Searching Staff....Is this right?

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 04:10 AM

I was told by my manager in The National Trust, that if I did not fill in their stooooopid,patronising, multiple choice answer manual, then the whole shop would be marked down and the manager would be seen as being not in control of the staff.

I said it was emotional blackmail by The National Trust's new Controlling Ones...and I resigned.

I do NOT want to work for people who treat me like an idiot, and don't even want to entertain the idea of listening to their staff.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 04:05 AM

The fact that Boots and many other shops now do this IS relatively new, actually...(sticky out tongue smiley)....and it does NOT make it right that large factories, workplaces etc..used to do this 50 years back.

It was wrong then.

It's wrong now.

And the fact that it is being taken into the High Street shops is even more wrong.

If you don't trust me, don't employ me.
And if you don't trust me, why the f*c* would I want to work for you?

We are all becoming more and more controlled, untrusted and dictated to, and it's happening because WE are letting it happen by not taking a stand and shouting out...."EXCUSE ME, but P*SS OFF!"


Thank you.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 12:18 AM

Refreshed to give Lizzie chance to come back before this drops off end...

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 03:26 AM

Lizzie, you seem to think Boots is the ONLY employer in the country BECAUSE you used to work for them. Your logic is a constant joy & delight & entertainment. Even if your once-beloved-because-graced-by-your-presence Boots didn't do them way back then, staff searches were still a perfectly common practice 50+ years ago. That is the fact. If you don't like it — tough·titty. Keep your head buried in the sand then. & you know what they say about whence all sound emanates from those whose heads are buried in the sand...

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish (too tired to log in)
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 01:56 AM

No, it didn't. I used to work for Boots, and I can assure you, it didn't. I don't care about other places this may have happened, the fact is that back then it was pretty unusual and now, it's become the norm...and it's *not* normal to want to search your staff.


Most staff of big corporate places are not treated well these days.

You lot obviously think that's an OK situation. I don't. And on that we will have to agree to disagree.   The more you let things go, the more shite will be rained down upon you. And it's the apathy and attitude that I see above that has brought this situation into being.

The Corporate Slave Masters have been doing many things wrong for a very long time. This is just one more thing.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 10:44 PM

"And ask yourselves WHY it never used to be this way, because as I stated above, it didn't. "

You can 'state' it as often as you like till you are blue in the face, Lizzie; but it won't alter the fact that, as I, & Ruth A, and others, have clearly demonstrated above, YES IT DID...

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 09:31 PM

Liz - you are a obviously a lovely lady. You, obviously have a delightful, dutiful, daughter that you cherish and protect.

Since you are reveared member of our Mudcat community...this is a cause that has moved foreward on the "to do" agenda.

To get to root of the matter - I have taken the liberty to make contacts regarding your concerns - unfortunatly, it is the weekend.

I anticipate a corporate response into this thread by Wednesday, November 11.

The location of her "Boots" store - and the hours of the "incident" will help.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 04:01 PM

You still didnt answer my question. What would you do when you see that person putting something into their pocket - if you're not going to search them - then what ?

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 08:10 AM

Sorry, if it was my company, then I'd be watching.

I would never expect all my staff to be treated as if they were potential thieves.

I would also be intelligent enough to know that whether I liked it or not, at some point, there would be people who worked for me who probably would steal....because such is life. It's not right, but it's life.

The reason that staff are perhaps stealing far more these days is that they're getting crap wages, whilst living in a world gone crazy...and they're often working for corporate companies whose owners write themselves out unbelievable bonuses, whilst not even letting their staff take a decent, paid tea-break.

If you wanna be mean, then you can expect to have meaness thrown back at you.

You will never stop thieving. You will never be able to trust every single person in your life...and most of us realise that. The Controlling Ones, want to be able to do that though, and so they treat EVERYONE as if they are thieves.

It's utterly wrong, in every way.

And ask yourselves WHY it never used to be this way, because as I stated above, it didn't.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 07:31 AM

"And if I suspected a member of my staff of stealing, then I would personally watch that person very carefully, from a distance, unobtrusively, until I had the evidence required."

But what if you didn't know which staff member it was? In the case I cited, the manager of the pub didn't know which of us to suspect, which effectively put us all under suspicion. So what should he have done? Was he right to secretly install a camera which meant that we were all being watched without our knowledge, but that the culprit was eventually caught?

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 07:30 AM

And so you watch your staff as described, and you see said person put something into their pocket, say, what do you do then?

Ask them, politely, to take it out or empty their pockets,

They say NO,

What do you do then?

You cant touch them, because thats assault.

And YOU dont believe in searching them so,

What do you do?

You can of course call the police, but they would search them.......but you dont believe in that........ do you?

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 07:29 AM

The term "Human Resources" is nothing to do with "PC" (whatever that is). It is a term that came from business. And in reality, those companies and organisations who recognise that the humans who work for them are their most precious and valuable resource are probably going to benefit from that - as are the employees who will be valued and well treated.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 07:03 AM

And whichever PC prat it was who decided to de-humanize staff by calling them 'Human Resources' needs a real kick up their de-sensitised backside, because to view PEOPLE as a RESOURCE is, quite frankly, shocking.

And if employers now have "Am I bovvered?" staff working for them, then they sooooo need to look to themselves for the reasons as to why.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 06:59 AM

No, we didn't.

I worked for Boots, I worked for most of the major department stores in London, I worked for private chemists, I worked in Harley Street, I worked in Upper Wimpole St, I worked in The National Trust, and in none of these places was I ever searched, or ever asked to sign a contract stating that I would allow it.

Some places did, but they were in the minority.

The minority is now becoming the majority and if you are happy to put up with that, well...you are contributing to the way things are going.

Staff, particularly those in the retail trade, are now treated like shite, in many places.

I recall John Tams saying on The Reckoning...."Who will tow the line...?"

Who indeed?

Because it seems to me that we have turned into a nation, into a world of yellow bellied twits who roll over and agree to anything and everything that bully boy Scrooge employers want to dish out...

SHEESH!!

Of course, I could tell you that the Edukashon System and the crazy political correctness have a great deal to do with this..but there are those on here who now feel it's their right to tell me to write my replies as 'they' feel fit....Well, I've been there, done that, been bullied half senseless with those who sought to control the way I write, whilst never ever demanding that they write the way I dictated.

Treating staff like shite is wrong. Period.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 06:53 AM

The staff have changed because of the terrible meaness of the employers, Manitas.


And if I suspected a member of my staff of stealing, then I would personally watch that person very carefully, from a distance, unobtrusively, until I had the evidence required.

I would certainly NOT expect ALL my staff to be body searched by me, randomly, because I know they would become very angry about that and the trust between us all would be broken forever.

As stated, I will not buy things from Boots any longer...and I have told them this. They are going to contact their HR departments in the West Country, to ensure that everything is done 'to the book'...but what they cannot, or rather, will not, acknowledge is that they should not be doing this in the first place.

We are living in a world which has become dominated by those who are unable to trust, who have fearful and suspcious natures and who are determined to bring in as many rules and tegulations at every turn to 'stop anything from happening'...

You will, sadly, always get people who steal, just as you will always get paedeophiles, wife-beaters, murderers...and treating everyone as if they are thieves or any of those aforementioned, will NOT stop it from happening, just make innocent person, who make up the vast majority, angry, fed up and pissed off....and THAT is when you get the rebellion..and in this case the employers have caused their own rebellion by staff stealing from their pennypinching, controlling, crap wages companies..

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 06:50 AM

'We never used to live our lives this way. We don't have to now.'

Sorry Lizzy, but yes we did. I have given you an example above from 56 years ago. Ruth Archer then joined in to give further examples from many years back. If you have never come across such contracts & such systems before, I don't know where you can have been. Cloud=Cuckooland, perhaps? It has always been regarded as perfectly normal business practice. Taking the job & agreeing to the contract are voluntary; but it is no use moaning afterwards if the contract is then enforced. No system is perfect, and there have doubtless been employers whose security staff are unreasonable: but a complaint to management would make more sense if that is the case, as in some of the stories above, than your coming on here & sounding off about an experience a relative of yours happened to have recently, when, by all accounts, she herself wasn't even particularly worried by it, sensibly recognising it as in accordance with the contract she had voluntarily agreed to sign.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 06:42 AM

Employers are different now but perhaps it' because the staff are different.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 06:39 AM

You will get my reply in whatever way I choose to write it, GW.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 06:09 AM

Yes yes yes that's all very well, but you havnt answered my question - what would YOU do if you owned a small business - not a chain - and suspected a member of your staff was stealing.

How would you go about confirming your suspecions without upsetting your other loyal hardworking staff.

What measures would you take to confront the offender.

I dont want chapter and verse on the moral decline of the modern world - just your answers to the above questions, which are central to the title of this post.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 05:50 AM

No, it doesn't.

I used to WORK for that family chain, GW, and if you'd read my earlier posts you'd see that it was very different back then.

Trust has gone, because Loyalty has gone.

Again, if you look after your staff and see that without them your business cannot grow as you would like it to, then your staff will look after you too.

If you make them sign contracts stating that you have the right to body search them, bag search them, etc...then they are already feeling resentment towards that company.

Yes, people still carry on working for companies like this because they *have* to, to pay the bills etc...but already the employer is on a losing streak, because his workforce will not be giving of their best. Why should they?   They get crap wages, crap treatment, crap trust...

Everything has broken down...and it's broken down because of GREED!

It's broken down because of the bean counters who sit there and say..."Hey, if we stop giving our staff a paid break and a drink, then we can make even MORE disgusting profits to stash away!"

And THAT is what is so terribly wrong about all of this.

Last week, that store took in over £250,000....and yet they charge their staff for a cup of tea?????????

Oh, purleeeeeeeeeze!!!


Life was once about pleasure, not profit.   It was about great places to work, sincere and loyal workforces who loved where they worked...

But Scrooge came in and taught a whole new lesson...and unlike A Christmas Carol, we so far do not have a happy ending.

We are going back to the Days of Dickens.....

It all stinks.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 04:50 AM

Just tell me Lizzie, after you have told them what they can do with their searches and no doubt their job to boot, just what are you going to use to pay the mortgage and feed the family.

I'm not saying whether its wrong or right, but in the real world people need job to earn money to survive and that is their priority.

I also think we need to keep sight of the face that stealing is a crime, and if a company/shop is having a problem, and loosing money because of it, what do you say they should do about it.

Imagine, for just a moment Lizzie, that you are the owner of a small independent chemist, built up over say 20 years by your own hard slog, and every week you are 'loosing' £100 worth of cosmetics or even just a couple of bottles of 'designer' perfume.
What are YOU going to do - let it continue?

What happens if you did search someone and found stolen goods. That search is then justified, and has taken the suspecion away from innocent members of staff ......... so does that then make searching OK ?

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 04:44 AM

No, it isn't right.

We never used to live our lives this way. We don't have to now.
The more you let things 'happen' the more that will happen.

When did we all become so suspicious of each other? Who has driven this? What kind of suspicious minds are behind so much of what is happening in this world.

It is not right to search your staff....because if you have staff that you cannot trust then you've either hired the wrong staff in the first place, or you're treating them so bloody badly that they're intent on 'getting their own back'...and a lot of *that* is going on at the moment.

Never have employers treated their staff so shittily, and never have staff LET themselves be treated this way.

If you care for your workforce, then you have, in general, a very happy and loyal place, where profits come back to you far faster, because everyone feels a part of it all, everyone benefits.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 04:02 AM

100

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 03:35 AM

"Searching of employees is nothing new."

That does not make it right.

What happened to your husband was downright disgusting and deeply worrying.

They should not be allowed to have these contracts in the first place, and that is what should be being discussed by unions.

Who are these control freaks who distrust everyone and everything?

We are all becoming more and more controlled and it's happening because we are allowing it to happen.

Boots told me they have a guide book telling employees exactly what will happen during a search.

Again, that does not make it right.

It is morally wrong.

They have had the absolute shite put up them, as I've told them I'm going to the press about companies who force people to sign these contracts if they want to get the job...and people are 'forced', not physically, but mentally.

It is wrong.

It is way past time that the British Workforce stood up to bullying, control freak employers and told them exactly what to do with their 'searches'....

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 03:28 AM

My husband was leaving Rover, and his boot was searched. In the corner there was less than half a roll of masking tape. It was dirty, squashed and had obviously been tucked away in there for a very long time. But because he could not produce a receipt or account for its origin, they detained him in a locked office and questioned him for one and half hours.

As I said in an earlier post, he had agreed to this by signing his contract of employment. There was nothing he could do - not if he wanted to keep his job.

This was back in the 70's when the 'Unions Ruled'. Searching of employees is nothing new.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: HuwG
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 08:27 PM

Many, many years ago (in the early 1980s), my job required me to visit a steelworks. All people, including employees, leaving the site were required to allow their car boots (US = trunks) to be searched, to prevent people stealing scrap. I would have thought that this would be a cursory "Open up mate ... fine, off you go", but it was carried out by security guards who were reckoned to be rejected by the Prison Service as unsuitable sociopaths. They would occasionally and without obvious cause, insist on drivers removing every item from the boot, including spare wheels and toolkits. Of course, this could hold up a whole shift trying to leave the site at clocking-off time, for several minutes at a time.

To say the least, industrial relations at this works belonged in the days when they were building the pyramids, and sometimes, when industrial action took place or was threatened, the security guards had to be careful about walking alone down dark alleys at night.

Urban legend (possibly inspired by Johnny Cash's "One Piece at a Time") at the site had it that workers once put together a complete car from the bits and pieces in the scrap bins and drove it past the Neanderthals on the gate without raising suspicion.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 06:22 PM

The orders came first...go figure.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 06:20 PM

Dave, please stop issuing me orders, as I take no notice of them. Thank you.

I feel much the same when you tell me to stick my head up my arse.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Gervase
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 05:23 PM

Hmm - bit of bullying going on here?
FWIW, I'm inclined to agree with Lizzie. Yes, I know we live in a rufty-tufty world where dog must eat dog to survive, but we do appear to have forgotten as much as we've learned.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 03:32 PM

I don't go abroad, Villan...

Personally, I think the world's gone raving nuts.

Dave, please stop issuing me orders, as I take no notice of them. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Rasener
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 01:45 PM

I bet Lizzie doesn't go abroad, becuase she would have to be searched at the airport and with these new xray things that can undress you.

Or maybe thats different as she want's to go on holiday. :-)

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 11:04 AM

Folkiedave, interesting when you actually think of the number of occasions when you could be searched, ie., schools, shops, airports, in public by the police. Public building/events, football etc. Never given it much thought before.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 10:54 AM

The law was altered recently to allow teachers to search.

Details here.

Customs officers for example also have such powers. If you refuse a customs officer permission to search you, they have to get a warrant. Even if they have found something in a suitcase for example which is the usual trigger.

But I wouldn't worry about it - Lizzie has forgotten this one now and is off on another troll.

To Villan off topic - Blade of course. Don't care who beats the Shammers.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 10:48 AM

Thanks Villan, the sad thing is the story which is not told. The fact that hundreds have never found jobs, and the number of men who have comitted suicide since because they could not support their families. A number of these were known personally by my husband. Thats the real crime. Ooops off thread, sorry.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Rasener
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 10:09 AM

Ah the sad demise of Longbridge. Should never have been allowed to happen.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 10:04 AM

Hi Villan I could be mistaken but aren't the only people allowed to search without permission, the Police? I have a feeling that even store detectives are only allowed to detain, but not search until the Police arrive? Could be wrong.

Most employers get round this by including it in their contract of empoyment, and by accepting such you are agreeing to be searched. My husband worked for years at MG at Longbridge and they were regularly searched on their way out.

Which reminds me of of the man who left each night with a wheelbarrow covered over with a sack. When the security lifted the sack there was nothing in the wheelbarrow. It was months before they realised that he was stealing wheelbarrows.

Oh come on!! the oldies are the best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Rasener
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 09:40 AM

Off topic

Are you a Blackburn fan then Dave?

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 09:06 AM

I would have thought the appropriate action if not involving the police, would have been 2 senior female staff searching the young lady and 2 senior male staff searching the male employee. Anything less than that should be taken up legally.

Absolutely Villan.

Shame about last night by the way! Could have done with your lads winning there!

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Rasener
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 08:32 AM

I am with you Green Wellies.

My only concern on this issue, is whether the search was carried out correctly and according to the rules of the company. I can't see anybody being allowed to do a search on their own.

I would have thought the appropriate action if not involving the police, would have been 2 senior female staff searching the young lady and 2 senior male staff searching the male employee. Anything less than that should be taken up legally.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 06:22 AM

I will contribute, though I fear it will be unpopular.

If you are made aware of the conditions of your employment before you accept the position, ie staff will be subject to random searches etc, then dont complain if after starting, those condition are imposed. You knew before you started - you didnt have to take the job.

If practices are started after you have commenced employment and you are completely certain and have proof that they have been instigated without prior consultation, you have two choices - fight it (with the proper legal representation) or leave.

If you choose to fight be prepared to be extremely unpopular and for your worklife to made a misery. Is the fight worth it.

Whether this is morally wrong or right, is another matter.

Many employers have little or no respect for staff. They dont have to, there are many people out there who would willingly fill the vacancy, if someone decides to walk. Its not right but it is the world we live in - the real world.

We can all take the moral high-ground and say this is wrong and we shall rise up and fight the rich man - but dont forget while we're rising up and fighting, we still have to pay the mortgage and put food on the table and that and only that is the main concern of many people.

As for the retail world, my son is looking for a job in his gap year and talking to him and his friends, random searches of staff in high street shops are not uncommon. His opinion is, if I've nothing to hide its not a problem - live with it.

- As for tea breaks, sorry, I dont see what that has to do with staff searches.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 05:15 AM

Mothers staying at home to look after their children is a mother's choice. My wife chose to stay at home and bring the children up until they were at school.

But that wasn't what Rowntree was about Lizzie. He let them go when they got married. They didn't have any choice.

I could have sworn you were arguing for individual liberty and choice. Clearly I don't understand the contradictions in what you write. But then neither do you.

Now this thread drift has moved us away from the issue that you began with Lizzie.

What has happened to the young people who were searched? Have you given them any advice? Suggested they see a solicitor for example? I did give you the address of a specialist solicitor they could go to.

Don't you think we should be told? Otherwise people might think there was no real reason for the rant at the start of this thread other than the chance for you to spout off your own moral outrage and troll along merrily.

But again, nothing new there.

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GUEST,EX
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 05:09 AM

I do not know where it went. But the California state labor law that was posted here included time at work for nursing mothers. Now THAT is nurturing. Lizzie why did some Ax that? Are their managment here that might not like in the UK? It is in the Netherlands also. Are there people afraid of Brussel Sprouts on this board?

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Rasener
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 04:50 AM

So what has your last 2 posts got to do with Searching people Lizzie?

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 04:40 AM

The National Trust were very good employers....that's why I worked for them...but things change when new people come in...and they now have way more than their fair share of the De-Sensitised Mercenary ones, who's lives revolve around profit, profit, profit...

Tell me, how much do you think it's going to cost to have a font especially designed for them and them alone? How many millions are they going to happily pass over (of other people's money) in order that they can be groovy and 're-logo'?   It's all Corporate Crap and I am so glad that I got out when I did...

If children are brought up by their mothers, and fathers, to feel loved, valued and treasured, then they will treat their fellow human beings with compassion, care and respect.

What is going on in so many corporate places is the exact opposite and some should ask themselves why and how this has happened.

If you treat people like shit, then the shit flies back in your face...and you richly deserve to be covered in it.

Treat your employees like gold....and you may well end up with far more than just a golden glow..

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Lizzie Cornish 1
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 04:33 AM

Joseph Rowntree lived in a very different time to this, so the values he upheld would not be those of today...er..obviously.

However, when it comes to Mothers and Work, I actually think he had a point, because children need their mothers...and a mother's place IS with her children.

You only have to look at what is happening to so many children these days, as they grow older, in particular...where they seek love in gangs, large groups of so-called 'friends'...who sadly now take the place, for so many youngsters, of a large, caring family. (and yes, I *do* know that not *all* families are caring, before some on here come twittering on at me)

Just think, if everyone had adopted Joseph's attitude of feeling that mothers were best employed bringing up the next generation then we may not have the cold, desensitised bastards who are now runnig Corporate Crap Chains like Boots...and all the others, because they'd have been loved as children, small children...and they'd not have had a Corporate Edukashon System to steal their souls and make them feel that life is about nothing but tests, exams, tests, exams...and failure.

Ho hum!

Pass the Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles, please.......

(She sits back and waits for the Fearsome Feminists to Self-Combust in their Anti-Motherhood Rage!)

Also, the Corporate Bastards seized the opportunity of women going out to work en masse to realise that they now had TWO salaries to steal...TWO people to make feel guilty...and of course, how they POURED down the guilt on both parents for leaving their children with childminders all day long....because that's when parents started to replace LOVE with MATERIALISM....and the bottom started to fall out of the world as we knew it..........

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Fossil
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 04:15 AM

Hmm...OK have read all the thread. .

Is it Ok to search staff? Well, depressingly, you've probably had to sign an agreement that allows them to do it, so yes - if they want to, they can.

*Should* they do it, on a more-than-occasional basis? My view is, that unless management has a strong, nay very strong, reason to think said employee is stealing from the business, no they shouldn't.

Very regular staff searching indicates profound management insecurity, inefficient targeting - the general public contains more villains than ever the staff will throw up, assuming that you have been proper about your recruiting and have managed to weed out the more obviously light-fingered ones before they get near the sales floor.

What you need to do is build in a culture where people stealing from the firm is seen by those on the front-line as "stealing from us". "Us" meaning the business, of course.

It *can* be done, but only by management fostering a family-centred, concerned and employee-valuing culture within the business, something which almost no major retail chain even bothers with these days.

It is seen as too wimpy, anaemic and not macho enough for the lazy, pre-programmed, male-oriented, uncultured and stupid people (generally with worthless degrees) who inhabit British middle-management these days. Wonder why we're facing a total loss of manufacturing industry? Or why Britain will be the last, the very last country to climb out of the W-shaped depression?

Would the final British retail manager who believes in his or her staff, please turn off the lights as you leave?

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 03:37 AM

I was going to post............... but after all that ranting........I cant be bothered !

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 03:26 AM

Catspaw said:

I'm sorry Lizzie, but I think you may not have noticed that when you signed onto Mudcat that anyone starting a thread that causes dissent or is responsible for said dissent must submit to me for a full body cavity strip search.

Lizzie said:

Today I went into The Body Shop

Spaw - you see how seriously she was taking you? That's marvellous!!

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: GUEST,EWH
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 03:15 AM

The fruit does not fall from the tree

Have her quit - if she has not been fired yet

And return to the all welcoming arms of mommy dearest

Subject: RE: Searching Staff....Is this right?
From: Wesley S
Date: 04 Nov 09 - 10:57 PM

"Mystery shoppers stink."

Not all of them. When properly used they can show who your best employees are and also reveal weak spots on your staff. They've almost always produced good results whenever I've seen them used. I spent over 20 years in high end retail shops here in the US and I've seen how they work.