Employees Borrowing Items/Money From Each Other
Rockie
2,136 Posts
I have had several instances of employees borrowing money and items from other employees and then either not paying the money back or not giving the items back.
Recently an employee "lent" someone a recorder to tape an alleged harasser (outside the workplace). The borrower evidently had her car repossessed with the recorder inside it...the recorder cannot be retrieved. The lender either wants her recorder back or the $100 that it cost. This is an ongoing bone of contention between the two employees.
I realize that this is their own business, but it is beginning to affect their work relationship.
Have any of you had similar experiences and how have you handled them.
Recently an employee "lent" someone a recorder to tape an alleged harasser (outside the workplace). The borrower evidently had her car repossessed with the recorder inside it...the recorder cannot be retrieved. The lender either wants her recorder back or the $100 that it cost. This is an ongoing bone of contention between the two employees.
I realize that this is their own business, but it is beginning to affect their work relationship.
Have any of you had similar experiences and how have you handled them.
Comments
At a past employer, I dealt with a supervisor who first bought groceries for an employee who was having financial problems; and then rented a house she owned to the employee (at reduced rent, no less). Well, after a few months, the employee fell behind in rent payment. The supervisor eventually became frustrated and wanted to fire the employee. We (HR) said no. The employee's non-payment of rent was not work related. We told the supervisor that she would have to handle the situation as a tenant/landlord matter. Unfortunately, the supervisor was not able to separate the off-work relationship from the work relationship. We were on the road to disciplining the supervisor when the employee resigned.
These are times when it helps to have a little goodwill built up with your ees. I talked with this guy and explained how his constant borrowing was making people uncomfortable. Some even were avoiding him.
Fortunately, he agreed it had become a problem and (to my knowledge) has stopped. Constant borrowing is a sign of serious financial disorganization and immaturity. Its a small step to go from a serial borrowing to stealing. I would take it seriously and let the borrower know that you frown on the behavior.
Dave Ramsey has a product called "Financial Peace University". We purchased all of his books and DVDs and make them available on loan to our employees who are interested in getting their financial house in order. Ramsey also has a workplace edition which I have not personally checked out but would expect it to be very good.
Second issue. Had some problems with senior employees borrowing stuff from newer employees then not replacing, repaying, etc. (Tools are required in our workplace). I started counseling new employees to NEVER loan their tools to anyone and lo and behold, I haven't had any problems since I started doing that. I also told them if any senior employee has a problem with them not loaning them a tool, tell them to come visit me in HR. I haven't had 1 single visitor since I started doing this 1 and a half years ago.
We also, like an earlier comment, have had our local credit union come in and do some financial management classes for our employees. Hopefully, by offering these types of resources, the employees who need help getting their life in order can benefit and stop these disruptive workplace behaviors (borrowing).
Now you just need to explain your name.
Now you just need to explain your post.
This story had an interesting (karmic) ending. The individual who did the borrowing and had a problem repaying did eventually pay up as I directly asked her what she intended to do to make this right for the person she borrowed from. That was taken care of.
Yesterday.....she conveniently (again) forgot to clock in....told our COO that she did clock in and the time that she clocked in. I pulled her time and she did not clock. We brought her in and advised that she (1) failed to clock in or out (not for the first time) and (2) she blatantly lied about this to the COO.
She is now history.