Can I be suspended from work for stealing if my boss has no proof?
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Can I be suspended from work for stealing if my boss has no proof?
I am a housekeeper, I cleaned a room that guest had already checked out of. After I cleaned the room the general manager asked me if I received a $20 tip from that specific room, or if I had found any money in that room. I said no, since I had not found any money in the room. Then 2 days later, I went to get my paycheck, the general manager asked me again if I had found any money in that room, and again I said no. Then he asked me not to come back to work until he “investigates the matter further”. That happened 9 days ago; he would not talk to me when I called back about a week later?
Asked on August 1, 2011 Washington
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
I'm afraid that you can be suspended for this. Unless you have some sort of union agreement or employment contract to the contrary or this action violates company policy or is the result of some form of discrimination or the like, your employer has violated no law. The fact is that in an at will employment relationship (and most work arrangements are), an at will employer can generally impose any and and all work conditions as it sees fit. This includes when to suspend an employee, for how long and the reasons for it (in fact you could be suspended for this reason or no reason at all).
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