Paying for stock discrepancies

[tom777]

At the off liscence where I work large amounts of crisps and chocolates have been stolen. In the last month £13 worth of crisps alone were missing and more chocolate items were missing. The boss has put up a list of how many items were missing and has said she is sure that this cannot be all down to shoplifting and is sure that a member of staff is pilfering items.

When she returns in a few days stock counts will be taken before and after our shifts and apparently we will be charged for any discrepancies! Considering there is definately a small amount of shoplifting, is this legal and above board? Also if there was a discrepancy on my shift and I refused to pay the amount, could they remove it from my pay?

[Drifter]

She definately can't just remove it from your pay without your written consent, unless it is stated in your contract that she is allowed to.

She can say "you will be charged for it" all she likes, but if it's not written down, she hasn't a leg to stand on.

[jamesson]

Drifter is correct, Tom. She has no legal right to deduct money from your wages unless it's written in your contract.

[VinnyP!]

In the last month £13 worth of crisps alone were missing and more chocolate items were missing.

Hmm well as has been said no one can touch your wages and why are you responsible for his losses?

How long will this stock take take to complete? For £13 a month if it takes more than a couple of minutes a day then the stocktake will cost more than the loss. :daft:

[7db]

There's "cost" and "cost", Vinny.

Cash is important in the time rich cash poor entrepreneurial world.

[VinnyP!]

Good point, but they need to start realising that opportunity cost is still cost or they will always be cash poor. Retail price of £13 is a cash cost of a lot less than that. Demotivated sales staff will cost and this is not motivation. Better to say that next monthly stock take they want an improvement and staff can have 50% of that improvement in free stuff.

[jamesson]

Tom - when you tell this woman that you're not going to bend over for her, what will her likely response be?

[Masked Marauder]

As far as the law goes unless anything is in your T&Cs to the contrary then they can't take the money for the missing stock. HOWEVER if your workmates knuckle down and let them, then you will be said to have accepted this too as it has become a common working practice. You need to stand united on this one.

If it does become an accepted practice then the most that can be stopped from your wages is 10% of your pay.

[Deep]

Personally, I would write a letter, asking her to clarify whether she is making an allegation of theft against me personally, and if so to put it in writing so that you can consider legal advice. If not, then query why she is considering dedicting your salary to cover theft from her shop which is nothing to do with you.

As always with these things, put it in writing and get the response in writing!

[Kris]

hmmm Deeps advice about stuff in writing is a good one BUT be aware it may inflame the situation..

Think you need to consider if you still want to work there..if you're not that bothered then go for it with the letter etc....and be prepared that the reaction may not be so good and that you may want to find another job.

If you do like the job depsite the grief you are getting at the moment then a quiet word along the lines of "Didnt think you were allowed to take money from salaries for this type of thing unless it was in the contract" might be better....and might prompt her to look up the rules...

[tom777]

Well to clarify, I really like this job! The boss has been great to me, and I don't think she meant to acuse anyone, but for a shop that rarely has a discrepancy of more than 2 on any item this is very unusual!

Only 4 of us work at the off lisence (which is a Threshers store). I'm sure that the manager and assistant manager are not thieving as it is their necks on the line and they have to answer to head office. The other employee is a young pregnant girl, who usually works when I'm on, so I'm sure it isn't her. It definately is not me taking goods. Besides why would I take crisps when we stock wine/sambucca/beers etc.

The slight twist being that I'm on my best behaviour at the moment after I took over a shift from the assistant manager the other day. No one is allowed in the stock room except staff. He had a friend in there and when he left I said I didn't mind is she was to hang about for a while. Needless to say as soon as he left the manager 'popped in' and I got a bollocking. So the last thing I want to do is inflame the situation.

[jamesson]

I hope the manager knows that it wasn't your friend, but that of her deputy!

[Masked Marauder]

the off lisence (which is a Threshers store).

My brother is a manager for Threashers, do you want me to find out what the company line is on on stopping wages is?

[F&CO]

A Threshers without cctv and recording, I find that hard to believe these days.
Are you contractually responsible for security, if not tell the manager to call in the police as you are innocent and want the culprit caught to clear any doubt of your honesty.
If your sure your co-workers are honest, it sounds like a gang of younger kids have got your shop sussed out and are distracting you while they help themselves, older kids steal booze.
Will the manager be chipping in to the losses?

It all sounds a bit like David Brent's management style.

F&CO

[tom777]

I hope the manager knows that it wasn't your friend, but that of her deputy!

No, but its my fault anyway, I only let her stay so that she would stop hassling the a/manager as he had other things to do. A MASSIVE error of judgement on my part. He's made it clear if the proverbial hits the fan he would own up completely.


My brother is a manager for Threashers, do you want me to find out what the company line is on on stopping wages is?

That would be very helpful thank you.

The store has CCTV, just not in the stock room.

[7db]

Perhaps the manager is hoping that the empty threat will stop the problem without the need for further action. Fingers crossed that it does (although that means its an internal problem).

[tom777]

7db, I think thats exactly what shes doing.

I personally thhink someone has been targeting the shop, its opposite a secondary school (where else do you put an off lisence lol). But I'm always a bit paranoid about kids in the shop and keep an eye out, I just hope there are no discrepancies when I'm on, as the boss is back and it would mean someone is being very underhand.

Thank you all for your help.

[tom777]

I have a feeling these stock takes have already been done, or it has been decided not to do them. Relations with the boss are A-OK, especially after I filled in some shifts for the other part timer whos been off sick. I even got a bottle of nice Claret to say thanks.

The store has now banned under 16's on the premises without an adult.

[Mickey]

If the store has CCTV then why dont they go through the cctv, surely this would tell them wether or not its the local kids, which i would be where i place my bets, however if nothing shows up then they would have to consider other security measures to find the culprit, its easy really, i have just gone through all this with my staff and i shall say no more than that.

[tom777]

The CCTV has shown nothing really, only shows one kid pinching a bag of crisps. The problem being the chocolate faces the CCTV camera, so to take your pick you have your back to the camera. Its the only place we can really put the stand without eating into valuable wine storage space.

Besides our monthly stock discrepancy on confectionary fell from a staggering £30 odd quid in December to a more acceptable 92p now that kids have been banned. Besides under 16s really have no place in an off license.

[Kris]

ok well fingers crossed its problem solved for you !