Is it normal for staff to have their bag searched when leaving work these days?

[nicenewone1]

Dd just started working in a posh clothing store. She says that they all have their bags searched when leaving. Well that might be a slight exaggeration, the manager looks into them as they leave

She was also questioned as to why she was taking her coat to the toilet draped over her arm

Is this normal practice these days? I would be very offended if it were me, but she doesn't seem to mind up to now.

Maybe I am being over sensitive?

Most companies have searches written into contracts where dh works they can search your car, locker and bag if they wish too and drug test. It's not every day the same person but a random computer program that selects the person to be searched always by two managers so nobody can be falsely accused of anything.

And in my case it was electrical retail too. Also because bags had to be left in the staff room unprotected what would have stopped another member of staff planting something in someone elses bag if they took a dislike to them.

Totally normal. Even had to take shoes off as apparently that is a common hiding place for stolen cash.

RockNRoll, thank you! I find this really interesting.

I can imagine that a parent seeing a way to get something for their children must be incredibly hard to resist, particularly if it's a faceless victim like a big corporation.

I've never stolen anything in my life, but have had enough times when my own things were taken that I know how common petty pilfering is. I'm sure that I'm not the only person to be a victim, so I assume that it must be going on all the time. However, where I work now I've never heard of anyone having anything go missing, either from the teachers or the children. It's amazingly liberating to leave your purse somewhere, go back 20 minutes later, and find that someone left it, with all money, in my pigeon hole in the staff room.

This is quite standard. DH worked in a pawnbrokers and did it to every member of staff. I use to work in nursing homes and happened at the end of every shift, plus random pocket checks during EVERY shift.

Completely normal

I've worked in various supermarkets since 1984 and it's always been a thing

I worked for a clothing store 16 years ago and our bags were checked before we left

I had to take my shoes off too on leaving every week after my Saturday job at littlewoods in the eighties. I had no problem with it but given I worked in the kitchens I had no access to anything other than chips, lemon slices and the occasional doughnut. And wouldn't have put any of those in my shoes....

Interestingly a number of ex fraudsters make a living after they come out of prison on the fraud conference circuit - they're always fascinating to hear

I almost wish I worked in your field, RockNRoll; that must be fascinating

As others have said not everyone is honest. Having worked in retail during school & University I know of lots of people fired for stealing money, gift vouchers and stock.

The saddest one I heard of was a girl a couple of years ahead of me at Uni who stole stock from our employer. Not only did she lose her job, was charged with theft but was kicked out of Uni as she was studying Law. No idea what happened to her but the rumour was she stole the stock to resell at carboot sales to find her social life. The reason is obviously not as sad as someone stealing who is on the poverty line, but it saddened me that someone did that in her early 20s & changed the path of her life. At exactly the same time someone else was stealing cash out the tills & items from colleague's bags but they were apparently on severe financial difficulty and did it from desperation

OH works in a warehouse where they are subcontractors of M&S foods. They are either randomly searched or every person in the depot is searched depending on the level of items not accounted for. Most common to be stolen is wine.