BlogBreak

By Nancy

August 21, 2006 01:40 PM | Link to this

My supervisor at my last job told me it was ok to take all my supplies with me when I left, which I thought was quite nice! I felt guilty at first but the company owed me a lot more than a hole puncher after 26 years of service!

By Lloyd

August 21, 2006 02:57 PM | Link to this

It’s called stealing. Shame on you Nancy and any others out there that feel “entitled” to office supplies.

I hope you all get fired for cause and are ineligible for Unemployment.

By linny

August 21, 2006 02:58 PM | Link to this

Nancy I had to chuckle at your reply! After 26 years, those supplies, i.e., holepunch, stapler etc probably wouldn’t have WORKED for anyone … too used to your touch!!! Congrats, no matter what you’re doing now, for working somewhere for 26 years! That’s a good 20 years longer than most people last at ANYthing!!!!

By Cletus Snow

August 21, 2006 03:41 PM | Link to this

We taught our children that any time you take something that does not belong to you it is stealing, and its wrong. Should I act different? I don’t think so.What should you teach your children? If its not mine can I give it away, or is that stealing also?

By jgibson

August 21, 2006 03:42 PM | Link to this

Every company I have left has told me it was okay to take all of my supplies with me. It has been my experience that when starting a new job I am given the supply catalog and told to list the items I need/want. I think companies are learning that something as simple as an ink pen can give an employee a different attitude.

By Cletus Snow

August 21, 2006 03:45 PM | Link to this

When you take something that does not belong to you or give away something that does not belong to you, Thats when you become a thief.

By Leah Russell

August 21, 2006 04:54 PM | Link to this

It is not O.K to take office supplies. I say buy your own office supplies for home. Those office supplies really add up, especially since I have witnessed some of my coworkers taking them for their kids school supplies.

By Dave

August 21, 2006 04:59 PM | Link to this

I left all my supplies with the admin assistant on my last day. I did want any reminders of my last miserable old job.

By Carey

August 22, 2006 09:30 AM | Link to this

can you people not read or can you not understand what you are reading? these people are stating that the employers told them they were welcome to take the supplies, if someone gives you permission it is no longer stealing. and i don’t care who you are if you work in an office you have taken a pen,pencil, paperclip something from the office home with you and are guilty of theft just the same as those whom you’re so quick to point your finger at

By Lynn

August 22, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this

I give to my company a lot more than I borrow or use from them. I bring in coffee, creamer, snacks & do a lot of things on my personal time with my gas & money. If I need to get a stamp or an envelope, I just ask & they are given to me. I however, would never just take supplies home & set up my own office. Your only talking a few bucks or less for each item, so I think I can buy my own if I need them for personal use.

By Holly

August 22, 2006 12:20 PM | Link to this

When your company is trying to cut overhead because expenses are too high, downsizes and you lose your job, please enjoy those office supplies you took home.

By harold

August 22, 2006 12:39 PM | Link to this

Steal every damn thing you can get your hands on!

By anita

August 22, 2006 12:57 PM | Link to this

I think we should be a tad bit more concerned with the ‘stealing’ of CEO’s who make it so that faithful employees can’t even retire on what was promised to them because they chose to align their personal pockets with RIDICULOUS salaries, perks, stocks, bonds, and expense accounts. I am less worried about the coffee creamer, and stapler than I am about Mr. CEO hosting dinners at the companies expense that exceed thousands of dollars per plate!

By Teacher

August 22, 2006 01:05 PM | Link to this

I’m glad these corporations have so much money to throw around. At school, we keep everything under lock and key. A sheet of copy paper may as well be a dollar bill. It will get “borrowed” in a heartbeat. I left a new bottle of juice in the copy room last week. Five minutes later, it had been borrowed. Stealing is stealing.

By linny

August 22, 2006 02:23 PM | Link to this

There is a huge difference, in my opinion, between taking supplies home to do work FOR your employer, and taking supplies home to set up your own office to do either personal work or work for someone other than that employer.

But in any event, if an employer says “take it, it’s yours” … as someone has mentioned, it’s no longer the company’s, it’s yours… because they said it was!

And i have to say, i totally agree about the executive level … abuse? … of company funds and property. But then I just never could quite understand what a CEO or other exec does that is worth 4-to-10-to-20+ times what i make in a year… which I know quite well that if I (or someone like me) were not there to DO the work, that CEO/exec wouldn’t have a company to be CEO of!!!

ah well… stealing is stealing is stealing, i guess…

By Lloyd

August 22, 2006 03:21 PM | Link to this

anita,

Get an education. Then maybe you can get in on those $1,000 dinners you seem so envious of. My guess is you didn’t do well in school and are answering telephones in some call center that’s about to be outsourced.

This may not be the life you want but it’s the life you deserve.

By hello fellow laborers

August 22, 2006 04:32 PM | Link to this

“the company owed me after 26 years of service.” Wait a minute … the company has been paying you and providing you with health insurance for 26 years, right? My personal ethic is not to take stuff from the office. That said, however, I think most employers are far more concerned with the job getting done than losing a few pens. A loyal employee will occasionally go home with the inexpensive ballpoint pen or yellow pad. I don’t think it’s a “they owe me” situation. If you don’t like to work or resent your job, leave and take your spiteful attitude with you. Don’t be passive-aggressive and steal. That won’t get you very far in the working world.

By office police

August 22, 2006 04:34 PM | Link to this

I guess this all depends. I’ve caught a contractor concealing a clock once. Pretty funny actually. The best part was when his boss didn’t want to face the truth (even though he was caught on camera) and let him stay at work, although he was made to retrieve the clock from his car. Then again, CEO’s steal all of the time. They take away free drinks for employee’s, gift certificates for Christmas time, soft TP, good hand soap, paper towels, etc,etc. in the name of saving the Company money only to have their bonus’s increased for all of the ‘cost cutting’. Although don’t think they cut their own ‘extra’s’ out. Nope. Keep the soft TP, Dial hand soap, FREE soft drinks, etc,etc coming….BUT only for themselves. And they can actually sleep at night. Funny how cheap they can be when they earn $2,000,$3,000,$4,000+ a DAY. Personally, I think they should all be fired.

By Noelle

August 22, 2006 05:01 PM | Link to this

Lloyd, please explain how Nancy was “stealing” when her boss told her to take the items with her. If your employer says you can take something, it’s not theft. My former employer gave me a specialized keyboard and even some software when I was laid off — since the company was shutting down and no longer needed those items.

If you take anything from your office that was paid for by your employer without prior permission, then you’re stealing. Period.

By MARCELLE

August 23, 2006 08:52 AM | Link to this

LLOYD, CAREFULLY READ WHAT NANCY WROTE. HER SUPERVISOR, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY, GRANTED HER PERMISSION TO TAKE THE SUPPLIES. THAT’S NOT STEALING IF PERMISSION IS GRANTED. HAROLD, READ THE FOLLOWING LINK AND THEN TELL ME IT’S OK TO STEAL (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=2&chapter=20&version=31&context=chapter

By Steve

August 23, 2006 08:59 AM | Link to this

Anita - Here is a clue for you. You can be concerned about those executive perks when 1) you are an executive, or 2) you own the company or are a significant shareholder. If you think you should be more concerned with what someone else is doing with their money or business than you are with your own possible theft or lack of character (the topic of this forum), then you have told us all we need to know about your character. Maybe I can use your dishonesty as a reason for me to steal from Publix when I stop by later? After all, I can always use the war in Iraq (or some other irrelevant matter) to excuse my own conduct.

By lynn

August 23, 2006 09:38 AM | Link to this

@Anita, boy did you get that one right. The wife to the owner of my company has an Amex that the company pays for. Every month she spends thousands of dollars at Sams, Krogers or Kohl’s and she never even sees the bill. Not to mention their 5 vacations every year paid for by the company account. I realize he owns the place but hey, legal is legal & he’s not paying taxes on this money since it’s recorded as expenses.

By TomTom

August 23, 2006 10:01 AM | Link to this

Lloyd, regarding the worker on the subject of $1000 dinners. Life is about choices. It’s not what she deserves. It’s what you choose to do in your life.

By Kimberly from Atlanta

August 23, 2006 10:18 AM | Link to this

I bit off topic but I left a really nice umbrella outside the door to our church while I ran our son into daycare on morning. You could not believe my shock and dismay when I returned 5 minutes later to see that someone “borrowed” it. The same principle applies. If it is not yours- don’t touch it. Dressing the name up from stealing to “borrowing” does not change the act itself. It is stealing! Fortunately for me, the umbrella reappeared later that afternoon. Good thing because I was ready to post a note politely calling out the thief(it’s a really nice umbrella)!

By Droppy

August 23, 2006 10:49 AM | Link to this

Now that it’s back to school time, it’s amazing how many high-paid engineers (we’re talking six figures here) raid the supply cabinet and take ALL the notebooks, paper, pens, etc. home for their little ones, leaving nothing left for company use! Are they rude? Selfish? Downright CHEAP? Methinks all of the above!!!

By Ron

August 23, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this

Steal is defined by Webster.com as “To take (the property of another) without right or permission.” Nancy had permission and did not steal. To borrow (without approval)with the intent to do work at home is a half-steal, and would become 100% stealing when those items do not make it back to the office. It has been said before in this blog, “stealing is stealing.” Actually it appears more nebulous and open to our own level of morality (evidenced by so many people trying to explain off their behavior.)

Here is another take on this topic entirely: If you are at work now like I am, and you are reading and posting to this blog… are you not, in fact, stealing? “Oh, but it only took a minute…” “They owe me a break…” Do you see where this is going? I would venture that unless your job description is to go online and post to blogs your companies are actually paying for you to do a job. When you are doing something other than that job, you are stealing the money you are being paid. You don’t deserve a salary, you earn it. Before you point any fingers, remember stealing and the people who steal come in all shapes and sizes.

By ON THE CLOCK BLOGGER

August 23, 2006 11:42 AM | Link to this

RON COULD NOT HAVE SAID THAT ANY BETTER.

By GenXDen

August 23, 2006 12:00 PM | Link to this

It seems to me that there is a great deal of self-righteous indignation clouding this blog (particularly by Lloyd and Steve).

In fact, Lloyd tells Anita to get an education but he cannot even take the time to understand the simple concept that she is trying to convey. Way to go, Lloyd - you’ve clearly displayed that higher education doesn’t necessarily indicate a higher level of intelligence! Further, Steve makes the assumption that Anita is suffering from a lack of character and goes as far to say that she has told us about her own “possible theft”! Hold on, Dudley Do-right. Do you not see the vulgarity of your own statement? She was simply making a point that stealing ocurrs at all levels and whilst everyone else in the blog was going on about staplers and pens, the higher level of theft was not being recongnized. Tell us…for what company are you an executive officer and is your defensive stance simply a smoke screen for elicit behavior? Just wondering.

I, personally, couldn’t care less about taking office supplies or anything else for that matter…in fact, to Ron’s point, I’m using a break to make this entry. I truly agree with all who oppose theft and can also see the point that others are making when they are being TOLD to take items upon their departure.

One last note….@hello fellow laborers…I have to say I agree with you when you mention the line about “the company owed me….” Sometimes we need to step back and put things in perspective. If you’re drawing a salary and having benefits paid and enjoying a few other perks along the way, then what are you “owed”….really?

By Susan

August 23, 2006 12:26 PM | Link to this

When I was fist hired as the accountant for a previous employer, it was around the time students were either going to or returning to college. I was caught off guard one day when what I considered a well-paid employee filled a cardboard box full of office supplies and handed them to his college bound son. If you work in accounting offices as long as I have you will see many, many instances of “I am entitled, therefore.” You will also see what are personal expenses going through the company books. Some employers have policies in place regarding personal use of telephone, supplies, etc. Others often when told of the abuse, look the other way. Would I feel entitled to office supplies - NO.

By Lynn

August 23, 2006 01:11 PM | Link to this

LMAO @ Gen-X…you get em!

By Lloyd

August 23, 2006 01:14 PM | Link to this

Most of these comments are absurd and indicative of poor reasoning and logic.

It does not matter what Nancy’s supervisor told her. I guarantee that supervisor did not then and does not now have the authority to give company assets away to anyone for any reason. Both the supervisor and Nancy should have had the backbone and integrity to realize that what they were discussing was theft. Plain and simple, Nancy is a thief.

Now, as for anita. Folks here seem to believe that they “deserve” better pay and that execs do not “deserve” their perqs. Wrong on both counts. You don’t get what you think you deserve. You deserve whatever the company is willing to pay your for your services. What a company is willing to pay you is based on education and experience. If you have neither, which based on anita’s inablity to properly capitalize and type correctly, you do get what you deserve. Just because you don’t like reality doesn’t make it a fact.

In the case of linny above, shut up. Execs get paid for the reasons stated above. If you want a life like their’s, work for it. Crying “It’s not FAIR” only makes you look pathetic.

By Susan

August 23, 2006 01:31 PM | Link to this

Lloyd, your reasoning is flawed. Basically what you are saying is it is okay for Execs to steal because somehow they deserve anything they can lay theirs hands to based on education and experience. However, it a lowley uneducated employee does it - that is stealing. I think everyone would agree that you are merely attempting to justify your own bad behavior. After all you’ve earned it.

By Susan

August 23, 2006 01:41 PM | Link to this

Lloyd, Anita and Linny are proper names, and therefore, should be capitalized. You are naive to think because one is paid a high salary, rewared with perqs. and title, that it is the result of one deserving it. No, it may be as simple as a relative, a yes man, the boss likes you, you fit the boss’s agenda, etc. Hopefully, people are rewarded simply because of good work, but this is not always the case.

By Cletus Snow

August 23, 2006 01:48 PM | Link to this

You got it right Lloyd, I would like to add something to that.If you think you deserve more than you are getting from your employer or being treated unfairly,not paid enough or just plain unhappy, todays your day,QUIT!!

By Courtney

August 23, 2006 02:57 PM | Link to this

It is a bit unfair to be stomping out susan like that. Susan you did not steal, you were told to take it home by your superior. Do you guys now someone who have never taken/borrow before? Let me know that perosn.. oh it Jesus.

By Lloyd

August 23, 2006 04:11 PM | Link to this

Susan,

anita and linny are spelled exactly as the folks behind them spelled them. I am following their lead.

I don’t know how your convoluted thought process got to a point where you believe I state that Execs are allowed to steal. I never said that. I said, and believe, that there are perqs that come along with being an Exec such as “$1,000 dinners” and expense accounts and club memeberships, etc… The recieve these perqs because they are entitled to them.

Execs that take office supplies for their children are theives.

Execs that use and enjoy the perqs that seem to iritate you and linny and anita earned them. If you and your friends don’t like it, quit your job and move on. Or, better yet, work hard and join the Executive ranks.

Bitterness is a sad sad quality. It is apparent to your boss and his superiors. You will never get ahead if you don’t let it go.

By Lloyd

August 23, 2006 04:14 PM | Link to this

Courtney,

I have never taken anything home from my office except my laptop.

I take that home so that I can work an additional 4 or 5 hours in the evening.

I have never stolen or “borrowed” anything.

People that take what they are not entitled to have are thieves.

Period.

End of story.

By Courtney

August 24, 2006 09:27 AM | Link to this

Lloyd, we all conclude that you are a liar. Indirectly or directly you must have taken something. You are not doing a job interview where the interviewer ask if you have every taken anything from the office and you reply no,this is not life or death. Keep it real. We are seeing you for what you represent.. nothing.

By Angela

August 24, 2006 10:45 AM | Link to this

Wow!I’m surprised by all the bitterness. But, I have to say that your or all comments are based on what your job means to you. Every negative(what you think your owed) action you take at work is a reaction to your boss. Ron and Lloyd are right.

By Courtney

August 24, 2006 04:39 PM | Link to this

End of story.

By Lloyd

August 25, 2006 10:12 AM | Link to this

Courtney,

What you’ve said reflects more on you and your experiences in life. To believe that “everyone steals” means that you steal.

You try to soothe your own conscience and deflect any responsibilty for your actions by your statements. Whatever gets you through the night, I guess…

Courtney, you keep it real young lady. You are a thief. I am not.

By Holly E.

August 25, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this

I usually provide my own office supplies with my own money. I agree stealing is stealing. To take take the supplies home would not be stealing but to conviently leave them at home would probably be considered stealing. I often took supplies home from my office job to work at home, but I made sure that they made it back to the office. I am sure that I may have accidently kept a pen or pencil but then that is still stealing. I also left a lot of office supplies that I provided with my finances. I loved my job just not all the stress. I quit due to moving but I sure wished I didn’t quit. I totally agree with the comment about thieves come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you are stealing time or office supplies or abusing the company credit card/expense account, stealing is stealing, doesn’t matter if you are an exec or working in a call center office.

By Susan X

August 25, 2006 03:01 PM | Link to this

Lloyd,you stated that the only thing you have ever taken home was your lap top,you are the man . I hope you get the promotion you are looking, I think Lloyd is a corporate sucker, one who b*** against fellow employees, sissy foot and think he is superior than his fellow co workers. You should rememember you get a pay check just like everyone else, you do not own the company and when you get fired you will be the type who will committ suicide. When my boss got fired, he cried like a b*** in his office, don’t be that b*** lloyd and if someone does not agree with you that doesn’t make that person a thief. Check your self.

By Courtney

August 25, 2006 04:29 PM | Link to this

Lloyd,I did not say everyone steal, I said show me someone who doesn’t borrow/taken something directly or indirectly, this was a rhectorical question. I have no need to and you don’t have to profess your innoncent. We see you for what you are,you will be judge by your deeds. You are angry with the world, be at peace and read your bible. I hope you confess, that’s the only way you will see the lord face.