the end of the day he shouldn’t have passed it on to anyone but now you just hope he gets kept on and tell them to cancel card and get a new one keep it close to him also report her for the robbing anonymously so they can catch her out. Op now you can also ignore the thief if she says anything to you just tell her you don’t like her she’s a thief and it’s not she’s on the bones of her arse. Op its probably a thrill for her getting stuff for free and causing shops to increase prices because of her and the other thieves. Which is a bloody lot btw.

Futurehappiness · 25/06/2026 20:45

'And still all he can say to his DB is "you might have to stop using it"!
How has he not already demanded it back?!'

That will not look good at any disciplinary hearing. They are bound to question the DH about what he did once he found out his card has been abused; if they find out he didn't immediately demand it back (and especially, if his DB still has possession of it) it is just going to make DH look worse as it will show he has no idea how serious this is.

Really, although I am very sorry for the OP and hope for her sake it doesn't come to that, I think her DH deserves to lose his job as he is not fit to hold a position of responsibility & trust.

LeopardPrintIsNeutral · 25/06/2026 20:36

Pickybitsheatwave · 24/06/2026 23:19

You can order one for a family member but he never did so hubby gave him his.

My sister works for booker, she’s a senior manager. (Same company as Tesco now) and she cannot give anyone her discount card. You can order a family card, but this has to be for a named individual (like a spouse) but this cannot be transferred between people either.
We can tell her what we want and she pays for it with her bank or credit card and the discount and we pay her back with cash/sweet treats/tank full of petrol/free babysitters /etc.

You’ve got two lots of potential gross misconduct here. Sharing the card and the shoplifting. I think your DH needs to be potentially prepared for disciplinary action here.

I’m so sorry, I would be beyond furious
I hope everything is ok for you all

ElleintheWoods · 25/06/2026 20:29

Pickybitsheatwave · 24/06/2026 23:19

You can order one for a family member but he never did so hubby gave him his.

I used to handle these types of cases.

Her stealing and other actions of hers are irrelevant to the case. Your DH isn’t expected to telepathically control the actions of others.

His card is for his personal use. He isn’t supposed to pass it round. At the tills, they are entitled to do an ID check whenever someone is using the discount.

I dismissed someone precisely for that, giving his card to someone else to use, who was then identified in the shop as not being the cardholder. The fact that the card had a male name and was presented by a female of course triggered an additional check, but the actions leading to this disciplinary are your DH’s.

I know a number of senior managers with similar discount cards, eg 90% off Pret. We keep joking about sharing our discounts around in a small group but it’s funny because we all clearly know it’s a sackable offence. It’s not ‘everyone does it’, it’s widely known in the industry to amount to gross misconduct.

I’m sorry about the situation your DH finds himself in but your anger is misdirected.

Rhubarb24 · 25/06/2026 20:19

Naurrr · 25/06/2026 19:45

Mistress to the brother in law

Yeah, that makes sense! I'm blaming the heat and lack of sleep! 🤦🏼‍♀️😂

What a catch though.

Hope it all works out for the best OP! 🤞

wherearethesnacks · 25/06/2026 20:11

Gwenna · 25/06/2026 18:54

YANBU, OP. I feel so sorry for your DH, he was clearly just trying to help his brother’s family out and hadn’t got round to getting them a card. I hope he gets off with just a warning.

It's highly unlikely that the employee card is allowed to be shared with another household. Usually a second card is strictly for a spouse/parent within the same household.

I'd say once they see how the OP's husband was routinely lending it out against policy, and particularly to thieves, they'll use 'gross misconduct' to get rid of a manager involved with those who steal from the shop.

OneZanyPoet · 25/06/2026 20:09

What a totally stupid way to lose your job. Dad of three 🤦‍♀️
Gameofjones is right

SpiralSister · 25/06/2026 20:06

GameOfJones · 25/06/2026 18:54

As someone that works in HR and has been involved in plenty of disciplinary processes please for the love of God tell him not to lie. Going in there with some made up story of BIL stealing the card is going to make him look like a complete idiot and will be an excuse they've heard a hundred times before.

As others have said, there is "by the book" and there's a pragmatic approach that an employer may take if someone is an otherwise good employee and hasn't been in any bother before. It's obviously never guaranteed but it tends to work out better if someone holds their hands up, admits they've messed up and says it'll never happen again or suggests ways they can make amends.

I think this is pretty textbook gross misconduct if they want to sack him but he'll have a better chance of keeping his job if he says "I'm really sorry, I wasn't thinking and realise I've totally messed up here. I will repay the money and you can take my discount card off me."

Very good advice. If this doesn’t work, he must try resigning if possible.

I have worked for the company in question and known several cases - at least one kept their job, because they were apologetic, humble, and honest with a good record.

Shessweetbutapsycho · 25/06/2026 20:04

She’s my husband’s potentially put my husband himself at risk of losing his job

There, fixed it for you 👌🏼

Woodfiresareamazing2 · 25/06/2026 19:49

As is so often the case, @Pickybitsheatwave , you have a DH problem.
Followed by BIL and SIL problems.

But DH is the biggest problem (and please stop referring to him as 'hubby', such an vomit-inducing term).

As a manager, DH would be well aware of the consequences of letting someone else use his card.
And the legal remedy was available - apply for a card for his brother!

BIL was an idiot for giving the card to his wife, who he KNEW shoplifted.

And SIL is an idiot and a criminal - shoplifting and using your DH's card at the same time.
(I hate shoplifters - they are, effectively, stealing from US, as shops pass on their losses to consumers in the form of higher prices).

In effect, your DH has stolen from his employer, by allowing someone to use his discount card.
That is gross misconduct.
I think he will be lucky to keep his job.

And still all he can say to his DB is "you might have to stop using it"!
How has he not already demanded it back?!

Futurehappiness · 25/06/2026 19:46

babyproblems · 25/06/2026 19:40

It’s highly likely your husband has broken the rules - he shouldn’t be sharing his card with anyone! That’s on him.
His brother obviously can’t be trusted based purely on the fact he is with ‘the other woman’ which tells us he was a liar / can’t be trusted.

Indeed. It looks as though he already has form for betraying someone who trusted him.

I have sympathy for the OP but nobody else. Her 'D'H was so focused on helping out his family members when he was putting his job at risk, but he forgot about the needs of his closest family - his wife and children.

Naurrr · 25/06/2026 19:45

Rhubarb24 · 25/06/2026 18:02

She is the other woman and I have never been able to gel with her.

Other woman?

Mistress to the brother in law

babyproblems · 25/06/2026 19:40

It’s highly likely your husband has broken the rules - he shouldn’t be sharing his card with anyone! That’s on him.
His brother obviously can’t be trusted based purely on the fact he is with ‘the other woman’ which tells us he was a liar / can’t be trusted.

RetiredFromExplaining · 25/06/2026 19:22

If your DH says the SIL stole the card, they will check every time she used it.
Then they will check to see if anyone else used it after the first time he used it.
If you or your DH used it between the times, then they will know it wasn’t stolen.
Additionally they may very well ask why he didn’t report it to them as stolen at the time. Then he’s in trouble for dishonesty as well.

I am so sorry he has behaved like this. It’s very worrying for you.

lazyarse123 · 25/06/2026 19:19

I used to work in a Co op and one of the ladies gave her adult son her family card and he was working all over the country and using it everywhere for him and his workmates saving quite significant amounts. Management investigated and she was very lucky to keep her job but they did take her card from her. If she had been management she would have been gone.

CarbonAtom · 25/06/2026 19:14

Pickybitsheatwave · 25/06/2026 18:53

I’ve just listened to the voice notes! And I’m so embarrassed by DH (in the weakest little voice) telling his brother he might have to stop using it now 🤮🤮🤮

He’s downplayed it all to me.

My advice would be to leave DH. It doesn't sound like you have much respect for him regardless of the issue at hand

Gwenna · 25/06/2026 18:55

GameOfJones · 25/06/2026 18:54

As someone that works in HR and has been involved in plenty of disciplinary processes please for the love of God tell him not to lie. Going in there with some made up story of BIL stealing the card is going to make him look like a complete idiot and will be an excuse they've heard a hundred times before.

As others have said, there is "by the book" and there's a pragmatic approach that an employer may take if someone is an otherwise good employee and hasn't been in any bother before. It's obviously never guaranteed but it tends to work out better if someone holds their hands up, admits they've messed up and says it'll never happen again or suggests ways they can make amends.

I think this is pretty textbook gross misconduct if they want to sack him but he'll have a better chance of keeping his job if he says "I'm really sorry, I wasn't thinking and realise I've totally messed up here. I will repay the money and you can take my discount card off me."

This is excellent advice. He needs to tell the truth - he was trying to help her out.

Gwenna · 25/06/2026 18:54

Pickybitsheatwave · 24/06/2026 23:11

DH trusted his brother with his Clubcard employee card. He gave it to his partner to use as she was doing the food shops. She’s been caught twice stealing with a trolley full and hubby is now being investigated at work. Apparently BIL knew she had a habit with stealing as he already pre warned her not to use the card if she is going to be stealing. I should add that they are very comfortable and don’t need to be stealing. She is the other woman and I have never been able to gel with her. Now i can’t bare the thought of being around her even more. DH is in a management role so i can imagine they are going to take this very seriously.

I feel like DH is downplaying it all because he doesn’t want to rock the boat but I am fuming!!!

Am I over reacting? Hubby says he didn’t want to tell me because he knew I’d over react. She’s potentially put my husband at risk of losing his job.

YANBU, OP. I feel so sorry for your DH, he was clearly just trying to help his brother’s family out and hadn’t got round to getting them a card. I hope he gets off with just a warning.

GameOfJones · 25/06/2026 18:54

As someone that works in HR and has been involved in plenty of disciplinary processes please for the love of God tell him not to lie. Going in there with some made up story of BIL stealing the card is going to make him look like a complete idiot and will be an excuse they've heard a hundred times before.

As others have said, there is "by the book" and there's a pragmatic approach that an employer may take if someone is an otherwise good employee and hasn't been in any bother before. It's obviously never guaranteed but it tends to work out better if someone holds their hands up, admits they've messed up and says it'll never happen again or suggests ways they can make amends.

I think this is pretty textbook gross misconduct if they want to sack him but he'll have a better chance of keeping his job if he says "I'm really sorry, I wasn't thinking and realise I've totally messed up here. I will repay the money and you can take my discount card off me."

Pickybitsheatwave · 25/06/2026 18:53

I’ve just listened to the voice notes! And I’m so embarrassed by DH (in the weakest little voice) telling his brother he might have to stop using it now 🤮🤮🤮

He’s downplayed it all to me.

OP posts:
Livpool · 25/06/2026 18:42

TheseWordsAreMine · 25/06/2026 07:03

Read the manual.

Who is we?! And what manual?!

Snitch 😂😂😂

Therescathairinmybath · 25/06/2026 18:31

Why on Earth did BIL even have your DH’s discount card? He’s made a huge error of judgement to allow anyone else to use his card.

If DH loses his job over this, I would struggle to stay married to a man who put his brother and thief partner above his wife and children’s financial security.

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