Stolen Bottle of Champagne

[NameChangeAndLifeChange]

A bottle of champagne, worth about £70, has been stolen from the office.

Our manager said that if it's not replaced then the four staff members will need to pay for it between us.

I've got an idea who may have taken it but I can't be 100% sure.

I'm simply not prepared to pay for it. Why should I? Everyone else thinks we should!

Apparently I may get a written warning for not contributing (whilst that thief walks free)!!!

Do you have legal advice on your house insurance?

I would refuse to pay with a full explanation why.

I would also suggest as there has been a theft the police should be called, don’t back down

Yes but I'm not going down that route.

I've been thinking of quitting for some time as he's a twat, so I'm almost enjoying this and waiting for him to say one more thing so I can get up and walk out.

I'm going to start emptying my desk of my personal items so that I'm ready to go!

A client gift!

Easy come easy go as they say.

Not necessarily, could be a cleaner, could be security, could be any sort of contractor.

@DreamW3aver I was thinking it could have been a cleaner, client, delivery driver, maintenance worker etc. Or someone unauthorised could have got in. Many offices have various people coming in and out regularly aside from the permanent staff.

I would refuse too@NameChangeAndLifeChange or, to be really petty agree to contribute, offer to go shopping to buy it and then, in the middle of the office in front of everyone, including the manager, open it and either pour away a 1/4 of the contents or swig down a 1/4 of the champagne (dead eyeing the manager the entire time). After all, you’ve paid your share and are entitled to a 1/4 of the contents! 🥂🤣

But why when you can sit back and let things unravel and then take them to the employment tribunal and leave with a nice settlement? It is of no benefit to walk out on principle. Nobody will care and they will replace op within a week. It's not actually proving any point whatsoever.

Leave - and see if you get a £70 bottle of champagne as your leaving gift 😁

Tell your boss to report it to the police and claim it on his insurance, if he's that bothered.

🤣

Don't just quit. Tell him you consider yourself constructively dismissed, his having defamed your character and accused you of theft, and threatened to penalise you though your employment when you have been the victim of a crime. Let him shit himself at the thought of you taking him to a tribunal.

It's outrageous! You're not school children all being punished for one naughty child not owning up. He sounds ridiculous.

Your poor colleagues are being bullied into paying. Good for you for telling him to stick it.

Call the cops

So the bottle of champagne was for the team, it's been potentially stolen from the team and the team are potentially paying for it - to the manager, who may or not be the person who took it in the first place?

But surely if you walk out they will think it's you that stole . I think you should change your name to Champagne Charlie

I meant house legal cover to go to tribunal with as you are being constructively dismissed.

My money's on the manager having taken it.

I love this plan. Not only do you get to stick it to the boss by walking out, you can take him to tribunal for constructive dismissal, and potentially get a payout.

It’s ridiculously illegal what he’s doing- punishing you all for a theft he hasn’t taken the effort to investigate nor does it sound like he’s taken the chance to give you all the possibility to defend yourself. His behaviour is manifestly unreasonable.

As PP have said, don't resign.... we need to follow this!
Get the written warning, then take him to the cleaners. What an absolute ass your manager is.

This, and this only

Tell your boss that theft is a very serious allegation and that you are not prepared to be presumed guilty of it without any investigation or evidence. That if he believes he has a thief amongst his staff then he should inform the police, and that you will obviously be prepared to go along with any investigation. Otherwise, the matter has nothing to do with you. Tell him this in writing.

Very well put, @5128gap!

You could be made to look guilty if you walk out. You may not care but I wouldn’t want that directed at me, even in my absence. Why not just sit it out, stick to your guns and see what unfolds?