Work Place Theft - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Deelow · 07-25-2017, 09:43 AM

Hoping for a collective CP opinion on a dilemma my gf recently encountered.

She has a 4 year history working as a contracted teacher for an independent music school. There are close to 25 other contractors on staff, but usually only 10 would be in at any given time. There is a constant stream of clients flowing through the school. Clients rage in age from 5 to 60.

Yesterday while escorting a student to the front door someone decided to take the opportunity to lift her iPad while she was away from the classroom. It took her about an hour to notice it was missing. By that time the Find My Phone app couldn't see the iPad. So it was either shut off, or off the wifi network.

It's clear one of three things happened.
1. Stolen by a student
2. Stolen by another teacher
3. Someone entered the school through the backdoor, broke into her classroom and got away undetected. (I find this unlikely)

In your opinion who is on the hook for replacing this item (not just legally but morally)? Is it a reasonable expectation that the school provide a teaching environment that protects contractors from things such as this? Or is it on the teachers to be monitoring their teaching equipment at all times?

Since1984 · 07-25-2017, 09:46 AM

In my work place, if someone steals something off my desk I am the one responsible as I should have had it secured to the desk, locked away or out of sight.

Might not be any help but that is how it works around my office.

Fighting Banana Slug · 07-25-2017, 09:48 AM

Morally and legally? The guy that took it.
I get it, it sucks, but I don't see how the school has any culpability here. Sounds like a crime of opportunity.

mrkajz44 · 07-25-2017, 09:51 AM

This might be a "live and learn" type thing for your gf. No one else but here is really legally responsible other than her for a situation like this in my opinion. I do sometimes leave my phone on my desk while working and while I'd be pissed if someone stole it, I'd know deep down it was my fault for just leaving it out in the open.

KTrain · 07-25-2017, 09:52 AM

If the iPad is required by the school for teaching then it should be on the school. If she chose to bring it to the school it's on her.

Deelow · 07-25-2017, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTrain

If the iPad is required by the school for teaching then it should be on the school. If she chose to bring it to the school it's on her.

Ya this is the other thing. It's a necessary teaching tool. So it was sitting out in advance of the next lesson.

Weitz · 07-25-2017, 09:56 AM

We had our office broken into and they stole a bunch of computers and such. Along some personal belongings.

Unfortunately since the value wasn't enough for company to use insurance no one got any money for their personal stuff - if they were going to go insurance route then they would have.

I think unless she was required by the school to have she is on her own.

greyshep · 07-25-2017, 10:01 AM

Crappy situation, but unfortunately I think its her responsibility to secure it before leaving her desk.

GordonBlue · 07-25-2017, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Since1984

In my work place, if someone steals something off my desk I am the one responsible as I should have had it secured to the desk, locked away or out of sight.

Might not be any help but that is how it works around my office.

hate to also be a bit of a jerk, but yeah.
nobody's responsibility if it was left unattended and unsecured.

sorry she had to lose it, though.

KTrain · 07-25-2017, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deelow

Ya this is the other thing. It's a necessary teaching tool. So it was sitting out in advance of the next lesson.

If she was mandated by employer to bring in the iPad she might have a case but if it wasn't explicit, I don't know if the employer is at fault.

Deelow · 07-25-2017, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTrain

If she was mandated by employer to bring in the iPad she might have a case but if it wasn't explicit, I don't know if the employer is at fault.

This school has multiple teachers bringing in thousands of dollars worth of equipment every day. If a guitar teacher goes to take a leak and his $5000 Marshall guitar is gone from his classroom when he returns is that situation viewed any differently than an $800 iPad?

IMO the school has an obligation to provide locking classroom doors and/or cameras that monitor all hallways leading to the classrooms. It is not reasonable to expect teachers to pack all of their gear with them every time they leave the room.

Swift · 07-25-2017, 10:33 AM

The fact that she's a contractor might make the situation different, no? If someone came in to our office to fix our lights and someone stole his ladder, wouldn't the onus be on the company to cover that loss rather than "well, you shouldn't have left it out in the open"?

Amethyst · 07-25-2017, 10:42 AM

It could also have been a random person who walked in and took it. That happened at our workplace once. Someone came in the unlocked front door and wandered around stealing purses from empty offices. He/she wasn't noticed, as many different people are in and out all day. We are told to keep our stuff locked up (lock the room or the desk) and if we don't, it's our fault.

mrkajz44 · 07-25-2017, 10:45 AM

I'm confused now. I was under the impression that the iPad was owned by your girlfriend. If the iPad was school property only (ie, she doesn't take it home for personal use), then its likely on the school to replace it. If the iPad was your girlfriend's, then its on her to replace it, even if it is a required teaching tool.

lazypucker · 07-25-2017, 10:45 AM

It sounds like it is your gf's personal iPad, but she also brings it to school for business use.

Let me ask another question: If she accidentally breaks the iPad (doesn't matter if it is on premise or off), who will be responsible for a replacement? It is her personal iPad, but it also also being used for work purposes.

Another example - if you go to work and accidentally rips your shirt, does your employer responsible to buy you a new shirt because it was torn during work?

It is hard to say. Your girlfriend may have to bring it up with the school officials and find a common ground. If the school says it's not their problem, then you have to chalk it up as a lesson learned....

calgaryblood · 07-25-2017, 11:23 AM

Let's just hope her charging cord was frayed and karma comes back and bites the thief and burns down their house.

MoneyGuy · 07-25-2017, 12:01 PM

Unless it's gross neglegience, theft from the office is not the employer's fault.

GordonBlue · 07-25-2017, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deelow

This school has multiple teachers bringing in thousands of dollars worth of equipment every day. If a guitar teacher goes to take a leak and his $5000 Marshall guitar is gone from his classroom when he returns is that situation viewed any differently than an $800 iPad?

IMO the school has an obligation to provide locking classroom doors and/or cameras that monitor all hallways leading to the classrooms. It is not reasonable to expect teachers to pack all of their gear with them every time they leave the room.

it is reasonable to put a small easily stolen electronic item out of sight, or take it with you.

Does the school provide anywhere your gf can lock up her stuff/purse etc?
a locker, a drawer in a desk?
If the school offers nowhere in the building to safely store her things, then maybe you have a case.

Lanny_McDonald · 07-25-2017, 01:03 PM

Whose property is it? If it is hers, she's responsible.

dubc80 · 07-25-2017, 01:32 PM

A few years ago, I left a couple winning Roll Up The Rim's on my desk under my computer monitor and one of the cleaning staff (I think) jacked them overnight.

I no longer leave them out in the open.