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Managerial:

Stolen Items

Reader Question: Several of our technicians have complained to me that small personal items have "begun disappearing" from their lockers and desks since a new aide began working with us. They're obviously suspicious of her. Since I, as PI, run the lab, they look to me to "solve", or at least investigate, the "problem". But I am not trained for this, and furthermore I don't want to innocently injure the reputation of a new hire. Yet I want to seem sympathetic and responsive. What's my best strategy?

Expert Comments:

Unfortunately, being a manager is not an easy job. As a PI, you are part of management and have an obligation to ensure the safety of the workers in the lab -- including protecting the workers’ personal property as well. Review the Faculty Handbook. In many cases, it will set forth a description of your job duties as a PI probably including your obligation for the safety of those in the lab. However, be advised a number of institutional handbooks are quite vague on specific duties of a PI.

By turning to you, the employees have filed a complaint with the University and you as a faculty member are under an obligation to investigate or aid in this process. However, you probably should seek out the assistance of the human resources department and/or the Security Department since they are best equipped to handle such delicate matters.

You should ensure that you document the complaints made to you (including name of complainant, date, and what was said). This has nothing to do with the complainants' suspicions as to the new aide.

There are also a number of practical suggestions to deal with this issue. You may want to suggest to the lab employees that they refrain from bringing valuables to the lab with them. You could also suggest that they keep locks on their lockers to prevent this in the future. You may also want to have a meeting of all the employees in your lab to warn them that there have been some reported thefts or “mysterious disappearances” and to discuss the above methods to attempt to prevent any future incidents from occurring.

Comments by Melissa Fleischer, Esq., a management-side employment law attorney with over twenty years experience and founded HR Learning Center LLC.

She is the speaker of the upcoming audio conference Workplace Violence: Lessons Learned from the Harvard Poisoning and the Yale Murder

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This document has been provided for informational purposes only and is not intended and should not be construed to constitute legal advice. Please consult your attorney in connection with any specific questions or issues that may impose additional obligations on you and your company under any applicable local, state or federal laws.