to not expect my boss to go through my bag after a suspected theft?

[fartmeistergeneral]

I work in a very small business. I've been there 5 years, one person has been there 10 years and the other 3 full time staff (including the owner) have been there since the beginning (20 years). There is also one temporary worker who none of us know that well (keeps himself to himself). Recently a 3 figure sum has gone missing. We do open to the public and it is possible (though unlikely IMO) that someone has come into the office and managed to find money, taken it and left without any member of staff seeing them. However, it's also possible that it's been mislaid and bundled away in a file somewhere to be found in a few months' time (or years!).

The staff were talking when the boss wasn't there and saying they'd be happy for him to go through their bags to check they weren't the thief and I was the only one who said that I'd be pissed off if he had so little trust in me or the others that he would actually go through our stuff. They then said it would be totally fair if he went through everyone's bags not just one person - but that would make no difference to me. I'd still feel he didn't trust me after all these years.

AIBU? (never posted in AIBU before and am bracing myself for impact!!!).

Shame no-one thought of searching Fred Goodwin... but of course, big bosses like him can just waltz off, flashing their ill-gotten cash. Sorry to be cynical about this, but I've had recent experience of the acting chief exec of a charity siphoning off the cash - no undignified bag searches for him. (And of course they wouldn't have worked - but you'd think the trustees would have noticed how much he was spending on the company credit card...)

YANBU. Unless there is a specific clause in the contract, no, it's completely unnacceptable. If you haven't been pre-warned, what if you have a clostomy bag, with relevant materials in your hand bag? Medication for depression or HIV, or you are on methadone for heroin adiction? Or even a pregnancy test? Or a leaflet about help for domestic violence, or a brochure for a divorce lawyer? No, of course your employer shouldn't be allowed to go through your bag. If it's part of a routine search then that's different, as you will know in advance.

YABU. If I'd been accused of stealing the first thing I would say to my boss is please search my bag/coat/etc.

I was under the impression only the police could order this

Someone where you work has stolen money, it is an inside job, if I was your boss I'd be getting a security guard to check everybody before they left, only those who had something to hide would be concerned about it.

OMG snowgirl! They made you strip down to your underwear?! I am sure that was never in the contract when I worked there.

Stealing happened a lot there. My DBro had a workmate who used to lunch at the same time as him and share his locker. He found out his PIN and took money out of my DBro's account on his teabreak.

Snowgirl, I've boycotted River Island for over 11 years now due to the way they treated my family and friends. Hope that makes you feel better!

elliejjtiny when I worked for a large supermarket we were meant to have receipts for anything in our bags/lockers that could be bought in store. It was far easier to buy branded stuff from another supermarket instead :-)

If you worked on checkouts I believe you could be asked to remove shoes and socks and undo and turn up your collar as part of regular checks.

I'm with you, OP, and in any event, what's it going to prove? Ok, so 150 quid is stolen, they check your handbag and you have 170 quid on you. Are they going to demand an ATM receipt to show that you withdrew that amount recently?

I'd loathe anyone looking through my bag. What if I have a pregnancy test in there? Suppositories? A vibrator? You're an adult who's worked there for a decade, I know the UK's got a reputation for being a nanny state but are people seriously happy to have their privacy violated so easily?

You often get your bag looked at when in London etc and I don`t mine .But he person face that looks through mine goes bright red pretty often .

No not vibrator but I carry my equipment for self cathing and bowel program and once they see that they dont look any further .Rather handy for taking own food to the cinema underneath

Am at snowgirls experience. If a manager can't legally look thru your bag I'm pretty sure getting you to strip off would be illegal! I wouldn't mind showing my bag but anyone tried to make me strip off would get a fuck off from me.

think the thing that gets me is that we are so small with only 5 full timers who have all done years and years of service. It's like a family.

Sadly when theres a theft at work it can be the loss of trust thats particularly upsetting for other staff and of course the "boss" to. But it doesnt matter how long we have known people, worked with them, they have worked etc - no-one really knows someones personal circumatnces that could precipitate theft at work like this. You see loads of stories in the media about someone who has been at a company for yonks and is in a position of trust - only to be charged with fraud, taking money etc. And theres always "shocked" colleagues saying things like "I would never have thought ity of them" type of thing!

So at your work either there is a thief - and then yes your Boss has every right to search peoples bags I woudl think - its not about not trusting 1 particular individual but trying to find a thief.

Or if the money is lost then cash handling procedures need to be tightened up.

Im completely [shocked] though at you snowgirl - poor you stripping down to your underwear?? OMG - surely thats illegal??

YANBU I hate this "If you've nothing to hide..." bullshit too. I may have nothing to hide but I have a right to privacy. How many who use this would be happy to have someone come into their home and go through their cupboards/drawers etc? After all, if you've nothing to hide...