Possible Employee Theft by Price Override

[jakob27]

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Kentucky

Our store is under investigation for employee theft, we have the option to price override items in our store for the customers. My coworker was fired today after loss prevention asked him about all his price overrides. He had given away $3,000 worth of profit and is required to pay the company back and will face no charges. He was doing $50 $100 overrides whereas i was only doing a $10 here and there, nothing serious! I'm currently suspended until tomorrow. I profited from none of the transactions and never stole any item personally from the store ....any advice on what will happen to me? I have never been in legal trouble before, not even a parking ticket. I'm very nervous and scared of what will happen. I know i will be fired even with valid reasons for my price overrides. I just don't want to go to prison. Please help

[mmmagique]

Ok, slow down.

WERE you doing something against store policy? Like maybe overriding prices for your friends?

Your post has me confused.

Just breathe...

[PandorasBox]

Aside from above questions:

(1) Is there a limit to how much you can override before you need a managers approval?
(2) What are the guidelines on overrides? For example, price matching a competitors ad? Customer claims price is different so you give them the price they say?

I've worked retail and in some cases, it's ok to override, and the register would have something like "Reason for Override" on it. Other times - like a certain amount, you need a managers approval.

[jakob27]

The overrides were not for friends. They were in no way shape or form made in any benefit to myself. I only made my decisions based on poor judgment. For instance, there was a $70 order, i opened the register and there was no change, only 4 $100 bills and a few ones, so i modified the prices to make the sale without having to give change. That is my worst override that i have done. Whereas my coworker was selling $150 products for $50 just to make commission off of the product and admitted to selling $100 orders for $20 for his friends multiple times and he faces no charges whatsoever. All he has to do is pay the company back. The loss prevention guy was lenient with him whereas he told me no details, didnt twll me how much i lost the company myself, didnt tell me if i was fired and didnt tell me about charges, he just said i was suspended pending investigation so i'm hinestly lost and have no idea what to do. And i already tried a lawyer but they cant do anything until i am actually CHARGED with something

[PandorasBox]

Ick. You had the option of calling the cash office to get smaller bills. Making a price adjustment to avoid that is not a good thing.

[jakob27]

I know i shouldn't have and it's obviously got me in the long run but i'm just afriad of what's gonna happen next. I wish i could find someone in my shoes. Idc tonpay restotution fees, because i never "lost" the company a crazy amount like $3,000

[PandorasBox]

What I don't get is this....

$70 item. $100 bills in the register.

Did you overcharge the customer? Because $100-70=30. You would have called for change or increased the price.....

[jakob27]

No i'm sorry for the confusion. His total was $70...in the register we only had $100s and 7 $1's and he was trying to pay with a $100 bill so i lowered the price to equal out to $40 to make the sale without having to give change (he also had 2 $20's as well....im stupid i know

[Lehk]

if you weren't giving anything away to friends or relatives or coworkers the worst they can likely make stick is termination for cause and you probably won't be getting unemployment.

they may also threaten to sue you for the shortfall depending on circumstances.

If they threaten you with criminal charges do not talk to them at all after that, if the police ask you questions the only answers are

"Am I under Arrest?"

"Am I free to go"

"I want a lawyer"

even if you did nothing criminal, there is nothing you can tell the police that will make them decide not to arrest you if that is what they are going to do, in fact typically exculpatory statements you make to the police are not admissible in court but incriminating ones are.

[jakob27]

Thank you so much for your response you have no idea how much i appreciate it. I havent slept in 2 days and i'm still on suspension and havent heard anything yet. I've made a few mistakes like i sated above but i have had valid reasonings for every price override. It wasnt like i was just giving away stuff or marking items down to make numbers. I accept full responsibility and understand that i should be fired. I'm just afraid of jail and afraid of being charged a crazy number for the total $ i took off doing my price overrrides