sometimes doing the right thing...(long)

[moodyskydiver 0]

...doesnt feel so right.

I was working last night at my VERY new job (only 3 days on the job officially) and noticed something wrong with the girl who was "training" me.Actually she was just another cashier there to make sure I didnt screw up.But anyway, she rang up a customer and he paid with a gift card,which had a very low amount on it left after the transaction so he said to throw it away.She waited for the customer to leave the store and then she pocketed the card saying "hey,its free money."

To me,I dont know,it just felt wrong.I know this is a big corporate company who got their money regardless of her actions b/c someone had to have paid for the gift card to start with.But it didnt sit well with me and I didnt say anything last night to anyone.But today I talked to the HR director about it b/c I didnt feel right about it and asked her what the policy was on unused giftcards.Well they have to be accounted for and destroyed,thats why we're supposed to file them away...not keep them.So I told her the situation and she said it was basically stealing even though the company got their money from the initial giftcard purchase.I know shes going to bring my name into it b/c thats the type of person she is.So I spoke with the assistant manager after my shift today and told him the problem and asked that my name not be brought up b/c I know hes a good guy and I trust him.I just dont want to be dragged into this and be labeled a snitch or tattle-tale or whatever and be outcast from my coworkers.Should I have just kept my mouth shut?

Doing the right thing still feels bad.

"...just an earthbound misfit, I."

[futuredivot 0]

You have to follow your convictions or you're not you anymore

You are only as strong as the prey you devour

[DSE 5]

Read my sig line...

[taylor.freefall 0]

Absolutely 100% did the right thing, theft is theft. For f's sake dont feel guilty about it. If anybody should be it should be them but I guarantee they wont give a shit so dont feel guilty over it.

[JustChuteMeNow 0]

I assume you did what you thought was right. That isn't wrong and ultimately the decision to discipline won't be your decesion. You just gave the facts.

However if the customer said the card was trash and to throw it away and the customer then walked away. I don't look on this as theft. If the customer had said here is a candy bar would you throw it away for me because I don't like chocolate would the cashier be wrong for keeping it and eating it later. Personally I wouldn't consider it stealing in either case because in both instances the customer said it was trash.

Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

[Shotgun 1]

Hmm, if I was the guy who didn't want what was left on the gift card, I would have told the cashier that she could have it rather than telling her to throw it away. (Sort of like "keep the change.") But I guess if he told her to throw it away, then that's what she should have done.

[DangerRoo 0]

follow your beliefs, values and instincts...you wont be disapointed, might not be easy but in the end you wont regret your self

I think you did just right

(I.C.D#2 VP)
"<3 ..Looks like breasts coming out of an ice cream cone. Mmmm."~John Mitchell
"I'm good with my purple penis straw" ~sky mama

[taylor.freefall 0]

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Hmm, if I was the guy who didn't want what was left on the gift card, I would have told the cashier that she could have it rather than telling her to throw it away. (Sort of like "keep the change.") But I guess if he told her to throw it away, then that's what she should have done.

Yeah and why wait for him to leave the shop if it wasn't wrong?!

[Conundrum 1]

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I assume you did what you thought was right. That isn't wrong and ultimately the decision to discipline won't be your decesion. You just gave the facts.

However if the customer said the card was trash and to throw it away and the customer then walked away. I don't look on this as theft. If the customer had said here is a candy bar would you throw it away for me because I don't like chocolate would the cashier be wrong for keeping it and eating it later. Personally I wouldn't consider it stealing in either case because in both instances the customer said it was trash.

I don't really consider it "theft" either. A little shday perhaps, but not stealing. The guy threw it away. Besides, it will be "filed away" after she uses the little amount that was on it, so it's all the same.

[taylor.freefall 0]

It's not the same, it was taken without consent, and it's irrelevant what happens to it later.

[JustChuteMeNow 0]

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It's not the same, it was taken without consent

The guy said it was trash. Does a person need consent to take trash?

Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

[moodyskydiver 0]

Please dont get this blown out of proportion and get moved to SC.I was just venting...

"...just an earthbound misfit, I."

[McBeth 0]

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It's not the same, it was taken without consent

The guy said it was trash. Does a person need consent to take trash?

I see homeless people going through trash all the time to look for bottles or cans to get the refund. Once someone throws something out I don't see any problem with another person choosing to use it.

[taylor.freefall 0]

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It's not the same, it was taken without consent

The guy said it was trash. Does a person need consent to take trash?

YES!!

[taylor.freefall 0]

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It's not the same, it was taken without consent

The guy said it was trash. Does a person need consent to take trash?

I see homeless people going through trash all the time to look for bottles or cans to get the refund. Once someone throws something out I don't see any problem with another person choosing to use it.

Homeless people getting cans out of the trash and taking a gift card with money on it out of the trash at work are two totally separate things. If there was no grey area we wouldn't be having this conversation. I'm sure you'd agree that most people would assume the latter to possibly be a cause for concern in the workplace?

[McBeth 0]

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Homeless people getting cans out of the trash and taking a gift card with money on it out of the trash at work are two totally separate things. If there was no grey area we wouldn't be having this conversation. I'm sure you'd agree that most people would assume the latter to possibly be a cause for concern in the workplace?

Personally I don't think it is a problem at all. I'm glad moody stood up for what she thinks is right, I just don't happen to agree that it's a problem to take a gift card that the customer doesn't want.

[mamajumps 0]

personally what I think you did was right, and 10 years ago, I would have done the same thing. However, I have been conditioned by society that being a "squeaky wheel" is seldomly a good thing. Even by those who claim they need to be told. I have been sexually harrassed on the job site (and for those of you who know me, you know that would take a lot) and I lost my job for taking it to HR. I know what you have is apples and that is oranges. But in every situation where I thought I was doing the right, it always backfired on me and I was damned for doing the right thing. I hope that doesnt happen to you and kudos to you for doing what was right!

[taylor.freefall 0]

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Homeless people getting cans out of the trash and taking a gift card with money on it out of the trash at work are two totally separate things. If there was no grey area we wouldn't be having this conversation. I'm sure you'd agree that most people would assume the latter to possibly be a cause for concern in the workplace?

Personally I don't think it is a problem at all. I'm glad moody stood up for what she thinks is right, I just don't happen to agree that it's a problem to take a gift card that the customer doesn't want.

I know what you're saying and part of me agrees. However I still believe if there's ever a grey area that it should be brought out into the open so things like this don't happen. I know in that situation that I would've left it well alone. If I decided I did want it I would've asked
a supervisor, that way no one can accuse you of stealing.

[JustChuteMeNow 0]

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Please dont get this blown out of porportion and get moved to SC.I was just venting...

Again I commend you for doing what you thought was right. I am certainly not trying to argue your decesion.

Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.

[skymama 37]

If the company policy says that she was supposed to turn it in, then she was supposed to turn it in. End of story.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[jenfly00 0]

You recently posted about how seriously your unemployment was affecting your life. A few months prior to that you posted you had major issues on another job you just started.

What is the world is driving you that you would create another major ethical issue (over essentially nothing), three days into a job you evidently very much need??????

Rightly or wrongly, I'm betting the HR director is thinking "damn, this new employee is gonna be a pain in the ass. On her third day at work she's sitting in my office with some tiny piece of bullshit that nobody cares about that she has rooted out ...so now I have to take more time to deal with it now that she has brought it to me."

-----------------------
"O brave new world that has such people in it".

[Beerlight 0]

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You recently posted about how seriously your unemployment was affecting your life. A few months prior to that you posted you had major issues on another job you just started.

What is the world is driving you that you would create another major ethical issue (over essentially nothing), three days into a job you evidently very much need??????

Rightly or wrongly, I'm betting the HR director is thinking "damn, this new employee is gonna be a pain in the ass. On her third day at work she's sitting in my office with some tiny piece of bullshit that nobody cares about that she has rooted out ...so now I have to take more time to deal with it now that she has brought it to me."

That's the best response yet to this thread.

[diablopilot 2]

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Homeless people getting cans out of the trash and taking a gift card with money on it out of the trash at work are two totally separate things. If there was no grey area we wouldn't be having this conversation. I'm sure you'd agree that most people would assume the latter to possibly be a cause for concern in the workplace?

Personally I don't think it is a problem at all. I'm glad moody stood up for what she thinks is right, I just don't happen to agree that it's a problem to take a gift card that the customer doesn't want.

Ditto.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[Squeak 17]

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You recently posted about how seriously your unemployment was affecting your life. A few months prior to that you posted you had major issues on another job you just started.

What is the world is driving you that you would create another major ethical issue (over essentially nothing), three days into a job you evidently very much need??????

Rightly or wrongly, I'm betting the HR director is thinking "damn, this new employee is gonna be a pain in the ass. On her third day at work she's sitting in my office with some tiny piece of bullshit that nobody cares about that she has rooted out ...so now I have to take more time to deal with it now that she has brought it to me."

That's the best response yet to this thread.

‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’
Stop the small thing the bigger things tend to be less



Amber always work from your own level of personal integrity, without that you have very little left

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[JustChuteMeNow 0]

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If the company policy says that she was supposed to turn it in, then she was supposed to turn it in. End of story.

I have absolutly no idea what the company policy is BUT I would bet mucho bucks that the policy didn't cover this scenario. Of course I have been wrong before.

Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that statistically half of them are stupider than that.