'She was uncomfortable, she could barely perform the check': Employer mandates "bag checks," employee makes it interesting

Brad Dickson • Managing Editor

Jul 19, 2023 12:00 PM EDT

Working for an employer who is certain their workers are stealing from them is a lot like when your parents were convinced you were secretly going to parties as a teen when you were doing nothing of the sort… Or like having a partner who is certain you must be cheating on them despite you giving them no reason to doubt you.

As with anything, when someone repeatedly accuses you of doing something that you're not, it's more of a reflection on them and reveals the things they would do in your place… They're subconsciously letting you know what their own internal moral compass deems to be possible behavior. Your employer is certain you must be stealing from them because they wouldn't think twice about taking advantage of any opportunity like that which might present itself; your parents thought you were partying because they did when they were your age, so you must be too; your partner thinks you're cheating on them because they would cheat on you if given the right chance—if they haven't already.

Still, working in an environment like this really stinks and is incredibly demotivating. It really just makes you wonder why you're working to impress someone who secretly despises their workers. Sure, it must happen, but in all my time in retail and managing stock, I've yet to see it happen—or even evidence that it has happened.

This employee made her employer regret the decision to enforce this draconian policy, loading her bag with items that were sure to humiliate the bag checker.

Read on. Next, check out this HR that tried to change the dress code to catch workers out, leading them to maliciously comply with the changes.