How not to handle alleged employee theft
October 22, 2008 by Fred HosierPosted in: Dubious decisions, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, That's how they do it in ______
If this is what the credit crunch and tough economic times are doing to business owners and managers, HR might have to discipline more employees.
Simon Cremer manages a carpet fitting business in England.
He suspected a contractor, Mark Gilbert, of stealing a company check and cashing it for 845 pounds (about $1,460 U.S. dollars).
Suggested solution: Gather evidence and call police.
What Cremer did: He marched Gilbert through the streets of Witham with his hands bound behind his back and a sign with “Thief, I stole 845 pounds, on my way to police station,” on it. He even invited along the local newspaper. You can see a picture of the spectacle online.
To Cremer’s surprise, when he got to the station, police arrested him on suspicion of false imprisonment, assault and theft. He was put in a cell for the night, too.
Gilbert was also arrested on suspicion of theft.
Both men were released.
Now, Gilbert is suing Cremer. He claims he was beaten up and threatened with tools by Cremer and three other workers.
In an interview with The Daily Mail, Cremer explained the business pressures he’s feeling these days. “I’m a small businessman, struggling to survive the credit crunch, sometimes working 20-hour days to make a living, and I need to be able to trust the sub-contractors I employ.”
This story has been getting a great deal of play in the British media. Citizens are lining up on both sides, some saying they don’t blame Cremer for taking the law into his own hands.
A factor that has, perhaps, added to some people’s positive thoughts about what Cremer did: He’s also told the British media that earlier this year his wife was battling breast cancer.
On Nov. 27, Cremer will learn if he’s to be charged.
Tags: credit crunch, employee theft, stolen check
October 24th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I dont agree with what he did but if you know about the stories I hear from my family in England, you can understand why. The UK Police force is completely undermanned and 90% of the time does not respond immediately to a crime unless someone has been hurt. My nephew was held at knife point and had his bike and ipod and cell phone stolen. His Mother called the police who told her as he wasn’t hurt they would be out to take a statement the following week. In the mean time the thieves have had a chance to get well and truly away.
You definitely need to know more about the circumstances of how the policeforce are working in this man’s area before making a judgement.
October 24th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
The way this man dealt with the situation was reactionary. He should have completed an internal investigation & terminated the person. He then should have made a formal complaint with the police as a follow up. Its not like he caught this person in the act of stealing and then made a citizens arrest. He tried to force his employee to confess to a crime he only thought the employee perpetrated.
It is very difficult to manage other people especially the dishonest ones but we always have to keep in mind that we need proof to make a claim against someones character.
November 10th, 2008 at 10:18 am
In my opinion he went about it all wrong, you never do anything like that yourself and if you have no hard evidence then that is even worst. He could have put him on unpaid leave until it was completely sorted out, then the worst that would have happened is if it turned out that the employee didn’t steal anything he would have had to pay the employee any time missed.
He sounds like a Boss that jumps the gun and chooses the stupid route, not a person I would want to work for.