Inappropriate use of funds

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Over the weekend an employee at my work used petty cash which is kept in a safe in my office, to buy £28 worth of cigarettes behind my back, and behind the back of the managers. This she was able to do because people work different shifts. So neither I nor the managers were there to prevent it, leaving this person acting as shift leader at the time which entrusts her to access to cash if needed.

The cigarettes were bought as prizes for a quiz held for our clients. On a public worldwide forum I've never given details of my workplace, and all I'll say is the people we work with include many people with addictions, making cigarettes an irresponsible, prohibited thing to be providing them with. I guess I'm sharing this here because I'm just back from an activity for people with Asperger's, led by an NT volunteer, and I brought this up in conversation.

Although obviously I'm concerned about this, I was surprised at the reactions this got. One of the Aspies said, "This is the most appalling thing anyone has ever done." She, some other Aspies, and the NT volunteer were calling for my co-worker to be given the sack ASAP, and even for the police to be involved. Obviously people look upon this as a drastic thing. But as I ought to do well to remember that people do deal with me in a drastic way on an everyday basis (hence the irresponsible use of money behind my back which is kept by me in my office), I find it difficult to comprehend the gravity of things like this.

However I'd still say the reactions and the things people want done to my co-worker are surely extreme. To me surely it's enough for the employee to pay back the money, as she has been asked to do. Even if she deserved a sacking, or the police, for it there are reasons why that cannot happen anyway.

Technically only the managers and I have access to this cash. But yes it does leave a grey area when none of us are on shift, in which case it's understood the cash can be used more for emergencies and not for 'frivolities'. However the workplace does have a very strict policy against buying exactly what she did - cigarettes or other addictive products.

It must have been announced clearly enough, and clearly known, that she'd done this since they were prizes in a quiz. I have had this employee come to me in total denial, and try to bargain her way into not having to pay back the money, in a very pleading, 'puppy dog' manner, but it fell on deaf ears I'm afraid. Certainly the receipt for the transaction shows nothing but cigarettes on it.

I think there are two important things here to focus on:

The first is the fact that this employee, although working with vulnerable people who have addiction problems amongst others, thought ( apparently ) that cigarettes would be a suitable quiz prize.

this suggests:

a) lack of insight into appropriate conduct with clients - trying to curry favour with particular clients is malpractice
b) complete lack of understanding of the nature of addiction and how to improve problems associated with it.


The second is the criminal act of going into your office and gaining access to funds for their own purposes.

this suggests:

a) a real lack of insight into acceptable behaviour in the workplace and outside of it.
b) what else is going on in their professional practice etc... that you aren't aware of yet?

Unless the person has full insight into the ramifications of all these four points, I think your organisation is going to have future problems with this person.
Having worked with colleagues that routinely turned up for work smelling of booze and hung over ( whilst working with addicts) I can testify that even if this lack of care of insight seems surprising, it does go on.....

My gut feeling is that this person wanted to be seen in a positive light at the weekend, is sympathetic to smoking ( or needed some smokes themselves ) and generally is immature in knowing how to behave with vulnerable people .......which is a bit worrying as what else will they do to appear friendly to clients?
Good luck with sorting this out - this is why I don't ever want to be a manager ! !! Its so hard ...

It's appalling and shows a complete absence of the judgement which should be expected of anyone working with vulnerable people.

Tobacco products would not be appropriate prizes, even if the client base didn't include people with experience of addition. What's the message here - we want to encourage you to smoke? Would there be an alternative prize for a non smoker?

I'm less concerned about the money, but if public funds are involved and it came to light there could be implications for your future funding. And the Government is quite keen on seeing public sector accounts published for people to pick over and tut at how their taxes are being spent.

Is there some sort of formal disciplinary procedure in your company.

Do you have an hr dept? They could offer advice.