grrrr...I hate having employees sometimes...

[cosmiccowboy]

IF your company gives an annual bonus it would be funny to have his total -$20 for the gas taken on __/__/__ with a big ole smiley face beside it.

LOL I like that one too. We give CASH bonuses at Christmas...(his was about $1000 last year) I could give him $980 and a picture of the gas can.

And before anyone says I can't do cash bonus's we have survived a full IRS audit with full disclosure and they said OK...

I will deal with it before that, though.

[WCB]

Someone said everyone takes pens and post-it pads. The last company I worked for was going bankrupt. GE bought us out and kept me on as a contractor for almost a year. When my time was up I walked into the VPs offices and handed over all the pens, markers, note pads, etc. I had. He told me that wasn't necessary but to me it was. I left with a clear conscious.
Charactor (ethics) is what you have/do when no one is looking or cares but you.

20 years? Fire him or at least demote him. "Charactor (ethics) is what you have/do when no one is looking or cares but you."

[azphil]

first of all he didnt do what you told him then stole from you and he still has a job ......you taking applications

[Mike]

I have a little different take on the matter, I might be longwinded but I hope I get my points across.

The non stop salary when he was sick, that is above and beyond the call of a business owner and I commend you for that action. However, I bet he feels he was "entitled" to the pay and he might possibly think he is doing you a favor by not sueing your pants off since you were kind enough to pay him, since the "heart issue" might have actually been your fault,,,Think about it.

You now hear so many "great stories" of how companies continue to pay employees during adversity like the Nokona fire, the hurricanes and such that people feel that they are "due" that pay and it is your responsibility to pay them.

Anyhow, it sounds like you value his performance yet you are not sure of what actually happened, granted, we all know he took some gas but how much nobody knows. I would confront him professionally in private and ask what he was doing with the can. This simply makes him aware of your knowledge of the situation. He may have put a gallon in, who knows.

As far as docking him $20, that is petty and you are above that from what I have read here and on other posts.

Bottom line is this, if in fact he stole the gas, cut him loose. If you don't you are only promoting his actions and it will continue, the only difference is that he will make sure you are not aware of his actions in the future.

Think of your other employees that saw the action and now think that activity is acceptable, especially if you do not address the matter.

The only reason that I can even think to justify keeping him is a defensive action to keep him with you and not leave to go to your competition. If that is the case, you need to watch him like a hawk.

Like others have stated, what about other instances over the 20 years, what property has he taken? or maybe a theft of time? You will never know. I do know that you are condoning the actions if left unaddressed.

Confront the employee and read his actions, he might just pull out his wallet and pay you the money and apologize. Then again he might get belligerant and feel that he is "entitled" to that gas as a long time employee. I am sure you will realize pretty quickly what scenario you are dealing with.

Good Luck,

[Tmag]

Our previous owner fired his brother in law for that very thing 20 years ago when gas was cheap. Caught him filling up his personal truck on a Saturday, fired him Monday morning.

[cosmiccowboy]

Mike...

Thanks for the input and the long post.

Under consideration.

[Smart]

CC...I know you and I don't see eye to eye on rattlers.....lol.......but as one businessman to another.....you had a great idea... give him his bonus minus the $20....he's gonna love ya for the bonus but the picture of the can and -$20 is gonna make your point. However.... your accountant may hate you trying to book this transaction ........

[cosmiccowboy]

CC...I know you and I don't see eye to eye on rattlers.....lol.......but as one businessman to another.....you had a great idea... give him his bonus minus the $20....he's gonna love ya for the bonus but the picture of the can and -$20 is gonna make your point. However.... your accountant may hate you trying to book this transaction ........

LOL

You just need to get out in the brush more and you will figure out that the rattler stuff is true too hehehe

[Smart]

LOL

You just need to get out in the brush more and you will figure out that the rattler stuff is true too hehehe

Honestly...I'd hate proving you or me right....leave them sum bucks to somebody else.

I hope I never hear another one..

[jfk47]

This guy has 20+ years of experience with you, but doing what? 20 years of being a porter filling equipment with gas and checking the tires is not the same as someone who has progressed thru the ranks and because of his experience is now what you would consider mid-mgnt. But as others have said, if you don't do anything and he knows that you know what he did, then he will just consider that you are condoning what he did and that it is all right. And then next time it will be something else, probably something larger.

[SMUMan02]

I'm just not willing, nor is cosmiccowboy it sounds like, to throw away a perfectly good worker without at least finding out the motivation.

I've not always thought this way but through my years of experience I've learned that mercy is generally worth the trouble and life is certainly not black and white.

I am glad that God doesn't think like most of us because surely Heaven would be an empty place.

Interesting you would point that out. God doesn't give forgiveness until we ask for it.

[Mason]

I understand about the 20 years experience, but with that you could let him know that personally he dropped a few rungs on the ladder of respect with you.
Something like " I saw you at your truck today(yesterday) with the "empty gas can" and putting the gas cap back on your personal vehicle. not only did it ruin my day but my opinion of you"!

X2! best way to put it.... Of course I'd have a peice of paper for him to sign documenting the conversation and a notice that any other pilferage would cost him his job....
At my place of business, theft is grounds for immediate dismissal, yet stuff walks out of there daily.

[Tmag]

You have every right to term him but mercy is a big thing for anybody. If he is a great employee I am sure you can make your point and keep him.

[TXJon]

You have every right to term him but mercy is a big thing for anybody. If he is a great employee I am sure you can make your point and keep him.

That is true, but what would that say to the other employees? You don't necessarily need to fire the guy, but you do have to send a clear message.

I was in the hotel business for a while. We would fire a housekeeper for taking home a 1/4 roll of toilet paper, something that couldn't be used in a guest room anyway.

[jlptexashunter]

Jmaz,
I totally agree. He's merciful always and doesn't forgive until we ask but, we're always given the opportunity to ask for that forgivness. Which is what I'm saying, just give the opportunity with the heart to heart.