Spying on your Friends.

[Tanasi]

I think I would like a job like that except for the one thing - people would get fired over my reporting. It's sounds like a cool job, however, if I got to know some people at the location, it would be hard to know I cost them their job. I guess that's the nature of the business though.

You're looking at it in the wrong direction. They did whatever they did to loose their job, you didn't make them do whatever. You just caught/reported their actions. While I'm not one per-se I do notice "problems" and report those problems to the appropriate supervisior.

[Rahmota]

Originally Posted by friendofjimmyk
I think I would like a job like that except for the one thing - people would get fired over my reporting. It's sounds like a cool job, however, if I got to know some people at the location, it would be hard to know I cost them their job. I guess that's the nature of the business though.

Really thats just the way it works sometimes. When I was in security I caught a guy stealing from the warehouse. He tried the I thought we where friends thing wanting to get me feeling guilty and let him walk out with a pocket full of computer memory. Didn't work. My friends know better than to try that stuff.

Its not your fault if someone decides to do something against the rules.

And as for the union and other things like I said. If it was done properly and within firm ground rules and the union folks all played by the rules then legally there wouldnt be anything able to be done about it. AFAIK.

[Gypsy-Rose]

Truthfully, because I watch everyday customers stealing and getting away with it, I have a hard time with my company treating us all like potential thiefs, and yet, letting those very customers get away with stealing in front of your eyes.

However, on the flip-side, I can understand why some companies hire people to watch, because loss of profit due by associate theft is not only common, but can be a huge problem, affecting all the associates.

You had a job to do, you were hired to do it, and you did. As for feeling guilty/ There is NOTHING to feel guilty about, anyone that steals, does so knowing that they might get caught, whether it was by a mole or another method. No one held a gun to their heads and told them to do it. They are adults, who are by law, responsible for their own actions. Hence, they should pay for the crime they comitted.

Ease your mind, for if it wasn't you, it would have been by someone else that caught these people, and truthfully, you may have saved the company some money, whichin turn goes for employees for their bonus and Christmas.

[Retail Associate]

The practice sounds good in theory but my question is...who watches the moles?

Several years ago it was discovered that the lead LP in our store had been stealing from them for years. He was always accusing associates of stealing and was the cause of many of them losing their jobs. Come to find out, he was the one doing the stealing. It was great to see him escorted out the front doors!

[Greenday]

As long as it isn't used to deal with personal issues, I don't really see a problem with it. It should be done to end major issues like stealing and other such stuff. Nothing that is really minor in the scheme of all things.

[Tuxian]

I strongly, STRONGLY, suspect that when I worked at Jack in the Box, one of the women working there was a Mole. Why? Several reasons.

1) She seemed to watch everyone with an eagle eye, and never missed anything.
2) She usually worked day shift, where most of the problems were.
3) She was an elderly woman, we're talking gray hair here.
4) She would go out to her car on her break, instead of staying in the restaurant.


Of course... the thing that bothered me most about working for JITB was the fact that write-ups were not taken seriously until they wanted to fire someone. And not even then.

For example, I know that I personally wrote up one girl 5 times. Policy was 3 writeups and you get fired. She was still working there when they fired me.

Oh, and why did I get fired? Because I had 11 writeups in my file, out of which only 1 had my signature and comments on it. One had even been ripped in half and then taped back together.

[Strange Magic]

Mixed feelings here on this sort of thing. I've done the store manager job before and know it is valuable to be able to know where specific problems lay.
As for the "time theft"...did the cashiers clock in and goof off or were they clocking in and doing something (anything) remotely related to the company?
If they were blatently ripping the company off then they should be dealt with. If it's petty then the mole should be the one dealt with...by the employees and off the clock.
when I was a warehouse manager for a arts and crafts company we had someone show up "out of the blue" who fit that bill and he was mugged outside of a Country and Western Club in Waco after his 1st month. I heard about it the next day and pretty much tracked down the guys who did it. I also never said a thing to anyone as I figured he had it coming.

[hotelslave]

I agree with the practice of being a mole. At my job at the hotel since the manager doesn't pay enough the people who are willing to take the job usually are horrible workers. I would have no problem working at a place that had a mole because I know my job and could run any department in this hotel with out an issue and do my job without stealing or disappearing. As long as I could still surf the internet at work when slow and go onto websites like this with out any problem.

[FloridaLizardQueen]

I think you are doing the right thing. You keep doing your job, and you'll be fine. No one suspects the mole is you, right? Well, keep on working!

I wouldn't be surprised if there were moles in an office setting . . . .

[repsac]

Actually, if you read Vacation woes, you may notice I was fired.


Strange update here:

Some time ago, maybe a few days I think, I ran into a friend who had worked at the store. He, it turned out was one of the other moles. (there were five I think I said) He too had been fired. Talking back and forth, we agree that it's entirely possible someone found us out, causing every last one of us to be fired.

However, as he said, it's also entirely possible that we were "hung out to dry" like sacrifical lambs to be fired. That way a new round of moles could be brought in that the employees would not suspect.

[CrankyPants]

I've never heard of that kind of job, but if they pay management rates, where do I sign up?

I'd be pretty good at it too. I can be a sneaky bugger when I want. Plus you weren't doing anything wrong. Catching thieves and lazy bums is a good thing. You're doing a service to the world. I hate people who try to get something for nothing.

Besides, if no one finds out you're the mole, there's no harm. It's like if you eat a high calorie food and then a low calorie one, split the difference.

[Lehk]

hmm, getting rid of the cow-orkers we all hate because they steal and loaf around all the time? sounds like a good thing to me.