Stealing from work. Is it ever justified?

Biggins · 19-10-2010 02:55PM #1

I was reading a report in today's English Times and it got me thinking...
Is there anyone that feels its ok to steal from work? Is it ever justified?

My own thoughts is that its not. I've had to let people go before due to this very misbehaviour.
I knew of others that were at it elsewhere and I suspect a few that are currently at it now.

It will never be eradicated but how can it be stopped to some extent?
Have you ever just thought about doing it?
So 'After Hours', whats your call on stealing from work?
Will it get worse in this area of crime, if the country gets worse and the lower paid are hit more in the pocket by our government?

Here is a copy of the Times report by the way: http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/2172/wwwthetimescoukttonewsu.jpg

phill106 · 19-10-2010 02:58PM

Seems if you are a banker, it is fine.

prinz · 19-10-2010 02:58PM

No. Although I will come clean and admit that I have from time to time printed personal items on company printer paper :eek:

listermint · 19-10-2010 02:59PM

What if your a fulltime burglar?

phasers · 19-10-2010 03:00PM

Does shaking the vending machines count as stealing from work?

twinsen · 19-10-2010 03:02PM

Stealing is stealing for me. It doesnt matter who you are stealing from.

Riskymove · 19-10-2010 03:03PM

listermint wrote: »

What if your a fulltime burglar?

would that mean you put things back!!

phill106 · 19-10-2010 03:03PM

Does stealing time, posting on boards.ie count?

senordingdong · 19-10-2010 03:04PM

Haha, it's like the stealing to feed your family routine.

anniehoo · 19-10-2010 03:07PM

Do heavy duty bin bags count? Theyre expensive in the shops.

colinod0806 · 19-10-2010 03:07PM

twinsen wrote: »

Stealing is stealing for me. It doesnt matter who you are stealing from.

op wasnt asking if you would call it something else. is it justified?

listermint · 19-10-2010 03:08PM

Riskymove wrote: »

would that mean you put things back!!

Touche :cool:

mikemac · 19-10-2010 03:08PM

Biggins wrote: »

My own thoughts is that its not.

But you thought it was ok for an Army intelligence analyst to release classified and private information?
They are an employee paid to do a job

Duggy747 · 19-10-2010 03:10PM

I've stolen the hearts & minds of everyone at work..........

Now I just need to find out where to put their corpses :pac:

Vourney · 19-10-2010 03:12PM

No it's never justified.
I'd never stoop down to the level of my employer.

Biggins · 19-10-2010 03:12PM

feelingstressed wrote: »

But you thought it was ok for an Army intelligence analyst to release classified and private information?
They are an employee paid to do a job

...And he did it by gathering all the information didn't he, which I'm sure he was being paid to do anyway?
He, by the way also didn't gain from it at any stage - but that whole area is a big topic in itself and I understand where your coming from.

I won't derail this thread so I'll stop there on that topic.

Elenxor · 19-10-2010 03:12PM

Yep..I use stapler for personal letters, print off recipes, paper clips, biro,walk out with rubber bands on my wrist....
Gawd I'm so bad!

lisaface · 19-10-2010 03:12PM

phill106 wrote: »

Seems if you are a banker, it is fine.

... or a government official - let's not forget the 'Ahern Scandal' not too long ago

ebixa82 · 19-10-2010 03:14PM

Perhaps not justified but when you are working a minimum wage job for a large multinational company like Tescos or Boots I can see how some people might see it as a victimless crime.

Who is the real victim if an employee steals something worth 5-10€ from the likes of Tesco's who could easily take in 30,000-40,000€ through the tills daily?

prinz · 19-10-2010 03:15PM

ebixa82 wrote: »

Who is the real victim if an employee steals something worth 5-10€ from the likes of Tesco's who could easily take in 30,000-40,000€ through the tills daily?

Sure why stop at €10 and why stop at one employee... you realise that every employee doing a bit of thieving from Tesco's or the likes is putting other employees job's on the line?

Mr Benevolent · 19-10-2010 03:17PM

ebixa82 wrote: »

Who is the real victim if an employee steals something worth 5-10€ from the likes of Tesco's who could easily take in 30,000-40,000€ through the tills daily?

What?

thebigbiffo · 19-10-2010 03:18PM

pens and other such stationary - i'm going to hell i know

Duggy747 · 19-10-2010 03:19PM

ebixa82 wrote: »

Who is the real victim if an employee steals something worth 5-10€ from the likes of Tesco's who could easily take in 30,000-40,000€ through the tills daily?

Uh....................children?

lisaface · 19-10-2010 03:41PM

prinz wrote: »

Sure why stop at €10 and why stop at one employee... you realise that every employee doing a bit of thieving from Tesco's or the likes is putting other employees job's on the line?

This made me laugh, thanks for the laughs!

Duggy747 wrote: »

Uh....................children?

I don't quite understand your reply to the other person. How are Children the victims?? Are you saying All of Tesco workers have Children?

...And how did you come up with that idea??
*scratches head* I personally think that's a really snobby frame of thinking, or perhaps that's just me interpreting you entirely wrong.. do share on what you did mean though, because I'm intrigued, how are Children the victims?

ebixa82 · 19-10-2010 04:02PM

prinz wrote: »

Sure why stop at €10 and why stop at one employee... you realise that every employee doing a bit of thieving from Tesco's or the likes is putting other employees job's on the line?

I wasn't condoning it. I was just stating how certain people might justify it.

Not every employee will steal. However a certain proportion will. It is human nature unfortunately and something that the likes of large supermarkets factor into the costing of their products.

BTW How are those who steal putting others jobs on the line??

stovelid · 19-10-2010 04:13PM

Used to help myself to my groceries from a collage job I worked in that amongst other things paid me buttons and made me finish a shift alone after being held up at gunpoint.

I wouldn't do it now but I've zero shame whatsoever about having done it.

Pyr0 · 19-10-2010 04:21PM

Another day another box of stolen pens!

prinz · 19-10-2010 04:24PM

ebixa82 wrote: »

BTW How are those who steal putting others jobs on the line??

When you are the manager of a store and that store is losing €xxxx amount every month due to theft by staff who do you think headoffice threatens?

Not to mention the security staff who are obviously not doing their jobs if they cannot see staff pocketing stock.

Sheeps · 19-10-2010 04:24PM

It makes too much financial sense to stop stealing from work. I work in a shop so I usually discount(steal) all my groceries.

jokettle · 19-10-2010 04:24PM

They took away our stationary cupboard last year

I use the printer for personal letters, I've had things faxed from the secretary's office, and once I accidentally brought home a fork from the common room. I don't think it's morally reprehensible. I do have several thousand euro's worth of equipment for my use here, but I don't plan on taking any of it with me when my contract runs out.

Well, maybe one of the external hard drives. It's a terabyte, after all!

sbsquarepants · 19-10-2010 04:54PM

Not much worth stealing here. If there was, I probably would!

Stealing from work. Is it ever justified?

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