One of the owners where I work came out to the shop looking for bronze sheets that were there a couple years ago. Long story short, he couldn't find them, and immediately went on a tirade about how they had been stolen and nobody in the shop could be trusted. He called the cops in, had a police report done up on what he thought was missing, then I get questioned about it. It seems their surveillance system saw my van coming in before everyone else every day, and an hour before work. I got to sit in the office and get grilled for half an hour, they were asking questions like "whay was I stealing from the company" and "do you have drug habits". WTF? I got there before everyone else because I HAVE THE KEY and let everyone else in. I told them the time stamp must be off, because at 4:45am I am not even awake, i get there about 5:30-5:45. At a later group ***-chewing about trust, they mentioned the time stamp was off and said oops. Not sorry, oops.
The worst part is after all this, I went and looked in the storage units out back, and found ALL the "missing" stuff.

Over the last year, I have worked up from new-hire welder to shop lead, I am responsible for training shop personnel, and procedure development. I went in there and busted my *** to prove who I was, I have missed one day in the whole time, and have never been late. I am the only person on the policy to drive the new company truck. After all this, I am the first (and only directly) accused of theft. Unbelievable.

The real issue is I am getting ready to leave the area, and I while I really did like working at this place, I simply cannot afford to live here anymore. My original plan was to tell them next week that I was leaving in a few weeks, and tell them that if they hired a replacement, I would do my best to get them up to speed. Now, I'm thinking of just doing a letter of resignation in the week or so before I go, basically stating that in light of recent accusations, I feel it's no longer in my best interest to work for this company.
Right now I don't really know what to do, I have worked very hard to establish myself as trustworthy and an honorable person, only to have something like this happen.

 

Wow...that sucks.

If you're leaving the area anyway, I'd wait til you're ready to go...then give them as little notice as possible.

 

No reason to "change" your reason for leaving.

I don't think I would help train my replacement if I were you, though.

 

Well im a firm believer in not burning bridges and i understand how you have reason to be upset. however if you up and leave - that is all they will remember about you - not the fact you worked your butt off or showed up early everyday - just that you left with little notice. I think you should do as originally planned - give your notice - train someone if they ask and leave when you said you will. At least you did the right thing and thats worth a lot at the end of the day.

 

i tell you what,and this is coming from a former loss prevention manager with a couple of companies.

if i were to take an employee and have a sit down with him to ask him those same questions that you were asked....i would need to have sufficient proof where i dont even need to have the converstion with that employee,i can call the police or go to the court house to file against that individual.

what im saying is,i dont know if its a small shop where you work or even if they have an HR department,but to be dragged in like the way you did without them having any proof that you stole (by the way, you pulling up in a van earlier than you were supposed to isnt sufficient proof,its enough to ask you why you showed up early,but not to accuse you of stealing,is what they did)

handle it however you feel that you need to, but im letting you know what they did was wrong.........with all that being said,we were in deep,deep ****,with what that employee could do with a lawyer

 

Ford_six - the thing to do and the way to do it is whatever is best for *you*. That may be leaving with some satisfaction that you made a point, or it may be leaving under your own terms, knowing that you did what was right even when you weren't treated right. I'd be tempted to not burn bridges, but on the other hand with treatment like you've received, you're not likely to get a fair reference anyway. So do what makes you happy, don't worry about them...

my .02 worth...

 

Jared,

That stinks having to go through that.. Had problems at work once myself, most everyone has..

You need to leave with your head high knowing it is your choice and not because of this incident..

What I would do is either write a resignation letter or tell them in person that you are giving them your notice. You do not have to offer to train your replacement..

Make sure you tell them that you were going to be leaving do to economic factors in the area and not because of the incident. Then let them know that you enjoyed working there and thought you were respected, but being accused of stealing and given the third degree was hurtful and you are glad that you chose to leave.. Also mention that after being accused they didn't even have the decency to appoligize.

This way you don't burn any bridges and you get the point across that they screwed up..

Don't be nasty, because future employers may contact them..

Good Luck.

 

As stated above, I would be careful about 'burning the bridge'. Then again, if this person is that unstable you may be surprised about the reaction you get when you give notice!

2 weeks notice is customary and more than enough. I would keep the resignation short and to the point without any offers of training assistance. I would also ask for a letter of recommendation from the owner. The response to that will tell you their true feelings about you.

 

Like most others, I wouldn't burn any bridges if you don't have to. Other than a fleeting moment of satisfaction, it really doesn't gain you anything. Just give your notice like you were going to. If they hire somebody for you to train, I'd do that. As an employer, I often thank those that have decided to go pursue other options, for their offer of 2 weeks notice, and then have them leave right away, especially if their new job is local. It's not that I'm upset or mad, I just don't want them in the office for 2 weeks telling everybody else what a great new job they got. It's human nature for them to do it, they're excited about their new opportunities.

 

Good responses from both sides...tough decision. Have you talked with your boss and expressed your dismay with the way the situation was handled???

What I find interesting is that most employers expect 2+ weeks notice if you're going to leave...but...if they want you gone...no notice is given!!! Something wrong there!!!

 

Well, I already have the new job, I start October 13th. My only hesitation with giving them notice before was what they did with the last guy who left- Basically, he let out that he was looking, they pulled him into the office and the next day they fired him. He had also been having quality control issues, and was an *** in general, but that's still pretty bad.
It would just destroy my budget to not work up to the last day I'm in this state.

 

Jared,,
Sorry,but I am on the other side of the fence on this one. Burning bridges? Heck, why on earth would I ever want to subject myself to that type of treatment again? Darn tootin I would burn that bridge,,right down to the foundation! I`m not saying do anything in retaliation,I`m just saying,,I would just work up to my last day and then say,,Oh,,remember those accusations? Well,,put your job where the sun dont shine,,I am outta here! Then I would move on and never look back!

 

Maybe this will help.

YouTube - Take This Job and Shove It - Johnny Paycheck

 

Sorry to hear about that. Small shops have more of that kind of stuff. Big companies are too vulnerable. Even then, a bad manager can screw up a whole lot of emplyees sometimes.

Anyway, good luck at your new place. I agree with most here, just keep on, and send in your two week notice. Legally, I don't think that you have to give any notice (although they can take vacation pay). But, my nonexpert advice would be to give them the 2 weeks.

It's a crappy deal, but in the end, it shows the kind of people you were working for. You're lucky to be on your way out.

These places do often pay for their sins, however. When the economy finally turns around, they'll be the place that can't get any good help. Then they get to go under while other places prosper (it happens).

 

I have read a lot of great suggestions here. But I'm with King on this one also, with one exception. I would work right up to the last day you need to work & at the end of the shift I would walk into your boss & tell him you are quitting affective right now, I have been offered another job. I wouldn't say anything about that incident, let it alone. People like you have described are not to be trusted, so the less said the better. They will know they screwed up. But people like that don't give a crap about you or anyone else. They may even view your quitting as a guilt on your part even though nothing REALLY HAPPENED. What if you do use them for a reference & they tell your future employer that things were missing & you quit a few weeks later. I hope you get my point. DON"T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT INCIDENT, just walk. I have found, "leaving dead dogs, lie" is as a rule better.
Best Wishes, Craig