It can be a rude awakening if your boss accuses you of theft from the company. Your initial reaction might be to take a fighting stance and be frustrated.
Although these are normal feelings, strive to remain calm and reasonable as you investigate the accusation and formulate your defense.
Declare your surprise and dismay, as well as your outrage at the charge, and ask for a pause to gather your feelings before proceeding.
Here’s what to do if accused of stealing at work:
Ascertain the Charge’s Preciseness
To address the fraud claim, request a private meeting with your boss and a human resources representative. Having an onlooker also in the room would ensure that the exchange is appropriately captured. Pay attention to what the boss says and, if possible, request information on his points.
Write notes during the discussion, so you can plan your defense by gathering relevant evidence and locating witnesses to back up your argument.
Immediate Rebuttal to the Charge
After your boss has stated what he has been accusing you about, immediately deny the accusation or explain the confusion.
It could be a simple misunderstanding that you can resolve right away, or it could be something more complicated that requires you to review emails, timesheets, or other documents to help your defense.
Recognize the gravity of the charge, but retain your innocence and trust in your ability to absolve yourself completely.
Make Your Defense Ready.
Prepare your defense by thinking about profound ways to counter each of your employer’s arguments.
When your boss claims you are exaggerating your expense account over a while, go over all of the credit card statements, mileage records, and other paperwork that reveals individual expenditures and the reason for each payment.
If you’ve been accused of misreporting a time card, go over your daily calendar for the times in question and provide a rundown of where you were and what you were doing on those days. Find associates that can vouch for your claims.
Showcase The Evidence
Request that a representative from human resources be present during your conversation with your supervisor, just as you did during your previous discussion.
Prepare your defense in detail, and attend to what your boss has to say. Your supervisor should be sincerely apologetic and let the matter go if you have sufficient documentation or explanations; however, there must also be a conversation about why your supervisor doubted your trustworthiness.
If your employer insists on pursuing the initial claim, you’ll have to seek the organization’s corporate conflict resolution procedures.
Obtain Legal Assistance
If your employer accuses you of embezzlement, you can benefit from hiring a lawyer who deals in employment law. It’s likely that a coworker – or even your employer – is trying to frame you because of their wrongdoings, though in that case, you’ll need legal help.
Ensure that you obtain a practitioner with expertise in this field of law, or contact your state bar association if you’re not certain.
