\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. You will need to get organized and have documented proof ready before you go to your manager or supervisor about any issues. She may have co-workers believing that she is not capable of such a thing and that. If theyre new, consider doing additional training and see if the problem resolves itself. In others it is really annoying, especially if they do not acknowledge us. Much like great CEOs model leadership behavior, your co-workers are more likely to give a nod to your great ideas if youre generous about sharing credit yourself. A pet-sitter I trusted never took the kitten to the vet, pocketed $400 and stole items in my home with his mother and friends. If youre in an industry where spillage is common, like food service or hospitality, dont presume that missing inventory is automatically theft. Before you escalate the issue, though, try these 10 tips for coping with a lazy coworker. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Lets take another viewpoint: the person who took your idea is fully aware of what he/she has done, and probably believes that you will not confront him/her about it. Employees may hide merchandise in the trash, then stash it in a safe spot when they take the garbage out. How do I confront a colleague who has been stealing my stuff? And, an idea is nothing if it is not implemented. Its also completely okay to stand up for yourself in the moment. If they stole something of value, you might decide to terminate their employment. Save any emails that show your interaction with a client and also document any client visits and communication with suppliers. You also want to steer clear of making the situation into a joke. How would you deal with a co worker who wasn't doing their share of the work? This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. What should I do when a co-worker steals my ideas? 5 Tactics To Deal With Someone Who Is Stealing Sales From Coworkers However, if an interviewer asks you, Have you encountered a scenario in a past job where you saw an employee steal? Remember, people are much more receptive to a cool, collected person opposed to a person who is angry. Posted by: Meredith | September 18, 2007 at 11:56 AM. Be generous about sharing credit yourself. Even in industries other than retail, its highly likely that your boss prefers you talk to them privately after witnessing a coworker stealing. Its essential to get all the facts before taking action. They may take more sick days than usual orcall in sickwhen theyre not ill. Here, well break down how to spot thieves, what to do with them, and how you can prevent this issue in the future. company information, they may also be violating the law. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Why do so many of us feel that well only have a few good ideas and they must be protected so we get credit? Theres one exception to the advice above; if youre going to be managing employees directly for a company, then they want to know that youre capable of handling the situation yourself. If You Saw a Coworker Stealing, What Would You Do? This will help you avoid hiring someone likely to steal from the company. Heres a simple place to start: when you discuss the project, use personal pronouns. Create a plan for getting buy-in for the initiative across the company. Require all boxes to be flattened before recycling. Although it seems counter intuitive, my experience shows that success flows from sharing ideas and efforts more than from protecting them and overtly seeking credit. 12 Signs Your Coworker Might Actually Be Flirting with You, How to Respond When a Recruiter Reaches Out: 3 Email Templates and Key Tips, 20+ Believable Excuses for When Youre Running Late, How to Find Out Where Someone Works: The Ultimate Guide, How to Sell Your Skills: 10+ Great Ways to Put Yourself Out There, 15 Basic Skills You Need to Be a Good Housekeeper, How to Unionize Your Workplace in 8 Easy Steps. If the rest of the team likes the idea, go ahead and take a leadership role with it. If you witness your coworker stealing tips, money or goods from your company, speaking to your employer about it is a delicate matter that you should approach with ample preparation and certainty. But have proof that someone stole, and document where and when you found the evidence. This is especially important in retail, where its critical to not involve customers in an internal matter. Employers also want to make sure that youd avoid confrontation unless absolutely necessary. If they suddenly start working late or coming in early. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you ask them about their behavior, they may become defensive and try to justify their actions. Taking action in the moment, Of course, no matter how you approach the conversation, the person may also deny it happened, suggest she may do it again, or imply that she did it to undermine you. [Rant] I've suspected it for a while. Use random register audits/inspections. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Sue has agreed to take on the task of contacting design artists. If you have any security on site, enlist them to help you escort the employee off of the premises. Reporting a coworker for stealing is not easy. Your boss or HR department will investigate the incident and take appropriate action. Question: Im searching for tips on how to handle co-workers who steal, tweak and execute others ideas and then smile with glee when receiving recognition for it. This way others are aware of my ideas. I understand if you don't want to, but I will tell her what I heard in that case . The situation might be that the employee is stealing from the company and doesnt want to be caught. In all likelihood, stealing money or other valuables from the company is an offense that should lead to immediate termination. Thus, if you saw a coworker stealing what would you do? One of my coworkers is stealing money out of purses and my - SheKnows wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Catch-Someone-Stealing-at-Work-Step-1-Version-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Catch-Someone-Stealing-at-Work-Step-1-Version-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/00\/Catch-Someone-Stealing-at-Work-Step-1-Version-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Catch-Someone-Stealing-at-Work-Step-1-Version-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"