How do I handle this?

[Inforapenny65]

How do I cope with working with a colleague who i believe is stealing company funds,..she lies about the smallest things, she claims to be busier than everyone else in the team...but I have rumbled her many times but didn't say anything as she and the boss are close friends...she is a temp and she wants a. permanent job with the company... she was meant to ensure that money was sent out to customers recently but this was not received by any of them (40+ people = nearly£1k)...she claimed to have posted them out no proof of postage ...she offered to pay back the money but I feel uncomfortable working with her because I believe she stole the money... why offer to payback if your innocent)...I have to work with her and am struggling with how I can remain professional....how do I handle this?

Cover yourself.

Grass her up to whomever you need to - your boss, or your the manager/boss of your boss.

All sounds shady....

I wouldn’t do anything about that specific scenario, because I would assume that the business owners / manager will be just as likely as you to be suspicious. As an aside why are you sending cash to customers? It doesn’t seem like good practice.

You can tell the boss anything you know about the situation? Say you are concerned as you're not sure what has happened and felt the boss should be aware. Also explain you are not making any allegations but feel 'confused' or something about what has happened.

Then I might just look for another job - I wouldn't like to work somewhere like that!

I'm assuming she posted out cheques?? Odd that none arrived. Can she be told to cancel them all and resend? See what she says. That amount of money should be traceable....it's not like it's £10 in a birthday card!

Go talk to your manager. Talk confidentially and ask for your name not to be mentioned to her. Be factual about what you have witnessed.

If £1k is missing presumably an investigation is underway anyway, so it will soon become apparent what the problem is. Just cooperate fully and tell the truth.

She claims to have posted cash - not registered. She immediately offered to replace funds when it was brought to her attention- she quickly notified everyone management wise that something 'has gone a amiss' I think its to avoid any questions....how do you lose nearly 50 envelopes in one go? My trust is lost and I don't want to be around her....I doubt that it will be investigated so she may have got away with it.....she is friendly with management

Why would you post cash?

Approach it from a competence point if view she is making poor decisions and costing the company money

If she is friendly with management and money which is her responsibility to deliver safely has all gone missing, then more fool them really if they are trusting her.
I honestly don't think you need to do much in this situation as surely they will investigate and work it out?
If you are asked anything, then tell them what you know rather than what you think might have happened.

Why would she straight away offer to 'pay back' the 'lost' money? Do you mean out of her own pocket?

Because she stole it, that's why.

Make sure your back is fully, fully covered. It's probably not a good idea to go running to a manager, as it could look like you're dropping her in it/setting her up if she's favoured. Possibly keep a diary of any other dodgy goings on.

It's horrible, theft is serious, but entangling yourself in this will probably backfire on you.

Why on earth would £1k in cash going missing not be investigated? How has she got access to that amount of cash in the first place? What's the normal procedure for sending funds to customers?

Someone being able to access cash like that and send it in envelopes needs an immediate investigation into financial procedures, surely?

It was a gift from our company to our customers (vulnerable adults )...I have to work closely with her (albeit on line) i just want get on with my job, but she is ringing me constantly and I am struggling with what to say to her...she says things like ' oh I can't believe the post office has stolen the post...its awful..." I feel like she is trying to provoke a reaction from me so she can make it look as though I'm accusing her of theft...sorry I'm waffling...I'm just ignoring her calls this morning...because I don't know what to say to her...

If she has offered to pay back then management is already aware and there's no need to get involved.

Speak to your manager. Outline your concerns

Report to your boss but in a very factual way. Don't say she stole it anything, just that people have not been recieving the money that she told you she sent cash. Let me reach the obvious conclusion.

She's lying. Who the hell posts that amount of cash then offers to pay it back when it goes missing?? I can understand the odd relative sending £10 in a birthday card, but not a business sending out that sort of cash!

I did try to give her the benefit of doubt but I just can't....lying and stealing, I can't handle...its not necessary....I feel like I have to pretend like nothing has happened...other team members are not aware of this so she is carrying on as if nothing has happened

Encourage her via email to obtain a crime reference number.

If that much post has gone missing, then the police and post office/Royal Mail will want to know.

She’ll then come up with some excuse about not wanting to make a fuss etc. I’d keep pressing at the issue, “what if this isn’t the only thing to have gone missing etc”