Existing staff?

[curlyperm]

Hi dont know how many of you will read it, thought i'd better not post in B & S anyway i'd appreciate advice, OK Myself and Mr CP have just bought a business (shop) and it is closed this week as we are refurbishing it, now the lady who works there and has done for 2 years knows everything there is to know about how it works, stock, ordering, suppliers etc, as she has been practically running it for the woman we bought it off, due to her not being interested anymore, now when we first enquired about buying it, i said to the owner 'does **** want to continue working here for us? and is she an OK worker?' to which she replied 'oh yes , shes the bee knees moreorless blah blah blah' so we went ahead and NOW just as we have taken it over, previous owner has come up with some 'discrepancies' that have come to light (as all this business is cash money) so it turns out that all the time this woman has been helping her out, she has (allegedly) been helping herself. I am gutted as i thought what an assett she would be to us, now i dont know what to think!!! In previous business we have always had theiving bar staff etc but Mr CP can usually spot them and catch them a mile off, AND the difference is that either he or i or both will be in the shop with this woman, so she will not be alone, but thats not the point is it, i just feel differently towards her, although nowts been proved? Oh and the previous owner asked me not to say anything to her, so what would you advise me to do?? Times running out, T>I>A xx

[alinic]

cant you just make her redundant, if you are going to be both working in the shop?? see the seed has been planted there am afraid, the doubt is there! and no matter how hard you try it wont go away!
Oh and i wish you success in your new business, hope you get it sorted out to your satisfaction

[Ethel]

The seller could be lying to cover her own 'mistakes'.

Go with your gut instinct - if you like this woman, then stick with her. Give her a fair chance.

[laurence2]

Well first and foremost, i would be slightly p!$$off with the previous owner who has lied and giving a incorrect reference on this person, but you've employed.
Are you looking at getting rid of her, as ''certain things have come to light'' therefore here's your p45 would do the trick in getting rid ie previous owner told you she was light fingered.
If you don't want to go down this route, what about installing security cameras and telling her that you had previous people still of you and the cameras caught them in the act, blend it in with security cameras needed for your insurance.

[raysparx1]

Hi curly, I would for the moment give her the benefit of the doubt, you have no proof she has done anything wrong, so untill she does steal something indeed if she has ever done this, it is a very big thing to say so and so has done this, but please don't say anything, if the previous owner has proof why hasn't she called the police in to investigate,? you can always install a hidden camera, but if she ever found out and the poor thing had done nothing wrong how would you feel ? as far as i can see it is all hearsay, the only other thing you can do is to make her redundant as alinic says, but if you do that you can't then employ somebody else straight away in the same capacity, lot to think about for you, good luck, Ray

[curlyperm]

thank you for taking the time to answer, i agree with all of you...........alinic yes i'm afaid i do look at her in a different light, and dont know if that will ever go away?
Ethel, my insincts are to at least give her the benefit of the doubt, but igf ever the till was down i would be thinking Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
Laurence ..Yes i was sooooo annoyed at the lady we bought the shop from, it seemed as soon as the ink was dry she came out with this little gem, funny thing is there is already a security camera there but its a bit of a joke as its sooo obviously a dummy one? Oh and she was 'cash in the hand' with the other owner so i doubt P45's were even an issue, and i dont want her working for me full time, maybe just 30 hours a week?
Sorry to drag it on, just a bit confused now thought i had it all sorted Grrrrrr xx

[curlyperm]

Cheers Ray! lol i know my heads spinning thanks for taking the time out tho x

[cruella]

Hi curlyperm,
I too would give this employeee the benefit of doubt for the time being.
If the previous owner has now turned and said there were discrepancies, she surely must have know what was going on for a while.
It could be the previous owner is trying to cover up some sort of discrepancies of own with her accounts, especially if everything was cash. Ask yourself why the previous owner only dealt with cash. It may be that everything is above board but very few businesses can operate on a cash a basis only, especially when your Accountant looks at your books at the end of a tax year.
Good luck to you both though.
Hope everything works out for you.

[dot.hawkes]

If the woman was only paid cash in hand, how on earth did she pay any tax or national insurance? It is illegal to employ someone without they are registered for both! Some people think that if they are a small business they are exempt from all rules, this is not so, you can take her on with a new contract which all employees should have, on a trial basis, say 3 months, you are new management and therefore her contrcat died with the previous owner. You should do proper appraisals with her and real security and till training, then monitor it all, if you don't offer training, and the person makles a mistake, it is down to your lack of proper guidance so you woulod be in the wrong.

[sense4all]

You've said yourself the previous owner was not interested in the day to day affairs, so how does she now know every nuance of the transactions.A s s covering of the highest order if you ask me, sure she didn't come in an help herself to cash outa the till ... owners perks ... some people do you know!

[curlyperm]

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer, i have since spoken to the 'existing staff member' and i never mentioned anything but she said to me ' oh i've been getting earache off **** ex bosss' she is avoiding my phone calls, and is now saying that on week 22 and 23 some receipts are misssing to account for some money that isnt with the takings!' but in fact SHE owes ME money for running the place!!!!' so i just looked suprised and said 'Oh really?' i think i will give her the BOTD as she is so helpful and i have since had all the previous suppliers calling in asking for ex owners phone number as she owes �300 here and �100 there and a letter (which i opened) from a debt collecting agency saying she owes �450? so it does look a bit pot kettle sour grapes etc, so ginna give ***** a chance and we open next week!!! heres hoping, oh, and i will miss being on here so much, and never again will be able to say 'i have no life!!' cheers guys xxxxxxxx

[sense4all]

I hope you are having a laptop next to yer till, oh the humanity . No daytime AB, whatever next? lol love Sense. X.

[sense4all]

How is life going at the retail 'saltmines' are you 'missing us already?' lol. Hope all is well with your new venture.

[Markandshez]

Just a small point, but as you have taken over the busines you have also taken over the staff. They come to you with all their previous conditions and pay. Her employment rights are protected under TUPE rights. She effectivly comes to you having already done 2 years and with all the rights asociated.

Its good to be suspicious, don't ever lose that. We have three shops and love all our staff to bits but I wouldnt trust any of them - cash is an amazing temptation so its important your staff know you are red hot on it. If they know they will get caught they will not even try anything and you can relax - but NEVER NEVER NEVER let the staff know you are relaxing

[curlyperm]

Aww thanks 'sense4all' its going ok thanks (i think) bit trial and error at the moment!! hard work catching up on all the stuff i used to do at home tho ironing cleaning etc!
Mark and shez thanks for the advice, she is proving to be very willing (?) but if anything ............. a bit too pally, (like in the morning its........'Hiya mate, y' all right?' errr Hmmm well we shall see, poor cow probably just like that? watchi this space xxxx