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)!!!

This reminds me of a place I used to work where someone kept stealing the hand wash so the bosses got a camera disguised as a clock and put it in the corridor to find the thief.

Sorry but firstly you were all supposed to drink this gift? So what are you all out exactly? The cost if 1 glass of champagne each?

Also, it was £70 retail but you can get champagne at the supermarket for £25. I know it’s not the point but
surely it’s just a drink and worth what someone is prepared to pay for it. Not a gold bar with a set value.

The thief is a massive selfish asshole. The boss has a point about making a fuss, it’s so disrespectful to steal.

The irony is that I don't even drink champagne as it gives me a headache!

So I need to pay for part of a bottle of champagne that was mine anyway and I can't even drink the replacement, even if I wanted to!

Boss would need to establish ownership of the bottle and that would be all of you, so boss isn't in a position to make a judgement alone as it doesn't belong to just the boss.

If your boss suspects someone has stolen it he will need to conduct a proper investigation followed by a proper disciplinary process. Failure to do so you can take them to tribunal

The boss probably thinks it's really his as it was given to him in the office he a client, but was definitely for us all!

No you don't.

Just say no.

@MissScarletInTheBallroom

Apologies, I meant hypothetically.

I've no intention of paying anything!!!!

So there has been a theft and your boss has announced said theft and is only looking for everyone else to chip in to replace this bottle? Not chipping in themselves? I see where you are coming from op and I would die on the chair I was sitting rather than pay towards that 'fund' for the next bottle as essentially that seems to be now what it is. I am not in the UK but I would state my case and if threatened with being fired then counter threat for constructive dismissal if I felt I had to leave because of it.

I worked in bars a lifetime ago, we got accused of something similar. They started checking our bags at the end of every shift, making threats like yours. The thief was the manager who was eventually caught by top management.

If the gift was for all of you, money to cover it should be shared between all of you and so none of you owe the money.

I'd accuse the boss loudly and repeatedly. And talk about wage theft in their presence.

Would paying the money knock anyone below minimum wage for the day? If so also start talking about the hassle of trying to get through to hmrc to report it.

Hope you have fun with it and no one actually pays for it.

Bully boy boss needs a bag check I reckon! Stick to your guns OP!

Shame the rest of the team probably wouldn't be on board..

After confirming he won't be contributing.... I'd try to get everyone on board with chipping in to give themselves whatever their % would be.. using the same note.

Say it's £20 - everyone pass a 20 round to the left til it gets back to the start. Job done.

Then tell him:

' We've all chipped in to cover the loss... and everyone involved has been recompensed for that loss.'

Then watch him bluster and kick off and point out... no one really wanted two mouthfuls of champagne, so financial recompense is fine.

I think the Manager drank it. Probably took it home, thinking no one would notice that the champagne wasn't forthcoming, but then perhaps someone mentioned it, and he realised he was going to have to replace it, but didn't want to pay out £70, once he'd drunk it, so then claimed it had been stolen, and is now putting pressure on everyone to replace it. I would just say that I'm not paying, and when all the stupid people who are currently putting pressure on you to contribute to a bottle of champagne that they plan to drink between them, have replaced it, you won't bother to have any.

You'd be an absolute MUG to contribute OP!

I would think this is illegal , tell them you refuse to pay fir something you haven’t stolen and will speak to acas about your legal rights then ring acas

It was a quarter yours anyway. Tell him you're not that bothered and will just let it go. If the others do that too no problem. If they decide to chip in then they are paying for their share, suggest that they open the new bottle and drink that part that is theirs.

Please don't leave and allow him to suggest it was because you were the thief!!! Follow the ACAS route and absolutely disallow this outrageous behaviour!

Your manager is committing a criminal offence against you and the others. Its extortion pure and simple. You can join a union even in a Mon unionised workforce but if there is HR department they will squash this. And bullying should be reported

This, but put it in writing. All of it. State exactly what has happened, what he's asked you to do and what he's threatened will happen if you don't comply.

Looking forward to the update op 🤣

This would definitely be a hill I would die on.

No to contributing towards replacing a bottle of champagne that I had nothing whatsoever to do with in the first place.

Nope.

I'd even get on to ACAS and get their advice and ask them if they could email their response to you - just so you have in writing what the ACAS advice is in relation to being asked to contribute towards replacing something, a gift, that was left in an insecure location in the office and that has gone walkies.

I'd tell your boss two words SOD OFF.

I would leave if your in the fortunate position to do so and say something like ok I’ll see you at the tribunal bye 🤣

Shocking. If it was a gift then nobody is out of pocket. If it was for all of you then everyone has missed out equally. Would you all be sharing the replacement bottle?

Ask to see the receipt.

Who would everyone be paying the reparation money to?

Suggest a new bottle is purchased with the extortion money and that you and only you will hold the key to the cupboard it's locked in