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Is It Time to Go to HR?

Tina Samuels

June 05, 2013

When you work in a company, you may come across people that feel they are allowed to take whatever they want from the workplace; pens, staplers, reams of paper, or other supplies for home use.

Sometimes this activity extends to stealing lunches from the communal fridge. There are others that will steal from their co-workers, personal items and cash. None of this behavior is acceptable.

You are probably looking for answers on what you should do if a co-worker is stealing from you or your employer. Should you report it? Should you confront the employee? What is going to happen?

What HR Does

When an employee is reported as stealing, the HR department is required to investigate.

This investigation may involve speaking to the accuse employee, checking inventory, or even video surveillance. Based on one accusation the HR department cannot fire the accused unless they are caught in the act or other proof appears.

HR will review the file of the accused. This includes evaluating past performance, if any other allegations have been made, and if there have been conduct problems or disciplinary action taken against the accused in the past.

One aspect of the interview includes evaluating whether or not the person making the allegations is at risk for violent backlash from the accused or friends of the accused. The severity of the action (stealing) is evaluated.

If the accusation is found to be true, the employee may be fired or be allowed a second chanced based on the type of stealing. Usually small things, like taking pens or a small amount of office supplies will result in less severe action. Stealing cash or personal property will almost always result in a firing. 

Occasionally, especially if the HR employee personally knows the accused, your allegations will go uninvestigated. Even worse, the accused might find out that you were the one who 'snitched'. In some companies this can get ugly.

Branded a Snitch

If nothing comes of the investigation, you will usually not have any repercussions.

In some small companies, and sometimes even in large ones, there can be HR staff that are friends with the accused. Worst case scenario – the HR member tells the accused who made the allegations.

This isn't always a bad situation, the accused might not be a vindictive person. He or she could admit they were wrong and try to make amends. They may change their ways.

Sometimes the person is vindictive and will try to make your life miserable. If this happens you have a few choices - record the behavior and report it again, deal with it until it stops, or find a new job.

Unfortunately being branded a snitch by your co-workers can severely impact work morale.

People might not act the same toward you, even if the accused was in the wrong. People might think you will carry tales on other activities...and if this becomes the issue, you may think about finding another job or asking to be moved to a different department.

Whatever situation arises on the job, know that the HR department is there for a reason.

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