Should I feel bad about this?
I work as a cashier at a convenient store and the other day I caught this older guy (about 60) sticking cheeseburgers down his pants. So I confronted him and got the cheeseburgers back (which were immediately discarded of course). Anyway the guy is a known crackhead and I made a pretty big fool out of him by confronting him and calling him a scumbag in front of a bunch of customers. Later on I felt bad. I mean he's probably stealing because he spent all of his money on drugs and booze, but he is human and has to eat. Do you think I went to far?
Answers:
No. You have a responsibility to your job. They hired you, they pay you and more than that, your integrity is also on the line, even if it's "just" a job at 7-11 or whatever.
If he was really that hungry, he could go to a homeless shelter. They will feed him and I'm sure he knows that. He probably just finds it easier to steal. I don't see anything wrong with confronting him in front of customers; that's a risk he knew he was taking when he decided to steal. Calling him names might have been a little cruddy but you were angry and you had every right to be. I'm sure it wasn't anything to him; he probably gets called worse 50 times a day. I doubt he'll ever come back but if he ever does, if you REALLY feel bad for calling him names (which, you really shouldn't but if you do), apologize for that part ONLY and then point him toward the homeless shelter.
And keep your eye on him. =:0)
No; stop blaming society for what is the human error in the man. That the left wing mantra - society brought him to it and we shouldn't punish him. The conservative mantra is that its his personal choice and he is responsible - thus he must face the consquences. Hell you should have had his butt arrested.
No way. Think of him, if he actually stole that burger, it might be coming out of your paycheck because you were on shift.
Maybe he should cut back on the drugs, and maybe then he'll have enough money for a hamburger.
You we're totally alright for doing that, you we're just doing your job. He didn't deserve that hamburger now did he?
The only thing I may have done different was not called him a scumbag. You have a responsibility to your employer to ensure that goods are not stolen. There are people that steal just to steal. I know a top executive that steals all the time. It's not about the money, its about the thrill of getting away with it.
Well...Yes and No...One one hand, he shouldn't do drugs, and shouldn't be stealing so it was perfectly logical for you to be mad, however, Calling him a scumbag may have been a bit harsh...
-best of luck...what's done is done
Name calling wont teach him not to do it but exposing his behavior will. Perhaps giving him information on where the nearest soup kitchen is would be invaluable... he already knows he's a scumbag and lives with that lack of self esteem everyday.
What's done is done don't give yourself a hard time but do make the effort to learn skills to deal with this kind of thing in the future.
Stealing, for anyone isn't good. Being that it's a store you work for, you have to look out for crooks. I would've bought him a hamburger. About calling him names, I know how it feels to do that and later on know that it was totally wrong. But, what's done is done, as long as you can learn and we all know that you have a heart. What you've done makes you who you are today.
Man I consider myself a liberal, but cheezeburgers down the pants, I'm completly shrinky.
What is too far.
You were right in protecting your employers business.
You are right when you assume the old boy was hungry and granted he didnt help himself by using drugs.
However, your admonitions to him, although self satisfying at the time, were like water on a ducks back to him, it went in one ear and out the other.
Nothing was gained by either side. The only thing you could have done is call the police and let them handle the theft part. The old guy would have gotten fed and maybe, just maybe some special group would have taken him over.
I doubt a police record would affect him that much at this point in his life and considering the M.O. he probably has one already.
You could have been injured had he been in a violent mood. You took a chance and luckily all went well.
Live and learn, the basis of experience.
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