Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Need help on unemployement

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Posted by Franklin Armstrong (Member # 1448) on 07-02-2005, 05:03 PM:

I would like to know what its called when you get setup on NOT STEALING money and getting fired over it.
If it matters the amount that was NOT taken was $64.25

This was a box drawer using RTS.
What I did was made the sale receipt even(since she worked all day) and left the money in the drawer to be able to see if she was over the same amount at the end of the night or even (see if it would balance out.

This employee has NEVER been short or over any amount.

I have worked for the company just about 2 months.
And just so everyone knows what company not to work for its Touchstar Cinemas in Orlando Fl.

Posted by Paul J. Neuhaus (Member # 3205) on 07-02-2005, 05:12 PM:

What in the world are you trying to say??????
You could go like ten different directions on this. Try to read your sentences. They don't make sense. None at all.
Did you try to set somebody up for stealing? Did you get fired? Did somebody get fired that you didn't think deserved it? What are you trying to say?????

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 07-02-2005, 05:25 PM:

Franklin, where do you work? I've never heard of Touchstar, maybe this is a good thing?...My only question is $64.25 after working all day?...In Orlando? what is that , a couple of tickets? I cant go to a theme park for less than that.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-02-2005, 06:37 PM:

If I were setup on not stealing money, I'd be pissed! I'd go to the manager right away and make sure that he knew that I actually did steal it, and that I shouldn't be fired for not stealing.

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 07-02-2005, 06:53 PM:

[Confused]

Posted by Franklin Armstrong (Member # 1448) on 07-02-2005, 07:29 PM:

i was one of the managers I was setup i guess to see if i would take it .

Touchstar Cinemas is a small chain 5 Theatres i.e(south obt, Altamonte 8)

It was a employee's drawer who has never been short or over

So I was fired for not stealing the money.

Hey Richard its been a while I was at Muvico Pointe 21 when MegaSystems came in.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 07-02-2005, 10:21 PM:

quote: Franklin Armstrong
...What I did was made the sale receipt even...

I'm totally confused! [Confused]

Are you saying that you logged into somebody ELSE'S termainal before it was balanced out and started ringing up sales?

Then, did you find out that the drawer was off by sixty-some dollars but fail to report it the instant you discovered the problem?

Then, did you tamper with the system to make the drawer appear to be even?

If that's what you did, I'd fire you too!

If a cash drawer is out of balance by more than a few dollars you have one of two problems: Either the cashier is dishonest or the he/she can't count money. I wouldn't want either of these two kinds of people handling MY money! Would you?

When you find that kind of problem in a register drawer the FIRST thing you should do is throw your hands up in the air and call the manager on duty. Let the MANAGER sort it out!

By doing anything other than calling a manager, YOU are basically setting YOURSELF up to take the fall for SOMEBODY ELSE'S F*** Up!

Furthermore, I DOUBT it was a set-up! C'Mon! Take a look around you and consider the intelligence level of your average theater employee these days. It's a rare bird, indeed, who has the mental ability to put such a plan into action! On top of that, somebody who did have the intelligence to set you up would have instantly recognized that, if the sting went bad and you got away with the cash, THEY would be fired for mishandling the company's funds! Would you risk your own job just to get back at some pipsqueak cashier!? No? Neither would they!

You need to make it clear exactly what happend because I, like the others, am inclined to think that you screwed the pooch pretty badly but management didn't think you had any other redeeming qualities to make it worthwhile to keep you around. Otherwise, they would have moved you to another job where you wouldn't be around money.

Sorry... Don't mean to be harsh. That's just what I gather from what you said.

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 07-03-2005, 12:31 AM:

Were you trying to cover up the overage by making the receits appear even? They may have prefered you to record the overage on your nightly records and deposit the 64.25. There is a lot of confusion here.

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 07-03-2005, 02:14 AM:

According to a couple people I've known who were bank managers, the cashier who settles to the cent every day is definitely stealing.

Posted by Thomas Dieter (Member # 2507) on 07-03-2005, 02:29 AM:

Okay, here's what I gather from Franks Story, and correct me if I'm wrong. Frank was the manager coming on duty for the evening shift at his theatre, and upon arrival, he counted the following drawers to make sure that they were even and correct. RTS, having worked with it myself, has the ability for you to count the drawer down and make the balance of the drawer $0.00 before you close the station. Frank thinking that he might have counted it wrong, just marked the station $0.00 going on the impression that the $64.25 would not be there when he counted down at the end of the night cause the person was never off in the first place. Well, somewhere the $64.25 isn't being documented.

I take it that you worked over at the Altamonte 8 there Frank. Honestly myself, from the way it sounds, you might have been setup. Even then though, you should have CYA.

Personally myself, having marked the sales receipt even, at the end of the night after closing, I would have made a detailed note stating what you had done. Granted, you might have done this, but you didn't state that.

On a side note, I personally would not work for Touchstar Cinemas as I feel the owner himself is a crook. I inquired on being a projectionist at the Altamonte 8 thinking I might find the grass a little greener with more screens, and the theatre reopening. I found out quick that was not so. The owner wanted me to take a pay cut by over a 1$ an hour, and no medical or dental insurance. I said, nope, sorry.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 07-03-2005, 02:52 AM:

Hey, I used to service that booth when it was GCC. They have Cinemecheapica platters there! [Eek!]

You're probably better off where you are.

Posted by Paul J. Neuhaus (Member # 3205) on 07-03-2005, 04:03 AM:

It is not an uncommon practice to make an employees drawer over with the hopes they will steal it.
Many employees get away with re-selling tickets. Selling without printing tickets. and lots lots more.
Lots of these cashiers are wizzes at math and make sure their drawers are "right" before the end of their shift.
But throw an extra 12 dollars or so in their drawer when you give them change or when they are not looking and watch that money not be there when you count their drawer.
If their drawer is "perfect" when you count it down...............Nailed Ya Sucka!! [thumbsup]

Posted by Mark Hajducki (Member # 1732) on 07-03-2005, 06:48 AM:

One cinema I used to work for (on box office/concessions) till drawers were counted up in the Cash office. (The box office system did not reveal the 'expected' total except on the management terminals).

It the actual total did not mach the expected total (a small margin of error was allowed) then this was meant to be recorded and monitored (to see if somebody is regularly over or short).

In reality (I think the over-shorts counted against the managers getting a bonus) any over was often kept seperate and used to balance shortages on other tills so as to have as many as possible balancing. If a surplus accumulated this was used to 'buy' concessions items so as to improve the stock levels (the company had tight stock targets).

---

It seems that Franklin may have been guilty of doing something similar to this so as to improve conceved site performance.

Alternatively another (more senior) manager may have deliberately made the draw short so as to test your reactions and following of procedure.

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 07-03-2005, 08:23 AM:

I am sorry - but just the explaination alone would get someone fired at my theatre..........

When someone's drawer is .01 cent over or short it is documented. Also - I have never heard of this 'setting up' of someone by starting their drawer out as over. The whole deal sounds shady. Shady stuff will get you fired everytime....

Weird stuff.....

Posted by Franklin Armstrong (Member # 1448) on 07-03-2005, 08:49 AM:

Thomas you are right (sorry everyone it happened yesterday)

quote: Thomas Dieter
he counted the following drawers to make sure that they were even and correct. RTS, having worked with it myself, has the ability for you to count the drawer down and make the balance of the drawer $0.00 before you close the station. Frank thinking that he might have counted it wrong, just marked the station $0.00 going on the impression that the $64.25 would not be there when he counted down at the end of the night cause the person was never off in the first place.

I was fired over it I only was going to sort it out at the end of the night

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 07-03-2005, 10:18 AM:

Actually, setting up suspected employees, manager and even theatres is older than I've been in the business.

One manager was set up on their conessions by pre-padding their cup stock to see if they note the overage on the cup delivery...they did not...they sold the cups and pocketed the money...and were fired over it.

Tills have also been "set up" to catch a suspected theif.

Wallets with money have even been left in theatres to see if employees would take it.

Mind you, this was back some years ago and in a "family" run chain where theivery was just about the worst thing you could do.

The difference I see here is that the "set ups" were not done by a rouge manager or assistant...they were often done at the area or home-office level and known by several operational supervisors. They also were not random...generally something had to be fishy first.

One thing I also learned back then...the doors to the front of a theatre act as if they are "one-way"...supervisors could look in but the employees and even managers never seemed to be able to look out...we could supervise just about any theatre back then...right from the parking lot without video cameras. If you wanted to see how a theatre was operating...just look.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 07-03-2005, 03:18 PM:

That's right. The great old-time company I started with in the 70s would pad a suspect cashier's bank. This practice indeed goes way back.

Also, it was forbidden for a cashier to count money in the box.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 07-04-2005, 07:49 AM:

Isn't the cashier supposed to count the amount of change in the drawer before beginning to sell tickets? It would seem like a reasonable thing to do, in any case.

Posted by Wolff King Morrow (Member # 2226) on 07-04-2005, 11:33 AM:

quote: Thomas Dieter
The owner wanted me to take a pay cut by over a 1$ an hour, and no medical or dental insurance. I said, nope, sorry.

Thomas, you actually get medical and dental? I envy you!

Posted by Franklin Armstrong (Member # 1448) on 07-04-2005, 12:20 PM:

the drawer was even at the start of the day.

The owner put money in the drawer to see what I would do.( I was setup) Can i do anything since i didn't steal the money??

Posted by Alexander Smith (Member # 1769) on 07-04-2005, 12:22 PM:

This whole idea of "setting up" cashiers leaves a
particularly sour after-taste for me. Too many
managers think they are beyond scrutiny.

I think the most honest way to catch someone "with
their hand in the drawer" would be to rely on CCTV
and making sure the suspect is never alone on the
box office or kiosk e.t.c.

Alex.

Posted by Thomas Dieter (Member # 2507) on 07-04-2005, 02:24 PM:

Yes Wolff, I get medical and dental from my theatre. In fact upon being hired now, everyone, including floor personnel get medical and dental if they want it. If the decline the insurance upon hire, then they have to wait until the next enrollment period witch is June or July of every year.

Posted by Franklin Armstrong (Member # 1448) on 07-04-2005, 04:55 PM:

Please remember everyone it was not a cashier who was setup by the owner but me as a manager was setup by the owner.

Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 07-04-2005, 05:47 PM:

So did the owner do it just because he felt like setting someone up that day, or was there are a reason for his suspicion? Nothing personal against you, just wondering. If the money was never actually pocketed, then I personally dont see a reason to fire you. Just a reason to re-train you so you dont make that mistake again. All this is me assuming I can trust you not to do that again, and that you werent planning on pocketing the money later.

Posted by Carl Martin (Member # 1146) on 07-05-2005, 03:15 AM:

you should go work at thomas's theater! medical and dental? damn!!

carl

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 07-05-2005, 03:19 AM:

UA gives medical and all that jazz. At least they did when I was there. They had a TON of benefits! Of course, I don't believe in going to the doctor.

Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 07-05-2005, 03:23 AM:

quote: Joe Redifer
Of course, I don't believe in going to the doctor.

What do you do for your STDs?

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 07-05-2005, 06:35 AM:

Subscriber Trunk Dialing; what's that got to do with it? [Smile]

Am I the only one old enough to remember when STD had another meaning?

Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 07-05-2005, 08:06 AM:

quote: Phil Hill
What do you do for your STDs?

Are you still taking the square needle in the left nut? [Eek!]

Posted by Bill Enos (Member # 440) on 07-05-2005, 06:35 PM:

Here are two too stupid to need to be set up. A few years ago the owner noticed on one of his rare visits during operating hours that the box office report noted 86 tickets sold for the early show and he counted slightly more than 200 people in the auditorium. He told the box guy and the doorman that he would be watching. The next time these two worked together he was across the street watching from a second floorwindow using binoculars, he had the window up and waved to the doorman who waved back. They passed back more than 60 tickets while they knew he was watching. Fired on the spot.

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 07-06-2005, 01:56 AM:

OK....you people are giving me a headache -- this thread is worse than a hangover but without the prior fun part. [beer]

I get it that someone set someone up...for not stealing money? How does that happen outside of Alice's Wonderland? No, no...don't tell me....please. All I can say is, GO BACK AND STEAL THE $64.25. Maybe you will get your job back. Or did someone already suggest that? Yes or no, doesn't matter -- I am closing out and going to bed.

Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 07-07-2005, 12:35 AM:

quote: Scott Norwood
Isn't the cashier supposed to count the amount of change in the drawer before beginning to sell tickets?

Yes, in the manager's office before opening, but never in the boxoffice.

Posted by Franklin Armstrong (Member # 1448) on 07-07-2005, 01:10 AM:

the cashier did count the money in the back of the boxoffice

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 07-07-2005, 01:23 AM:

If they counted the money at the beginning of their shift and it was correct but it was wrong at the end of the shift...why would you fix it? If it was a mistake, it was theirs. Knowing the drawer was correct when they got it why would you change a thing?

Maybe I'm just confused...? That is just wrong practice, I used to use RTS also and I wouldn't use that program as an excuse for participating in bad business practice.

Posted by Dustin Mitchell (Member # 372) on 07-07-2005, 12:02 PM:

Because he thought it was his mistake and he was either too lazy or to busy to recount the money to make sure it wasn't his mistake. He wanted to hold the money so when he counted the deposit at the end of the night if it turned up $64.25 short he'd know he made a mistake. If his deposit had turned up even I imagine he intended to run the money into the deposit.

This isn't exactly the best management practice to say the least. However, in order to fire you for stealing I think you would have actually needed to take the money home with you. At the very least you would have had to have it on your person (you didn't, did you?!).

In any event, I'd say file for unemployment. If it is determined that you weren't stealing there is a good chance that you'll get it. Usually firing someone with no prior disciplinary actions or warnings is not considering terminating someone 'with cause' for the purposes of unemployment.