Category Archives: Employment

What should I do about being accused of theft at work?

Q: My manager accused me of stealing $96 from a server and showed me the video. It doesn’t show me taking any money. She told me to empty my pockets and there was nothing in my pockets besides $50 from payday on Thursday. She is bi-polar and an alcoholic. (Robinson Twp., PA)

A: If you are telling the truth I would fight this and ask to speak to the owner or anyone above the manager. However, PA is an at will employment state and you can therefore be fired for any reason at all unless the reason is based on a protected class such as race, gender, sexual preference, age, disability, etc. You may want to speak with an employment discrimination lawyer.

Can I sue for owner for giving me less tables to serve?

Q: he owners of the restaurant are the hostesses and they constantly give one particular server the best section and the most tables. The one owner always puts me in the worst section and my sales end up being lower than everyone else. They are usually more than half less than the server that they seat all the time. I feel that she is discriminating against me for a few reasons. Can I sue? (Cranberry Twp., PA)

A: It depends on what reason you are discriminated against and how good your proof is. If you are a member of a protected class of people such as women, those over 40, national origin, color, race, disabled, military veteran, married, religion, etc., and you can prove that you are treated differently, you might have a case. I would call an attorney who specializes in employment discrimination for a more thorough answer.

I walked off my job and am being threatened with a lawsuit

Q: I was employed as a Customer Support person at an online shoe company. I walked off the job after less than 2 months because of suspected illegal activity taking place. I’m now being threatened with a lawsuit regarding theft of an inventory list. Their attorney is making a claim that they have documented proof that I was intending to harm their business along with a coworker. We did decide to walk out at the same time, but we were both in our 90-day probationary period and according to documents I signed but never received a copy of, within our legal right to do so. The beginning of the attorney’s demand letter is also completely inaccurate. It states that my primary role with this company was inventory at their West Mifflin warehouse. I was hired for customer support and have never stepped foot in the warehouse as I worked remotely from another location. My only task involving inventory was to count a few handbags. I believe this is the inventory sheet they’re referring to. I didn’t remove the list from the building knowingly. I left it on my desk, along with the key that I had, and now they’re claiming there is no list. (Jefferson Hills, PA)

A:  First, you need to not talk about it on-line, or with any other person except the lawyer you choose to represent you. If you are called by a police detective, store representative or an insurance claim person, direct the call to your lawyer. Keep and gather any evidence you can as it will help your attorney. You may want to contact an employment attorney.