asked "strange" question at work

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karenkarenk

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to explain, i'm working p-t at new job for approx 3 months. anyway just out of interest...i was asked the other day by the owner "was it a coincidence that since i began working there that there had been very few sales of gift cards and that redeemed gift cards had no record of them being sold?"this question came out of the blue , on the "shop floor", and is completley unfounded.(there are a number of other people who sell these cards too )
I have never been spoken to like that in employment before and was a bit knocked sideways by how i was asked. i know any business owner has the right to inspect their employees actions but...anyway i would be interested in your feedback, thanks
 
I would speak to the owner in private & ask exactly what the problem is - better to confront the situation head on (stay cool)
 
As a general trend in the recession, sales of gift cards / gift vouchers are way down and potential purchasers have been advised to be cautious about purchasing them due to the number of business failing and the consequent problems with exchanging them. The general consensus on AAM has been not to buy them.

I can't comment on your employer's observation that "... redeemed gift cards had no record of them being sold... "
 
I don't work in the area or know how the systems work around them but would it be possible that the gift cards that are being used might be part of a larger gift card previously issued or one of those one in four voucher things. Perhaps one of those was part used and instead of a refund a gift card for the store was given?
I don't feel it is an appropriate question/comment for him to ask. If he has something he wants to accuse you of let him do it. Otherwise stay quiet.
 
I'd ask them to elaborate. Maybe the suggestion was you need to push them more for some reason.
 
I would keep quiet on this one let him elaborate and he will if he has an axe to grind. No point in you making it easier for him.
 
i'd follow up on this as soon as posssible. You're only there for three months. Just suppose the manager is the one responsible for gift card "irregularities" and someone (more senior maybe?) has noticed. And maybe it would be easier to move suspicion onto the new staff member than have the truth discovered..

maybe a little far fetched? but i wouldn't let the question lie. The question he asked you seemed to me like an accusation and if it were me i'd be hopping mad and upset.
 
hi woodbine, ye i am upset about it as it felt like an acusation, my answer to them at the time was that if they thought i was doing something dogy with the cards then they were looking at the wrong person, that i wasnt taking money. they replied oh no...no, noand then took a phone call and the conversation ended. i have managed people before and if there was ever a suspicion about them stealing then there would have to be unrefutable proof before we could approach them on it. i am angry because they dont know me, and that i'd never do that/steal. on the other hand its not the most important thing in my life right now, and its a pretty unpleasant place to work at times too....will have a think about it i guess, thanks for everyones reply.
 
Is there a union active in the store? I worked in a store that sold gift cards etc also and cant understand that redeemed cards had no record of being sold! surely thats a problem with the efficiency of the system in place at the store. but if there is a union active, be sure to let the union rep know that you were asked this, if no union maybe an assistant manager. there might not be a need to bring it up again with him but i would certainly advise you to let someone in a higher position know it happened. you dont want him thinking that he can be so disrepectful and unprofessional to you again.
 
ye,
think i should just voice my concerns there, thanks for advice
 
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