Abruptly terminated from large department store

[maid4thelamb]

Last week after working 2 months as a cashier for ___________, they fired me without warning. I worked hard and did everything required of me. They said the reason was a transaction when a person bought $100 groceries, and Isupposedly did not accept payment, so the register was missing $100 at the end of the day. This happened one month ago, they said. I simply do not recall such incident. I'm an honest person...I did not steal the money, which was what they were implying. They would not show me the video of the so-called incident. I. I'm 51 yrs old woman, who is working to supplement income so my husband and I can pay our mortgage. I am not "dumb", I've been a secretary and paralegal in the past. I would never do what they accused me of doing; It is impossible to hand a receipt to a customer without that person either paying with their card, with a check, or with cash, which in that case, the cash would immediately be put in the drawer by myself. As a cashier at this large store, I have gone above and beyond the call of duty. I pick up trash, I help customers even when I'm off the clock, etc. I truly loved my job. To say the least I am absolutely devastated. For two days I tried to call the store manager, and even went to the store to talk to him. It wasn't until I called the 800 number that is set up by the Company for associates to air their grievances, that I received a phone call the very next morning, making an appointment for me on Tuesday, May 12th with the Manager. I'm writing because I need advice; how should I approach this subject when I meed with him in a few days? I am writing an open letter to him, with cc's to the store's President and CEOs, as an alternative if he totally dismisses my case. Thank you so much for reading this and any advice you may be able to give me.

 

[army judge]

You might just want to let it go.
Remember this: Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
That means, its never wise to try and change the mind of someone who has come to a conclusion about your guilt.
Even though you are telling the truth, to such a person EVERYTHING you are saying is a lie.
What they really wanted was not to hear your side of the story.
No, what they wanted you to was to confess, that's it, confess to being a thief.
Even if you are allowed to return, you'll never be trusted, even if you were 101 years old.
That's the way it is in the real world, no second chances for the little people.
Only a million fifth chances for the BIG shots!!!
Good luck.

 

[Betty3]

You have already been terminated - chances are most likely you will not be given your job back. Even if you didn't do what they suggest (& it seems they believe you did), you can still be terminated. That's at will employment - you can be terminated at any time for any reason except a reason prohibited by law (ie religion, race, gender....) or unless you have a binding employment contract contrary to the termination. You need to look for other employment. You can file for unemployment ins. - the state will decide if you qualify. Good luck.

 

[shrinkmaster]

I am currently a Retail Theft consultant but spent many years as a Loss Prevention Professional and have conducted investigations and interviews for internal theft. You actually got off lucky. They could have filed criminal charges. If all they did was fire you (without an interview) they do not likely have enough evidence to send to state. I will say if there was no interview this was a poorly ran internal investigation. As stated file for unemployment if denied appeal.

 

[cbg]

At least as far as employment law is concerned, they're not *required* to do an investigation at all.

 

[ElleMD]

Honestly, retail jobs are a dime a dozen so I would not try and plead for this one back and forget the letters to the President and CEO. They likely won't even make it past the intern who opens the mail. If anything, I would try and negotiate a neutral reference. They aren't obligated to agree, but they might and that is the best I see happening here. Money went missing or unaccounted for and you were responsible, however it happened. You were only there 2 months so they don't have much experience with you to base any sort of opinion about your true traits. Rare is the day that they don't hear pleas of innocence from all manner of shoppers, shoplifters, employees and the like. Guilt trips about your financial obligations are even less likely to work and just make you look even more guilty.

 

[snortle]

I would go to the meeting and just tell the truth. If you didn't steal the money then you have nothing to fear. Many states have the 'right' to fire for no reason in the slightest.

What employers fail to realize 99% of the time is they cant then STATE a reason and then backpeddle when that reason is invalid. In other words, they arent firing you for 'no reason' . They are stating a reason and now have to defend it.

While I am just a layman and not an attorney,I have experience with Labor Law and how to fight firings. First and foremost its almost always about unemployment and severance pay. Sometimes its about keeping the medical, dental and other benefits but those are usually union beefs.

If you dont qualify for unemployment and have no benefits to defend , then I would just go to the Manager and ask him to change it to laying you off as opposed to firing unless he has direct evidence that you stole the money.

The Manager saying ....."well we cant find the money and you were the only one there"... is not good enough. Computer and other mistakes happen.

If you did steal the money and are too ashamed to admit it here, then do not meet with the manager unless you have an attorney present. In fact, just accept the firing but protest that you did nothing wrong and run away as fast as you can. Do not justify as they can use that against you in court.

Good luck.

 

[shrinkmaster]

Do NOT answer any questions. The only purpose of an interview is to gain a confession! They might even bargain with you to gain said confession. The interview is NOT an opportunity for you to defend yourself. You have already been fired its over. Unless criminal charges are filed they seek you to repay the lost funds you need not go any further with this. You might find out the terminology used to describe your termination. This will be important when seeking another position. Again I have conducted numerous internal theft interviews it is not a tool you can use for your defense. They have one goal and your innocence is not that goal.

 

[snortle]

Again , to be clear, I agree with Shrinkmaster.

If you stole the money, do NOT go to the meeting at all unless you have an attorney present.

 

[ElleMD]

I would go to the meeting and just tell the truth. If you didn't steal the money then you have nothing to fear. Many states have the 'right' to fire for no reason in the slightest.

What employers fail to realize 99% of the time is they cant then STATE a reason and then backpeddle when that reason is invalid. In other words, they arent firing you for 'no reason' . They are stating a reason and now have to defend it.

While I am just a layman and not an attorney,I have experience with Labor Law and how to fight firings. First and foremost its almost always about unemployment and severance pay. Sometimes its about keeping the medical, dental and other benefits but those are usually union beefs.

If you dont qualify for unemployment and have no benefits to defend , then I would just go to the Manager and ask him to change it to laying you off as opposed to firing unless he has direct evidence that you stole the money.

The Manager saying ....."well we cant find the money and you were the only one there"... is not good enough. Computer and other mistakes happen.

If you did steal the money and are too ashamed to admit it here, then do not meet with the manager unless you have an attorney present. In fact, just accept the firing but protest that you did nothing wrong and run away as fast as you can. Do not justify as they can use that against you in court.

Good luck.

You are quite wrong about that. Employers do not have to prove anything. They can back peddle, change the reason, decline to give a reason, give a made up reason, or provide an invalid reason and so long as it isn't in order to discriminate against you for one of the few legally protected characteristics, it is totally legal. Employers are not courts. They have no burden of proof. They do not have to meet with you at all, let alone defend their position. You are terminated. Their word stands.