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Original poster

Probation period extended after I discovered a theft

211 replies

flixer · 14/10/2019 23:24

Long time lurker, seldom poster, name changed for obvious reasons... I really need some hand holding tonight.

I took a finance role 3 months ago. As part of my role, I found out that a staff member took the company card while out on a post-run and made an unauthorised purchase, a gift to a leaving member of staff. This was only picked up when I saw the bank statements. It was a director who had given her the card.

I informed the manager discretely. However, my interaction with said member of staff specially when dealing with finance things became a little strained.

Today I had my probation meeting... and my probation was extended on basis on my interaction with her!

I don't even have words... Manager said he cannot have conflict within the team....

OP posts:
custardbear · 15/10/2019 05:14

Is there an HR department? I'd make an appointment if so

Tippety · 15/10/2019 05:20

But the OP didn't accuse her colleague of theft, she flagged an unusual transaction to management (as is policy everywhere I have worked), who confirmed:

I informed management who confirmed to me that it was not authorised and that they would deal with the issue.

So from a finance perspective OP absolutely did the right thing, and had it been authorised management would have just informed OP of that, and maybe explained policy in this area. The colleague is miffed and being arsey with OP as by the sound of it she has been picked up on unauthorised spending on a company card for once. Instead of deal with the situation, management is appeasing the colleagues tantrum. What part of that is OP's fault?

Hesafriendfromwork · 15/10/2019 05:30

But the OP didn't accuse her colleague of theft, she flagged an unusual transaction to management (as is policy everywhere I have worked), who confirmed:

It appears that the OP had already made the judgement that this definitely wasnt authorised.

If someone has confirmed something to you, to me it suggests that was her theory and they confirmed it. Maybe not. OP hasnt been clear.

But it is clear they havent sacked the woman. If they have confirmed it was 'theft' they have finished investigating.

I am not saying its ops fault. But I do think theres a way of handling this. To me it reads that she was sure this was theft before the investigation.

Tippety · 15/10/2019 05:37

Finance teams should flag unusual activity though, misuse of company card isn't necessarily theft and OP hasn't referred to it as so. They may have done a policy refresh with the colleague- either way, OP handled it exactly as you'd expect the finance team to. Well, a professional finance team anyway, it sounds like they'd rather just keep other colleagues happy and let them do whatever with company money.

Tippety · 15/10/2019 05:48

Okay just noticed thread title, my bad Grin procedure seems as it should be though.

Hesafriendfromwork · 15/10/2019 05:59

Like I said it depends. OP seems very sure it was unauthorised. Right at the start. That why I am confused how she could have possivle known that.

Op did the right thing reporting it. But in their sort of job, how you report it can make all the difference.

In fairness the managers sound crap. The woman shouldnt have out it was OP. Although it might be obvious, if she is the only person doing this job. And no one should have confirmed to that it was unauthorised, to the OP.

Whether this is fair or not, to me depends on how OP presented it and what she means by strained and wether any if that strain has come from her.

maddiemookins16mum · 15/10/2019 06:29

A Director gave her the card. To be that’s not theft or an unauthorised purchase surely.

Oblomov19 · 15/10/2019 06:42

Yes OP did refer to it as "theft"in the OP. Which seems OTT.
Presumably this is a small business? Women had card, but bought unauthorised leaving present for another employee.
Hardly fucking theft, is it?
Op sounds like a jobsworth. I'm not surprised her probationary is increased.

They probably are a small to medium firm? ticking along nicely : woman takes a judgement call and decides to buy a leaving present : manager is probably more than grateful because he forgot and now this new person comes along causing a disturbance and bad feeling.

yeah I think as her manager I'd be hacked off as well.

Cordial11 · 15/10/2019 06:45

Hi OP - did they give feedback how they thought you should of handled it differently? I see no wrong doing on your part.

KatherineJaneway · 15/10/2019 06:56

I wouldn't want to continue working there if I were you.

itsboiledeggsagain · 15/10/2019 06:57

Ithink you need to explain what a little strained means.

My under standing is that they have not extended your probation because you flagged an issue, but because they want people to get on.

That said I would probably be on the look out for another job

slipperywhensparticus · 15/10/2019 06:58

Of course she said theft in the title it's faster

Oblomov19 · 15/10/2019 07:06

I'd post the credit card analysis to 'staff welfare' and be done with it.

And be very nice to lady who you have inappropriately accused of theft! Hmm

I have utter morals and if some new Accounts person, when I'd been there donkeys years, accused me of theft, for doing the company a favour - buying someone a leaving gift, then I would take utter umbrage. And there'd be no way back, for new lady! Angry

And look for another job.

Oblomov19 · 15/10/2019 07:07

"A little strained"?
Yeah. Right. Don't expect that to change. Any time soon! Hmm

TheFrendo · 15/10/2019 07:14

It looks like, from the company's point of view:

a) There was no theft.

b) The director gave the card to an an employee so that a gift could be bought.

c) The employee did not make an unauthorised purchase.

Did you create a drama about theft and/or unauthorised purchase?

WeirdAndPissedOff · 15/10/2019 07:18

The thing is, OP has said she picked it up during bank reconciliations which were part of her role.
If she suspected something was amiss and didn't report it, she could have been in much worse trouble down the line. It takes a while to get a feel for a company and how they operate, for all she knew this company is a stickler for credit card policies, even for "only a leaving gift".
(My current company's policy reminds us several times in caps lock that ANY UNAUTHORISED PURCHASES WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION).

I'm responsible for bank and credit card reconciliations in my job, and the OP's situation is why I never, ever want to uncover theft. It's not a can of worms I want to open, but if I don't report I'll be seen as at best negligent and at worst complicit.

Nottheduchess · 15/10/2019 07:21

What do you mean by “strained”? Is there an issue between you and this person? Have either of you said anything to one another. Maybe she’s feeling angry because she has been accused of stealing (I would) and you are ignoring the way she feels because you feel like you are just doing your job. Is it your job btw? Is it your job to find inconsistencies and report to management? You don’t say exactly what you are employed to do.

Witchend · 15/10/2019 07:22

Yes it was the OPs Job to pick it up.
However, the fact she is still refering to it as theft when she knows what happened and management seems fine with it, makes me suspect that she didn't handle it in the most appropriate way.

joystir59 · 15/10/2019 07:26

She didn't steal anything, she bought a leaving gift on behalf of the manager. You are wrong to have an issue with the staff member and they have seen you over react and create drama.

GinNotGym19 · 15/10/2019 07:28

Did you tell anyone else or talk to her about it? Is there more to this?
If it’s exactly how you say then I’d be looking for another job

Isleepinahedgefund · 15/10/2019 07:30

OP was clear in her update that the person was given the card for a specific purpose (posting letters). She made that authorised purchase. She then popped round to the shop and made another, unauthorised purchase. The fact it was for a leaving gift is a red herring.

OP did the right thing. Regardless of what management decided to do about it (and that's probably where the leaving gift aspect becomes relevant), she still did the right thing in flagging the unauthorised purchase.

Relations with other staff have become strained. Her probation has been extended because they are now questioning her ability to get on with people.

Personally I wouldn't want to work there anyway, as it seems that management won't back you up if you do the right thing.

LakieLady · 15/10/2019 07:35

There's a huge difference between a theft and an authorised purchase for which evidence of authorisation is missing.

OP, it would have been better to have presented this as an anomaly or missing paperwork initially, rather than a theft or unauthorised purchase. It sounds rather like you went in all guns blazing, which is never a good idea when you're new to an organisation and not yet au fait with the internal politics and staff relationships (I'll never forget my mate who, when newish in a role, went on an epic rant about a staff member who she felt was rude and lazy, only to be taken aside and told that this person was married to friend's manager).

It may be that this organisation has a culture of being a bit slack when it comes to paper trails etc, and you may be happier somewhere where they are sticklers for that sort of thing.

Ali1cedowntherabbithole · 15/10/2019 07:36

Some companies allow purchasing of leaving gifts, especially for retirement. It maybe that the purchaser is a PA who typically does tasks like this on the post run with consent from her manager and I’m also wondering if the OP misread the situation.

Of course the transaction should have been flagged, but accusing someone of theft straight off the bat looks like poor judgement and inexperience.

Figmentofmyimagination · 15/10/2019 07:42

OP you should call the confidential helpline of Protect, the whistleblowing charity and ask them for some advice - they are very good. You may have made a protected disclosure by reporting the unauthorised purchase and your subsequent promotion may be an unlawful ‘whistleblowing detriment’ if it was influenced by your report.

protect-advice.org.uk/

steppemum · 15/10/2019 07:47

I am not sure why the OP is getting such a hard time.
She has made it very clear that she flagged up something in the bank records.
Company confirmed it was an unauthorised purchase and will sort it.

The woman did NOT have permission ot use the card, and as PP said, that is what the OP is supposed to notice as part of her job!

If the director is fine with that, then that is up to them, but the OP has done her job.