'My boss stole my gift money': Manager collects money from employee to give to sick coworker, they return having never received anything

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Dec 11, 2025 10:00 AM EST

The topic of "stealing" at work is always a tricky one, but it might happen more often than you think. There are small ways in which employers and employees might steal from one another. Whenever money gets passed around, there is an opportunity for things to go wrong. This is especially true when it comes to employee money pools. Maybe you do this in your office to collect funds for birthdays, events, and presents. You may feel some type of way about this to begin with. You're there to make money, not to spend it. Or maybe you don't mind throwing a couple of bucks in here and there because you know it's going to a good cause. 

But are you sure it's going to a good cause? Sometimes you have to follow the money, and it might not always flow where you think it will. That's what happened in this story, where a manager's misdeeds were accidentally exposed, and nobody knew quite what to do about it. After an employee was out sick for months, they weren't sure if they were supposed to receive anything from their company, but when they returned, they realized. 

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  • 01
    A man slips a 50 dollar note into his pocket at work.
    via Unsplash+ (Diana Light)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • After wanting to give proper thanks to those who chipped in, this employee accidentally uncovered something very shady going on in his office. His coworkers were out some cash, and nobody knew where it went. Read on to see what happened in this workplace story and see what advice other workers had for how to deal with it. 

  • 02

    My boss stole my gift money...

    So last year I caught meningitis. One thing led to another and I ended up having 6 months off. In that time was my birthday too. Usually they'd send me a gift for my bday and one for being so sick but I got nothing. Tbh everything was a little crazy and my bosses told everyone to leave me alone while I healed so I didn't think much of it.
    via u/haylz328
  • 03
    One of my colleagues has gone off sick long term and the staff started talking about a collection again. I was like huh I didn't know we did that for everyone. Everyone was like you got flowers etc while you were off. When I looked confused they said my manager took money from them all for my birthday and for my illness. I got nothing.
    via u/haylz328
  • 04
    Now my manager is an all fur coat no knickers kinda guy. He buys iron on designer labels to iron on cheap clothes. He talks posh and likes to pretend he's rich but he's not. Should I confront him? Or just leave it? I told them all I got nothing and they seemed a little upset and annoyed. Firstly they didn't want me sitting at home thinking I got nothing as I'm kinda a main part to the team and they also wanted to know where their money went.
    via u/haylz328
  • 05

    Commenters gave their opinions on how to handle this.

    jerry111165 .4d ago Just let the rest of the team know that donated $$. That will be better. Let your peers deal with him.
    via u/jerry111165
  • 06
    . thegreatturtleofgort · 4d ago I knew a manager who was fired for this and nearly charged for theft by deception. Exact same thing, collected money for a gift for an employee who had been out, spent the money, employee returned and found out.
    via u/thegreatturtleofgort
  • 07
    . Calgary_Calico • 4d ago Talk to whoever organized the collection of that gift money and go to HR together. Do not confront your boss directly
    via u/Calgary_Calico
  • 08
    A man sits at a table and uses his laptop at work.
    via Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 09
    Endless63 4d ago . It's definitely confrontation time.. with all the staff fully informed and behind you.
    via u/Endless63
  • 10
    . Aromatic-Dig-8127 · 4d ago I'd look for a new job.
    via u/Aromatic-Dig-8127
  • 11
    . berrysweet1620 · 4d ago I would most definitely confront him with everyone backing you up about the money. That is theft, disrespectful, and disgusting! I would also report him to a higher up, if he has one.
    via u/berrysweet1620
  • 12
    PictureThis987 • 3d ago Your boss actually stole money from your co-workers. The people who contributed for your gifts should take the issue to your boss's boss.
    via u/PictureThis987
  • 13
    CozJeez85 3d ago Don't confront the boss directly but maybe flag it with HR for them to investigate. I once worked with a guy who did the same, but he used to collect money for the weekly lottery syndicate and then never play the lottery. When
    via u/CozJeez85
  • 14
    our numbers were drawn and we didn't win, a huge fight kicked off. Turned out the guy had a massive gambling habit and had been embezzling the cash for ages.
    via u/CozJeez85
  • 15
    OhioPhilosopher • 4d ago There are 2 separate issues: others contributed to a gift for you that you didn't get. Your communication would be something like "hey boss, a couple people said they contributed to a collection for me that I didn't get. I feel SO
    via u/OhioPhilosopher
  • 16
    bad I didn't thank them. Can you let me know who contributed so I can than them for thinking of me?" Your second issue is how to make sure that if you contribute for a coworker, the coworker actually gets the money. You could consider asking boss exactly when the person will find out and if
    via u/OhioPhilosopher
  • 17
    anything, besides money, such as a gift card, would be helpful. Consider asking in a way that makes it clear you would be interacting with coworker so boss make sure they get the money.
    via u/OhioPhilosopher
  • 18
    OnlyInAnAdultStore • 4d ago Do you have an HR department? Cuz that's definitely a them situation!
    via u/OnlyInAnAdultStore
  • 19
    Diligent_Lab2717 4d ago Don't say anything. Whoever headed up the collection should speak to HR about it.
    via u/Diligent_Lab2717
  • 20
    Longjumping-Trick-71 • 3d ago Don't confront him alone. Talk to your coworkers, who are already upset and bothered by this issue to collectively ask him where the money went. Involve HR and Police if you want to call it "theft"
    via u/Longjumping-Trick-71
  • 21
    manxbean 4d ago . Don't confront him, tell your coworkers you got nothing. Tell confront him. It's their money that was collected under false pretences. Let him prove to them that something was sent
    via u/manxbean
  • 22
    Go_Big_Resumes . 3d ago Yikes, that's straight-up shady. If it were me, I'd at least ask him politely where the money went, it puts him on the spot without starting a war. Your colleagues already know, so you're not alone. If he brushes it off, consider letting HR know or just chalk it up and keep a closer eye next time. Either way, don't let him get away with thinking that's okay.
    via u/Go_Big_Resumes
  • 23
    . Known_Ratio5478 · 4d ago You should get an assessment of how much money he took and file a police report. He commuted fraud on all of your coworkers. He committed a felony. You all should jointly file a police report.
    via u/Known_Ratio5478
  • 24
    Serious-Echo1241 • 3d ago . That's just sad. Let the coworkers deal with him. It was their money.
    via u/Serious-Echo1241
  • 25
    lucky_2_shoes 3d ago Get written and signed statements (from as many ppl that are willing) with as much details (how much money they put in, date, time it happened, what was said wen they were asked for the money, any details they can remember, and go to HR with all of it before u talk to ur boss
    via u/lucky_2_shoes
  • 26
    Both-Mango1 · 3d ago your boss sounds like an asshole.....btw, you can buy prop money off Amazon.....
    via u/Both-Mango1

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boss toxic-workplace stealing job bosses work working gift reddit story toxic-boss workplace reddit thread Reddit theft money toxic-work-environment
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