Can I be fired for looking like I stole money?
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Can I be fired for looking like I stole money?
I work for a donut chain and on one day last week, I was asked by my manager to end the day. As I went into the safe, I noticed that an employee deposit was missing. At that point, I told my manager. She didn’t give a response, so I continued on with ending the day. As I was doing so, I put the safe code that was written on a sheet of paper into my purse. I followed up with my manager and she told me that she would handle it and that I could go home. When I got home I received a call from my manager saying that the drop was missing and that the way it looked on camera, I stole it. I returned to the job that same day and explained to my manager that I only put the safe code in my purse. At that point I was informed that if I don’t pay the money back I am getting fired.
Asked on August 9, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Alaska
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
If you don't have a written employment contract limiting the reasons you may be terminated, you are an "employee at will." An employee at will, unfortunately, has essentially no rights in or to his or her job; an employer may fire an employee at will at any time, for any reason, including factually incorrect one or unfair ones, and the employee has no recourse. So yes, you may be terminated for this reason.
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