Searches at work

[whatevenisthis]

I work in a retail environment. All of a sudden we are being searched daily. Lockers emptied, bags searched, pockets emptied and we have to take our shoes and socks off. Even cars are being searched.

We are surrounded by cameras so it's impossible to steal anything. The things we sell wouldn't fit in our shoes and socks anyway. It's a very stressful environment but this is all legal and above board??

Here's the thing. Nothing has been stolen so why is this allowed? The company I work for does not recognise unions.

I am surprised they have only just started searches, to be honest. Most retail environments have daily searches as standard. It was the same when I worked in retail c20 years ago.
Perhaps there have been thefts in other outlets, prompting a company wide policy.

They've always done searches but recently it's a daily thing. My car is being searched everyday and if I have money in the ashtray I have to explain it or it's taken

It is my understanding that a search must be reasonable and with good cause for it to be acceptable, it must also not make you expose your body.

Taking money from your car is not acceptable

The lockers belong to the company so they can be searched.
The bags and pockets and shoes are your own but I'll bet that in your contracts it would be written that such searches are to be expected.
Searching your car though.....That sounds a little iffy.

I've worked in supermarkets and high street shops for 20 years and this is not new.

Sainsburys were the worst, treated it's floor staff like scum.

Hmmm, that is a bit extreme then. Is it a large company? Could you ask HR/your manager to clarify policy?

We have something similar in our contracts... But never been used to my knowledge, but then it's not retail.

I'm genuinely shocked that this is considered normal

Wow! I have nothing useful to advise but god I'd be so angry. You have to explain that money you have in your car has not be nicked??!!! In fact they search your car?! Unbelievable. I am appalled for you.

How do they get away with not recognising unions? Is that legal? Is it not like not recognising the police?

whay company is this? seems strange they would take money they can't prove is theirs.

Hang on. They take any money found in your car? I'd be going to the police about that - not the union.

I'm worried about bringing it up to management in case they think I'm a trouble maker. I've been here for 5 years and it's emotionally draining.
I've applied for a new jobs so I'm hoping to get that.

Yes it's a large company and I don't mind them doing staff searches. It's in the contract I signed but I don't like the assumption that I'm a thief befit I even step foot on the shop floor. That is exactly how higher management think of us.

I don't think they can search your car and they definitely can't remove money from it!! That's ridiculous.
Give ACAS a call.

How can they me you 'explain' the money? What do they ask you?

Do you work for Matalan ?

You should still join a union even if your employer refuses to recognise one. USDAW is the one you need www.usdaw.org.uk
It’s okay for them to search your bag and to ask you to empty your pockets and take your shoes off. They can’t go into your car though, as others have said.

Quite normal to have bags and lockers searched. Not sure about cars though, unless they have justifiable reasoning.

I wouldn't have an issue with checks in the workplace but searching my car? WTAF? What next, visits home to rifle through your underwear drawer and ask you to justify where you got your iPad from?

Unacceptable.

Yes it does seem extreme to me have the Company got a new Security Management Team checking for internal loses as well as everyday shop lifting ? The Company may have a shortfall they can't see but to examine your car sounds a bit ott to me,unless big items are being reported as missing.

I've worked in retail before, no one ever had their cars searched - one place didn't bother with searches at all.

At the other one - pockets turned out, yes and they were supposed to search our lockers too but never did.

These pocket searches happened once a month, if that. I used to throw my pads down on the counter "THESE ARE MY PADS!" Got bollocked once for leaving 5p in my pocket by mistake, another time I got bollocked for not having my fags initialled by a supervisor to show I hadn't nicked them from fag kiosk - I'd thought that them being a brand we didn't stock would be enough.

Do you do those tests where they line up fruit and veg and you have to identify 4 as a Granny Smith and 2 as a celeriac?

Sainsburys were the worst, treated it's floor staff like scum.

My niece works in Sainsbury’s and she says they are great. There are occasional spot searches of pockets and bags but nothing too intrusive and certainly not cars. She has been there over 2 years and hasnt personally been searched. She has been ill recently and they have been supportive.

It is probably company policy to allow searches but store managers have discretion to apply as they choose. Searching daily and cars seems excessive and potentially a manger on a power trip, do you have other branches you can ask if the same policy is so rigorously applied?

I work in retail and we also have the staff, locker and vehicle searches and it doesn't bother me in the slightest.
The removal of shoes and socks is a bit extreme though

A contract cannot override your statutory rights nor the law.

Searches in the work place can place an employer on very sketchy grounds it’s well worth having a chat to acas because what your describing sounds pretty extreame