Have a problem at work anyone can help me?

One of my friends dropped off my digital voice recorder at work for me, and we sat outside on the bench with it, because I needed it for a project, and he left, well it was time for me to go back in from break at work so, I left it outside by accident by the bench by accident because i was worried about being late coming from my break, well later on I go back outside to find my recorder and it was gone. Come to find out later on. This guy at work found it and taped it under the bench and took pictures of it, and took it home. Which happened yesterday afternoon. I found out today when I talked to the backup manager about it, who is my real good friend. He's telling me that I could get fired just for having it, on the Property of Kroger, and possibly jail time if Kroger presses charges against me. I don't understand though I didn't use it for illegal purposes. And the backup-manager told me when I told him about the recorder that their were pictures of it being taped to the bench, which I did not tape to the bench, nor did I have it for invasion of privacy. I think the person who did it was the manager of the photolab, because my girlfriend works with him, and he has been trying to get her to go out with him but she won't, and he was outside when me and my friend were, and I didn't really think nothing of it at the time. Now I wished I would have put it in my locker, or in my pocket, but I didn't think, and I just forgot about it, and left it laying there. My question is: Could I even get into trouble for having a digital voice recorder on Kroger property, even though I was not using it, at all to record anyone?

jca2005,

Good question. I dont exactly know what Kroger is or what sort of company it is nor do I know what business the company is in, however, i do recommend you have a look of your contract. What does it say? Does it have a clause that you cannot record on the property? Sensitivity of material is an important aspect? If it is then you need to think about another option. Let us give it a thought. If this is your camera and if I found it in such a taped position and if the contract states that you cannot record on the property, I would be questioning you? However, pointing the finger to another person, though you believe it is him, cannot prove anything but the meare fact that you are planning a blame game. I would recommend you not to do so. The reasons are the boss will not believe you and it will make the matter worse with the other person.

You know the agenda of the guy, so great, use it for your benefit and dnt try to push the matter without proof. This will only cause annoyance and frustration.

You have explained the situation to your boss, mention to him that you sorry and dnt bring it to work. Keep it simple and try to get out of the mess. Put aside Ego if it does exist within you, i think it is important to weigh the importance of having the job. You can come back to the other chap who did this to you at some other time. Do recollect that your girlfriend is still working at that place so the job is important as this person if he has done this is capable to manupalate a situation.

Cheers and Wish you Gluck

K23

Kroger is a grocery store. But im not playing a blame game, im just angry for someone to do something like this to me. My friend at work checked 3 union books, and employee handbooks and says that there is nothing in the policy/contracts section to say anything about a voice recorder at all.

If you have union books then I'm going to guess you're in a union.

Contact your Shop Steward and talk to him/her. This is exactly the kind of thing the union can help you with.

JCA -

"What you can do" is dictated by whether or not Kroger is unionized or not, and if they are, whether you are an active member of that union.

If they are, you have a union steward that you can ask for advice and representation. If not, well...

Then it would depend on your manager. If he understands why you had it on the property and that it was harmless to the corporation, then you should be in good stead. If he has his doubts about you, then you may be in trouble.

You can wait a bit and see which direction this situation goes, and if it takes a turn for the worse, then there is always legal representation.

JDub

Well, I have been trying to call the Union Office all morning to talk to them about this, and no one is answering or returning my calls. We only have one Union Steward in the store because the others quit because the Union hasn't been doing us right. The only Union Steward left, is not a good one, she does not help protect you, she goes against you. I have not ever had her as a Union Steward, this is what everyone else tells me. So I am trying to call the our head Union Clerk. But no one is anwering, and I am not going "Up Stairs" without one.

I think you are on the right track, even though it might not be a fun ride.

Best of luck,

JDub

Beaking company policy is not breaking the law.

Regardless of the "facts" of this story (ill reserve my opinion about that) you CANNOT FACE JAIL TIME for breaking a PRIVATE company's policies.

Can you lose you job? Oh yes, but jail? No way.

Skippy -

I should have addressed that earlier also.

*slaps my own forehead*

The only way I could see that he would face jail time would be if he actually did record someone, and depending on his state, whether it was with or without that person's knowledge.

You are right, I just skipped that point by accident.

Thank you,

JDub

I agree to some of the suggestions. I dont think you can be jailed for the mistake you have made....Job could be another issue...however Union is the right start. ...I hope you managed to contact them........Good Luck....