Accused of stealing at work

[Driverdropoff]

Looking for some help my son has been suspended from work accused of stealing it is a big retail company they have a free for outside the building which is free wood for anyone to take and now he has been accused of stealing it he is waiting to n an email from them to appeal it all his vo workers have said he has done nothing wrong we’re does he stand

Who told him the stuff was free?

Who reported him for stealing?

What does his line manager say?

they have a free for outside the building which is free wood for anyone to take and now he has been accused of stealing

Is he in a Union, if so, your DS should make contact immediately to explain the situation from his perspective and seek advice on the process.

it doesn't make sense that if it was a "free for" where he took the wood, to then be accused of stealing it.

are you sure you're getting the complete story from your DS? Did he take some wood but not from the free pile?

Or did he add something to the free pile that he shouldn’t and then took it later?

I have never come across a retail premises giving things away for free outside so I am having some difficulty visualising the scenario. Anyway was it intended for customers rather than staff perhaps? Was there a limit on how much somebody could take and your son took everything? I think that how it is communicated comes into this and there isn’t really enough background to go on.

Another one here who has never known a big retail premises to have a "free for" outside.

Could you go down and take a photo of it?

Ikea have a covered trolly stand outside where they put broken furniture for people to take for wood.

I assume the op means this type of thing.

If it was genuinely free for all he wouldn't be in this position.
It's either a misunderstanding with his employer or he is too ashamed to tell you the full truth.
He should speak to an employment solicitor. I think ACAS give free employment advice over the phone.

Perhaps it wasn't there for staff to take, just customers? But that should have been made clear to him?

I have been to b&q and they have a big bin near the exit with things that customers don't need and it's 'free' but there is a donation suggested.

It contains off cuts of wood, door handles, curtain tracks... that kind of thing.

To clarify, things that customers have bought but don't need al of the pack... so they buy a pack of 4 door handles but only need 2 so put the rest in the donation bin.

IKEA have a free wood place outside. It's always jam packed with stuff.