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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not expect my boss to be stealing

47 replies

mrsgoose · 06/01/2011 15:55

Hi, got a bit of a moral dilemna and you all seem a pretty useful bunch, so I thought I would ask you what I should do.
I've worked in a small pharmacy for the last 4 years and have always had a good working relationship with the pharmacist/manager. However for the last few months I've been noticing him stealing. We have a very basic cash till and he does this thing where he pretends to ring something in, then pushes the cancel button. Mid-afternoon he takes all the notes out of the till for 'security reasons' but I've seen him put some money in another envelope in the bottom of his draw. The till always balances at the end of the day but by my calculations he's skimming about £300 a week, more than I earn. The owner is a really lovely olg guy, but totally trusting and I don't know if he would believe me even if I did say something. We have a security camera pointing straight at the till but no-one ever checks it. Neither of the other two girls I work with seem to have noticed anything.
I keep trying to make hints about how observant I am in a bid to stop him but its going over his head. I'd feel a bit sorry for him if he was skint but he's always boasting of some expensive thing he's just bought. What should I do??

OP posts:

bubbleOseven · 06/01/2011 15:59

You need to tell the owner. Otherwise, when the missing money gets noticed, you might get the blame for it. So for your own protection you need to tell.

If he doesn't believe you or doesn't act on it, then go to the police.

Is it an independant pharmacy or is it a chain? Coz if it's a chain it's even more important that you tell.

Original poster

mrsgoose · 06/01/2011 16:02

It's just a small independent. That's what I'm worried about, me getting the blame or telling and me losing my job

OP posts:

frgr · 06/01/2011 16:04

you have to tell the owner.

the first thing this guy will do when he's caught (not if) is probably try and deny it. and potentially blame you or one of the other employees.

for your own sake, you have to tell the owner, then he can deal with it exactly how he sees fit, it's a weight off your shoulder. do not protect this man, or you may end up being dragged down with him. you've witnessed theft, don't be a party to it any mroe.

bubbleOseven · 06/01/2011 16:05

why would telling result in you losing your job? You could then sue for unfair dismissal.

Unless what you really mean is that you think he's stealing but can't be sure.

So, is he stealing or do you think he's stealing?

FindingStuffToChuckOut · 06/01/2011 16:05

Do you think the cameras will be useful in backing up your allegations? I'd want to ensure they were recording some proper evidence or you could find yourself well shafted by manager.

Dreadful situation & I feel for you.

frgr · 06/01/2011 16:07

just to add, £300 a week is a huge amount of money - as you say, it's more than your wages. i would hate to think of a small pharmacy struggling and then having to let go of an employee because you didn't report this (a friend has just been let go from a small independant clothes shop where she's worked for about 12 years, first part time at uni then after too, and that was just to due a downturn in business, not theft).

please report him if you are 100% sure of this.

Original poster

mrsgoose · 06/01/2011 16:12

I am 100% sure :( , been watching him for weeks. It's just that over the years the manager has really turned the business around and the owner (and all the customers) think he's Mr Wonderful. I kind of worry that it will be a 'shoot the messanger' kind of thing.

OP posts:

bubbleOseven · 06/01/2011 16:17

what about if you write an anomymous letter to the owner?

Or is that a really crap idea?

Original poster

mrsgoose · 06/01/2011 16:20

One of my many musings...

OP posts:

lilyliz · 06/01/2011 16:32

talk to the owner he might get a full audit done and this could shine a light on it although it may cost him it would be worth it to save the money being taken and you could request he not mention your name in all this .If I was the owner I'd be grateful to you.

altinkum · 06/01/2011 16:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PorkChopSter · 06/01/2011 16:34

Could you go straight to the police? Or phone Crimestoppers for advice?

I agree about the shoot the messenger worry

frgr · 06/01/2011 16:38

I went to the partner solicitor and gave him the files, 2 days later I was sacked

I am livid on your behalf. I'm pretty sure I would want to be 100% sure before reporting this sort of thing, that doesn't happen overnight.

charliesmommy · 06/01/2011 16:39

the manager probably fiddles the stock take too..

this happened at my husbands company, and he was in exactly the same situation as you Op.

You either say nothing, and when the discrepancies come to light, you run the risk of being accused or at the very least suspected and forever have that hanging over you (not just you, all the staff).. or you go to the owner.

altinkum · 06/01/2011 16:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DurhamDurham · 06/01/2011 16:46

You need to react now because when it comes to light in the future (which it will) the pharmacist could end up trying to lay the blame on you.

Original poster

mrsgoose · 06/01/2011 16:47

Thanks for all the advice :( The other problem is that the owner usually only visits the shop once/twice a week and as it's only a small shop there isn't really anywhere for a private chat. Do I call him/email him or what? The more I think about this the more upset I am getting. I am so angry with manager for putting me in this position

OP posts:

readywithwellies · 06/01/2011 16:48

Do you like the manager? If he has turned the shop around etc without him maybe you wouldn't have shop and therefore a job? Or his replacement may be much worse.

ChessyEvans · 06/01/2011 16:48

Yes I agree I think you need to raise it - it would be considered whistle blowing and you don't have to have definite proof as long as you're not acting for your own gain (i.e. you have genuine motives in raising it).

An anonymous note to the owner might be a good start, perhaps with a suggestion of how this could be avoided if you can think of anything? Or just a tip off to watch the till CCTV for a certain day and time when you have seen it happen.

If you wanted to be really blatant you could confront him yourself in all innocence - why does some of the money go in that envelope? Why do you press cancel on some transactions? I'd be hopeless though and look like this

IAmReallyFabNow · 06/01/2011 16:50

You are making this harder than it needs to be. The owner comes to the shop, you tell him you need to speak to him privately and then tell him. If the alleged thief ask you what it was about tell him it is family business or personal.

ChestnutSoup · 06/01/2011 16:59

Agree, you need to tell the owner. If there is CCTV evidence then it will back you up. I don't quite understand why the till tallies at the end of the day though... could you start doing random till checks during the day to add to your evidence? Get a totla of takings so far and check that what is in the till plus the float tallies?

charliesmommy · 06/01/2011 17:01

Who covers when the manager goes on holiday? That would be the perfect excuse to ask about the "second" envelope.

It could be, that the owner has some sort of arrangement with the manager to "hide" money.. (I know, unlikely.. but possible).

charliesmommy · 06/01/2011 17:03

Chestnut, the Op has said he cancels the transaction.. so there is no evidence of the money going through the till. That is the oldest trick in the book for fiddling a till. Especially with old fashioned tills and a very simple stock control system.

Original poster

mrsgoose · 06/01/2011 17:08

There was a prime example this week. He didn't ring in a transaction of £71. Five minutes later the owner walked in. Shouldve said something then, but I chickened out. He's even started to use a calculator to add items rather than use the till!!! How stupid does he think I am. Mind you my colleagues seem happily oblivious

OP posts:

kelway · 06/01/2011 17:09

i'd confront the person doing the stealing to give him a chance to stop but at the same time unknown to him, record the conversation, just incase he turned nasty, that covers you ie if he said he would blame you....borrow someones mini recorder (if you know someone that has one).....

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