What do I do if I think an employee is stealing?
Short answer
Don't accuse without evidence. Audit quietly first. If you're sure, fire that day with documentation in hand. Don't try to rehabilitate.
Audit first
Pull receipts, inventory counts, cash drawer logs. Look for the pattern. A single weird transaction isn't theft. A pattern is.
If confirmed
Same-day termination with documentation. Talk to a lawyer about whether to prosecute. Don't gossip about it. Tell the team only what they need to know.
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