Threateneed to be terminated

[fjguy]

What is the name of your state? California

There is an internal investigation for the company i work for, about employees copying customer data or copying illegal software/music.

So the district loss prevention manager is doing this investigation at our store, and is questioning each employee alone (in the presence of another store employee not from my department)

Anyway, i don't work on customer data, and keep myself busy enough not to do illegal stuff. So the questioning with me went well until the end when the guy told me "if you let anyone know what i am asking or i find out you talked about this, i will personally see to it that you get disciplinary action, and i will push for your termination"

is that a threat? or is that within legal boundaries for him to say that!?!

 

[quincy]

Well, yes, technically that would be a threat. But you should probably just look on it as a warning - and don't say anything to anyone about what was discussed in your meeting with him.

 

[xylene]

your employer wants to retain confidentiality, because they would like to nab the real culprit.

pretty much, your employer can fire you at any time (at will employment)

If many people are stealing and they can't find who, it is possible that many or all staff would be laid off or reassigned.

While the threat of firing was classless, it is well within the employers rights, and should remind you of just how serious this situation is.

 

[moburkes]

Well said, friends.

 

[Ozark_Sophist]

Year ago, Wally World built a new spiffycenter in a neighboring community in my old state. Everyone was excited and eagerly awaited the opening. The store opened, then promptly closed. Once the TVs, Computer, and other electronics on the floor were sold, associates went to the back where they found stacks and stacks of empty boxes. The entire store was canned because of the enormity of the scam. Either employees actually stole or watched as other employees stole.

If you disclose the line of questioning, it might be assumed you colaborated.

 

[moburkes]

Year ago, Wally World built a new spiffycenter in a neighboring community in my old state. Everyone was excited and eagerly awaited the opening. The store opened, then promptly closed. Once the TVs, Computer, and other electronics on the floor were sold, associates went to the back where they found stacks and stacks of empty boxes. The entire store was canned because of the enormity of the scam. Either employees actually stole or watched as other employees stole.

WOW! Just WOW! I don't remember hearing about that one. Amazing.

 

[cbg]

Y'know, it shouldn't surprise me, but it does,

On the one hand, we get people complaining that they were never notified that their job was in jeopardy, and are asked if that is illegal.

On the other hand, we get people complaining that they WERE notified that their job is in jeopardy, and are asked if that is illegal.

There is nothing "outside the legal limits" in telling you that if you fail to keep certain information confidential, the penalty is termination.

While I suppose it could be considered a threat, it is a legal one.

 

[Betty]

This was in a 2006 article re employee theft.

On a per case average, dishonest employees steal approximately 5.7 times the amount stolen by shoplifters ($724.15 vs $126.87).
Those cheap pens & post-it notes can really add up! It's so serious though that it isn't really funny.