Whistleblowing at work

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Discussion

MadMullah

5,265 posts

193 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
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Hi guys

a final update after the dust has settled.

The manager had a meeting which he postponed due to illness - on the day of the rescheduled meeting he emailed his resignation which they declined to accept and advised that he turn up for the meeting which he never so they dismissed him in his absence.

two weeks went by and I didn't have a visit from any area manager or anything - two phone calls and it kinda makes you feel why havent they been down to discuss the situation. I talked to a manager of another store who I know has the ear of the CEO and he put it to the fact that if the CEO doesn't feel the need to come and see the store it must mean he's happy with my performance etc. still its good to have a chat to know where you stand.

so anyway today was one of those days when everything seems to tie itself to the end. First thing in the morning we had a customer who mentioned that the now ex-manager had got himself a new job. 18 hrs a week as a barista at starbucks. quite the change.

the CEO called by chance 20 minutes later to say he was popping in. he came in the afternoon and we had a good chat - from chatting to him you could tell he was really thankful. he mentioned they'd advertise the job and ANYONE was welcome to apply. he mentioned that a few times and I didn't state if I was going to go for it or not. He did in the end come out and ask me and I did say I was most likely going to apply to which he said he'd welcome my application.

two final things - firstly as a thank you for doing this - he did say it couldn't have been easy - he gave me a £500 bonus which was really nice

secondly after he left he went to the said starbucks to confront him and ask him why - he wasn't working but left his business card and a message for him to call the CEO.

the end.

Vaud

50,470 posts

155 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
quotequote all
Good outcome.

Go for the role, you have little to lose and you have the ear of the CEO.

Worst case is you don't like it, you have integrity, you move on after 6-12 months and he will probably be a great reference for you.

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

159 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
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Great result.

Now - get your application in.

AndStilliRise

2,295 posts

116 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
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I would be visiting Starbucks with the £500!

iphonedyou

9,251 posts

157 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
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Excellent result mate. Well done.

t400ble

1,804 posts

121 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
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Deffo take everyone to Starbucks with the £500!

Vaud

50,470 posts

155 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
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t400ble said:
Deffo take everyone to Starbucks with the £500!
Or go, order a coffee from him and then when it comes to paying, say "Oh, I thought I could just, you know, take it?"

Lotus Notes

1,200 posts

191 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
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Well done on sorting out this difficult problem and it's good to see the management team dealt with this.
I think everyone owes you a favour, but they should never know who blew the whistle.

Apply for the job, it appears that you'll be a fine store manager with a conscience.


Sidewindow

300 posts

223 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
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Just read the whole thread - well done on doing the right thing! It obviously took a lot of courage. It sounds like you really deserve the bonus and also the opportunity to apply for the new position, which you really must go for. And as others have said, do make sure you pop into the Starbucks soon (I wonder if his new employers are aware of his history)...

Wacky Racer

38,157 posts

247 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
quotequote all
Sidewindow said:
Just read the whole thread - well done on doing the right thing! It obviously took a lot of courage. It sounds like you really deserve the bonus and also the opportunity to apply for the new position, which you really must go for. And as others have said, do make sure you pop into the Starbucks soon (I wonder if his new employers are aware of his history)...
Obviously not, or they wouldn't have employed him........or would they?

Munter

31,319 posts

241 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
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Be classy. There's no need to go to Starbucks. Send a company Christmas card signed by the guys who's logins he used. Wish him a happy Christmas.

SLCZ3

1,207 posts

205 months

Friday 5th December 2014
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Vaud said:
t400ble said:
Deffo take everyone to Starbucks with the £500!
Or go, order a coffee from him and then when it comes to paying, say "Oh, I thought I could just, you know, take it?"
No buy one, and say bogof!!!!

dacouch

1,172 posts

129 months

Saturday 6th December 2014
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Vaud said:
Or go, order a coffee from him and then when it comes to paying, say "Oh, I thought I could just, you know, take it?"
Working for Starbucks for someone who takes other people's things without paying into the pot for them is strangely appropriate...

longshot

3,286 posts

198 months

Saturday 6th December 2014
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Well done OP. You did the right thing which took some balls.

I can't see it mentioned. What was the old manager actually doing?

MadMullah

5,265 posts

193 months

Saturday 6th December 2014
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Its hard to go into detail wihtout giving the business away.

he was basically taking money that was meant to be profit into his own pockets.

we every week or so send off gold to the scrap merchants.

if we were buying in 10 grams of gold at £5p/g and selling at £10 we make £5p/g profit = total of £50 profit.

what he would do is take 3 grams out. thus we'd pay £50 for 7g rather than 10g. thus less profit.
on top of that he would sell the 3grams back to the store - and take that money for himself.

this is a minor example but the numbers involved were much greater. there were other stuff he was doing too.

Munter

31,319 posts

241 months

Saturday 6th December 2014
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Presumably the company are pursuing him for theft?

MadMullah

5,265 posts

193 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
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No.

Whilst the evidence of him breaking company procedures etc is blatant, actual proof to show that he pocketed the money isnt.

because it was a cash thing there's a lack of paper trail. there's no smoking gun of him having the money and putting it in his pocket.

what they have also said the man hours required to effectively persue this is not worth it - getting the man out of the company which was the main thing is done.

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

159 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
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MadMullah said:
No.

Whilst the evidence of him breaking company procedures etc is blatant, actual proof to show that he pocketed the money isnt.

because it was a cash thing there's a lack of paper trail. there's no smoking gun of him having the money and putting it in his pocket.

what they have also said the man hours required to effectively persue this is not worth it - getting the man out of the company which was the main thing is done.
Which is expected.
The protagonist will not be fighting it, won't be getting any kind of reference, and whose working career will be buggered up for a long time.
The company will be thankful that the damage is limited, and a safe pair of hands is capable of taking over the helm.


You have put your application in... right?

ColinM50

2,631 posts

175 months

Monday 8th December 2014
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Glad it came out right and your suspicions were vindicated. Did you get the manager's job?

MadMullah

5,265 posts

193 months

Monday 8th December 2014
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Job was put "live" today so tomorrow I have a call to HR to make.