I am likely going to be interrogated by my employer/loss prevention regarding theft. This is in the state of MA.
The issue is a coupon automatically generated by POS which I gave to another employee. I gave this employee their appropriate discount by using their receipt to return and repurchase items at their current discounted price (employees are allowed to get discounted prices on previous purchases if in the correct time frame). Problem is this transaction also automatically generated a coupon when the items were repurchased, a coupon, which according to policy "may not be activated using previous transaction receipts unless authorized to do so by a member of management". There is an option to manually activate coupons, which I did not do.I have done this over and over again for regular customers - both automatically generated by re-sale and manually activated for customers when the request was reasonable. I think I am a fairly intelligent person and I cannot figure out if I actually violated the policy.
The situation is more difficult due to the fact that a manager witnessed the repurchase transaction and stated "employees are customers too" and "don't spend it all at once" referring to the coupon. So I did not specifically ask if I could perform this transaction, but a manger knew exactly what was occurring and seemed to approve.
Anyways, here is my main concern - when questioned I want to know how to respond. I am thinking I should not admit to anything. But then what happens? If I refuse to answer questions, or sign anything, could you give me an idea of what happens next? I want to refer them to the manager present, but that would insinuate guilt. What should I do when questioned by LP? Explain situation and refer to the manager whoi was present or admit nothing? Also, what if the manager present during the investigation, there always is one, is the same as the one who witnessed the transaction - wouldn't that make the LP investigation invalid, as the manager was involved?
If I don't admit to anything, I will likely be fired for refusing to cooperate in an LP investigation. I am most concerned about future employment and any retail theft databases. I am thinking if I refuse to admit anything and simply end my employment on the spot, the worst that will happen to my future record with regards to this job will be "employee terminated, ineligible for rehire"
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.
The issue is a coupon automatically generated by POS which I gave to another employee. I gave this employee their appropriate discount by using their receipt to return and repurchase items at their current discounted price (employees are allowed to get discounted prices on previous purchases if in the correct time frame). Problem is this transaction also automatically generated a coupon when the items were repurchased, a coupon, which according to policy "may not be activated using previous transaction receipts unless authorized to do so by a member of management". There is an option to manually activate coupons, which I did not do.I have done this over and over again for regular customers - both automatically generated by re-sale and manually activated for customers when the request was reasonable. I think I am a fairly intelligent person and I cannot figure out if I actually violated the policy.
The situation is more difficult due to the fact that a manager witnessed the repurchase transaction and stated "employees are customers too" and "don't spend it all at once" referring to the coupon. So I did not specifically ask if I could perform this transaction, but a manger knew exactly what was occurring and seemed to approve.
Anyways, here is my main concern - when questioned I want to know how to respond. I am thinking I should not admit to anything. But then what happens? If I refuse to answer questions, or sign anything, could you give me an idea of what happens next? I want to refer them to the manager present, but that would insinuate guilt. What should I do when questioned by LP? Explain situation and refer to the manager whoi was present or admit nothing? Also, what if the manager present during the investigation, there always is one, is the same as the one who witnessed the transaction - wouldn't that make the LP investigation invalid, as the manager was involved?
If I don't admit to anything, I will likely be fired for refusing to cooperate in an LP investigation. I am most concerned about future employment and any retail theft databases. I am thinking if I refuse to admit anything and simply end my employment on the spot, the worst that will happen to my future record with regards to this job will be "employee terminated, ineligible for rehire"
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.
