tanmgr

Hi all, We'll I just found out or figured out that one of my long-time employees has been stealing from me. I have the pump bottles from designer skin and she will sell a shot and pocket the money without ringing in the sale. I have everything inventoried except the pumps because its hard to actually inventory and we also have a coupon out for a free shot. (which they must ring in and include the coupon in their daily deposits) Anyways, I had a customer come in and say she really liked the shot she bought the other day, but couldn't remember which tingle it was. So I look at her account and say well I don't see one on here and she's like no I bought it for $5 the last time I was here. I didn't push the issue with the client, but the employee working with me took note and came and talked to me later and said that the other employee has in the past sold shots but pocketed the money and had told a few of the girls this.

So my question is - (of course she'll be fired - she's on summer break but i've changed the locks and will talk to her the minute she is in town) - how do you address this to her. Could I contact the police if need be or at least to threaten her with - I have no actual video proof or anything like that - just the customer's word and the word of 3 other employees.

Any advice would be great! Thanks.

Marca

We've had a theft issue a few weeks ago. Went to the police with our suspicions and they adviced us to place a camera. We filmed for 1,5 week and were shocked to see what else she did that we didn't suspect. I advice you to do the same, because who know what else she is stealing? We went to the police with the film and they arrested her, took her from her house at 7 a.m. It's going to court in a few months.

Good luck, it really really sucks and you don't know who you can trust anymore!

Marca

O, sorry I didn't read your post well enough. So you won't see her anymore? The police said to us that our suspicions weren't proof, so they couldn't do anything about it. We put extra money in the register, but she had NO cash differences whatsoever. That wasn't proof either. They adviced us to not fire her right away, but first film.... That was hard, but necessary.

But maybe go to the police to see if the same rules apply where you live.

clubtan1

Unfortunatley, it's all hear say. However, since it's come from so many different sources, termination would seem to be in order. When she comes back, confront her with exactly what you heard. I'd also ask her how much she thinks she stole from you and if she feels a need to pay it back. She will probably tell you some story, maybe even promise to pay you back. You probably wont hear from her again but my guess is she'll remember it for a long time.

ChristineE

Well...since this employee won't be working in your salon anymore the whole idea of videotaping her isn't going to work. Without that kind of proof though, I don't think there is much you can do. Just chalk it up to experience, fire her and move on. I had an issue similar to that, with employees taking money, but was never able to figure out who it was. The 2 that I suspected don't work here anymore anyway - and now I'm more careful with who I trust with what.

__________________
No longer a ban virgin. I feel so dirty.

movieking

The first thing is to make sure you don't fire her for something you do not have physical proof of. Just tell her you are not happy with the way things are going and she won't be needed any longer.

While you're trying to get your salon in order it seems to me as if the other employees who have now told you they knew what she was doing should be let go also. They had a resposibility to protect company assets and they failed to do that miserably. As far as I'm concerned they are as responsible for what happed as the one who actually stole from you.

tanmgr

I haven't actually fired her yet as she has been out of town. do you all think I should try and videotape first - do you inform your employees that they are being videotaped or do it without them knowing like hiding the cameras? I just am not sure if I would feel comfortable knowing that she is working alone in the salon.

This all came about after I confronted one of my other employees about using lotion off the shelf. Have you had employees use your lotion that is for sale and put it back? What do you with them? I have had the girls stealing lotion shots as well even though I give them plenty of free lotion. What is the deal with employees?

tanmgr

movieking - i've thought about firing the girls that knew about this and believe me they have all had a big talking to - but to fire all my employees would leave me ina bad situation - I agree maybe it should be done - but would making an example out of the one do enough? Just a thought....

clubtan1

Accuse no one unless you have HARD evidence. IMO, just let the one who you think was stealing go as movieking advised. I would also start thinking about how to bring in new people one at a time to replace what you have now. Sometime in the near future, think about a counter camera and video tape. Let your employee's know it too. Amazing how those little thefts fall off when they know they're being video taped.

top250tansyou

I would find it hard to believe that none of the others were stealing also. Club said it best - one at a time.


Movieking said to let her go for no real reason - also a good idea. I like to find something though - i have used its just working for me though. The other girls should know what she got fired for without you saying. Letting her know or others know (exactly) that she was let go for stealing without video proof can come back to bite you in the arssss.

The salon that am at now when i took it over 5 years ago every computer person there was stealing - everyone - 5 or six of them. It was early feb and i needed them all. First night i told them i knew what was going on and that is was going to stop if they wanted to stay on. Did i stop it all - probably not. Did i stop the 300 - 400 they were doing a day - yes. Took me 6 months to filter them all out and didnt fire one for stealing.