Being Investigated at work. What should I do?

Question

I am a manager for a retail company (company known brand) and I was just told I’m being investigated because $200 went missing back in October 2021. Mind you, we’re in February 2022.

I had no idea this happened and I told them I would never do such a thing, and told them everything I knew. But then they said I gave out too many discounts to an associate and I violated the code of conduct and lost the company a value of $150.

I told them I don’t remember this happening and that I don’t know was basically my answer for everything. I really didn’t remember because this happened months ago! And I said if they would have asked sooner I would have had a better answer. But, I also didn’t want to say much because I didn’t want to self-incriminate.

They as well asked if I would pay the company for the profit they lost and I said no.

They told me that I would be under investigation and that not to be surprised if it ended badly.

So what do I do?

I already had another job lined up and was already planning to put in my 2 weeks notice.

Should I even do that now or just quit?

I don’t want to look “guilty” or “bad” because I’m not but I also don’t want “terminated” on my record either.

I really don’t care to burn my bridges with this company because I’ve written complaints about bullying, harassment, and even racism at work and nothing has been done.

So any advice or options would help!

Answer 1

They're not looking to steal your final paycheck. They're looking to discredit you. You've complained about harassment and racism, they want a paper trail to claim you have a grudge in case you sue. They would have loved for you to have paid, because that would look like an admission of guilt. If you already have a new job just get out and consider talking to a lawyer to see if you have a case.

Answer 2

I have worked retail in the past, and I was in the management track.

Cash policies could be much more strict, and when I asked about them, a regional manager quietly admitted to me that they were deliberately vague so that they could get rid of people. The running joke is that people leave retail 2 ways. They quit, or they are accused of stealing.

The cash policies are so lax by design because any money missing (and there is always money missing) can be blamed on anyone. The standard strategy is to accuse you of stealing, then have you sign something where you agree to having stolen, and they agree not to prosecute. So, they can claim "Fired for cause" and not pay unemployment.

Retail is a dirty, dirty business.

SIGN NOTHING and refuse to discuss any legalities without a lawyer present.

If they push the issue, sit down with a lawyer because some companies can be vindictive. If you go the lawyer route, have the lawyer negotiate the best terms for you to leave on, including no negative marks in your file and/or in any shared databases and for them to not flag you as a "do not rehire".

Answer 3

In real investigations, you don't confront the person being investigated and start demanding confessions. If you are confronted with such an accusation, the proper action is to first make a simple, unemotional and direct denial to the asshat who confronts you. Then you should immediately draft and send a letter to your superior or to your superior's superior if it was your superior who confronted you, and cc human resources. The letter should read, "Today [date] I was confronted by [person's name] at [time] in [place], and this person accused me of stealing. This accusation is completely false, baseless, defamatory and insulting to my honor. I hope you will take immediate and decisive action to see to it that in the future, neither I and nor other employees at [company name] are accused of theft or other crimes without conclusive physical evidence proving both that a crime has occurred and they have done it. Sincerely, etc"

They either have real evidence or they don't and it sounds like they don't.

The status of their "investigation" should have absolutely nothing to do with your career movements. You should simply continue on whatever path you were already on.

If the company tries to dock your pay, immediately file a complaint with your state. In the United States failure to pay an employee is not tolerated and there are forms you can fill out that will ensure you are paid immediately by your employer. In most states the legal penalties for failing to pay an employee are sudden and SEVERE. A judge in the United States can and will literally throw your bosses in jail if they don't pay you and I am not kidding.

Answer 4

I worked in retail management for years, and did have to fire someone for stealing. I also was aware of another manager who was fired for the kind of stealing you're suggesting they accused you of.

I can tell you that, 100% for certain, if they had any reason to believe you were doing any of the things you mention in your post, they would be handling things very differently, especially if this is a major retail chain.

The person we fired for stealing, the moment we had reason to believe they were stealing, was immediately removed from the cash wrap, and sent to an in-office location that was monitored; we then let them know that they were caught, on tape, stealing, and told them what would happen next - they would go home, they would not come back into the store, and when everything was wrapped up in terms of official documentation they would come back to receive their final check (assuming it was sooner than the check would otherwise are given) and would sign a paper indicating that they understood what was happening. No "confession" necessary, and absolutely no chance they'd spend a moment on the clock or behind a cash register.

If you were believed to be giving improper discounts, you would find out for the first time when they were ready to write you up - whether to directly fire you, or more likely a PIP (this depends on the circumstances and the store, but I find this a more likely scenario where you are written up but not fired for a first offense). Again, you wouldn't find out orally; you'd find out in a sit down in the office with paperwork.

If you want to address the issue while you're still working there (and honestly I mostly likely wouldn't if you're leaving soon), I suggest you would be best served to talk to your Regional Director or whatever the first level of management is that is not physically present at your store at least once a week. That person more than likely would not have a grudge against you; they more than likely don't know you (unless you're a higher level of manger that the person accusing you is this level, then you'd need to go a few levels higher). Not one level above whomever is accusing you, but two or more. Probably not home office level, though, unless you're only two levels below that. I don't necessarily think this is likely to be productive, with you already giving your notice soon, but if it helps you feel better about the situation it's what I'd suggest.

Hand in your notice tomorrow, work out your notice period and then leave with your head held high; these kinds of accusations are garbage and clearly meant to intimidate you.

Answer 5

I'd surmise that all this is happening in retaliation for you raising the issues about bullying and racism, as others have mentioned. Do yourself a favor. If you've lined up a better opportunity, zip your lip on all these issues, and bounce. This thing about having a perfect record -- you're not in high school! What will count at your next job, MAYBE, is having good references during the interview process, and it's nothing new that people can't always use their former bosses as a reference.

If the company is going to refer these accusations to law enforcement, you can't stop them. But they'll have to have enough to sway someone to open a case. They may be asked the same questions you're asking, i.e. why the company has waited so long to make it an issue. IF it goes forward, you'll have your chance to share your account with someone who's not biased. But we're going to hope for the best here, because this is sounding like a bunch of bluffing, and not much more (to me).

Give your notice, and focus on your new job. Be prepared to raise some hell if your company tries to dock your pay or withhold your last paycheck, but research the appropriate laws in your state instead of arguing blindly as this is the best way to get the intended result. You got this!

Answer 6

Quit immediately. Don't pay anything. Don't sign anything.

This is one of the few cases where serving your 2 weeks notice is likely not in your best interest. Good retail shops have discounts and "house tabs" programmed into their POS system, and the system will cut you off if you're being too generous.

If you had actually stolen anything they'd have fired you on the spot. They are using the investigation tactic to try and prevent you from getting unemployment.

If you quit immediately, they will have no reason to continue the trumped-up investigation. They got what they wanted, you leaving. Every day you stay you're giving them a chance to fire you for fat-fingering a receipt or clocking out 2 minutes early.

By quitting immediately you're protecting yourself from your unscrupulous employer. They are already acting in bad faith, get out as quickly as possible.

And to reiterate again. Quit immediately, Don't pay. Don't sign anything. They don't need you to sign anything to not pay you. Assume they will lie and try and trick you.

EDIT

You're going to be treated badly for the 2 weeks as well. Just one more ancillary reason to quit immediately.

There is zero upside to staying. If you stay, they'll probably find a tiny mistake and fire you over it. If someone calls to check employment they'll say you were "fired for cause".

If you quit immediately they'll likely only verify dates of employment.

You can't use this job as a reference, and your boss has already burned all the bridges. Get out now.

Answer 7

...I’m being investigated because $200 went missing back in October 2021. Mind you, we’re in February 2022.

This is not uncommon, accounting and the subsequent investigation takes time. If you did nothing wrong then you have nothing to fear, cooperate fully. If you did, offer to pay back the missing funds, to make this "go away".

...they said I gave out too many discounts to an associate and I violated the code of conduct and lost the company a value of $150.

This sounds like a bunch of nonsense. Did you violate company policy? It does not sound like it as "too many" discounts is vague. If the policy was 3 discounts per month, and you gave out 5 then I can understand their issue. Claiming that it falls under the general umbrella of "code of conduct" is a bunch of BS.

didn’t want to say much because I didn’t want to self-incriminate.

You only have something to fear if you did something that violated their definitive policy. If you gave out discounts, and were authorized to do so, then all is good.

They as well asked if I would pay the company for the profit they lost and I said no.

Rather than saying "no", I would say first let me see what my lawyer says. If necessary seek out the services of an employment lawyer, but that will most likely make them go away. An employment lawyer make take your case on contingency and make this a ruling in your favor.

Now if you did actually violate policy, then you should probably pay the money back.

They told me that I would be under investigation and that not to be surprised if it ended badly.

What is badly? You need to find another job? Okay that happens every day. This is just a bluff.

I already had another job lined up and was already planning to put in my 2 weeks notice.

Then do so, this investigation has nothing to do with your decision to move on.

Should I even do that now or just quit?

I don’t want to look “guilty” or “bad” because I’m not but I also don’t want “terminated” on my record either.

If it was me, I would not quit. I would put in my 2 weeks notice when I was ready, and move on. Be friendly and happy, show up on time. Just to be on the safe side, I would avoid giving out any discounts.

In the end, it does not matter what these idiots think of you. They already think you are guilty and will probably all be replaced within 3 to 5 years. Having a "terminated" on your record means nothing.

While stressful, all this is a bunch of BS.