Caught stealing but was told not to sign anything that acknowledges it

Monica13456

New Member
Jurisdiction
California
I worked/work at big coffee corporation. I've been stealing bottled water every shift I worked for a couple of months. My manager called me in (her manager was also in the room) and asked me if I had been doing so. I was told never to lie and that good things will always come.... so I didn't. I told them I knew that I was stealing and that I only did it for a month. (I just shorten the time frame cause I got scared). They told me on the spot that it is considered theft and that I signed the paperwork the day I got hired. They told me that they would investigate and contact me on Monday.
Couple of days pass and I come into my next shift. I talk to my manager and I thank her for everything she did (cause she was still nice to me) and all I say is "Well we know where this is going." and she finishes it off with a nod and saying yea you're going to be terminated. Today is Monday and they never contacted me, so I called them. My manager picks up and I ask what's going to happen and she tells me to come in Thursday for the paperwork. I then ask if I was obligated to come in for my shift the day before. She said no because all my shifts were covered. I then ask that if that really meant I was terminated. She then agreed after some badgering that I just need to sign the termination paperwork that day.

So what is confusing is that my boyfriend's father was in management and told me that if I were to qualify for unemployment, that I must not sign the form that has me acknowledge for the reasons I'm being terminated and that I'm not obligated to sign that paper. That all I need to sign is the termination papers and that's it.
Is this true?
 
So what is confusing is that my boyfriend's father was in management and told me that if I were to qualify for unemployment,

Refusing to sign the form will not prevent you eventually being denied unemployment bennies.

If you refuse, the employer could simply make sure a rep appears at your hearing and contradicts what you may have already said about NOT being terminated for theft.

Your actions have caused your dilemma.
I suggest you now face the consequences, dust yourself off, and do what is required to rebuild your reputation.

You said it here:

I was told never to lie and that good things will always come

One usually has to suffer the consequences of their poor choices, but one can sooner or later get themselves back on track.

The next time, "do what is right, not what seems expedient".

You've made a mess of your life for a $2.00 bottle of something that would have cost you much less had you chosen to pay for it, rather than steal it!
 
Refusing to sign the form will not prevent you eventually being denied unemployment bennies.

If you refuse, the employer could simply make sure a rep appears at your hearing and contradicts what you may have already said about NOT being terminated for theft.

Your actions have caused your dilemma.
I suggest you now face the consequences, dust yourself off, and do what is required to rebuild your reputation.

You said it here:



One usually has to suffer the consequences of their poor choices, but one can sooner or later get themselves back on track.

The next time, "do what is right, not what seems expedient".

You've made a mess of your life for a $2.00 bottle of something that would have cost you much less had you chosen to pay for it
, rather than steal it!

OP could have actually had filtered water for free by turning on the tap.
 
Refusing to sign the form will not prevent you eventually being denied unemployment bennies.

If you refuse, the employer could simply make sure a rep appears at your hearing and contradicts what you may have already said about NOT being terminated for theft.

Your actions have caused your dilemma.
I suggest you now face the consequences, dust yourself off, and do what is required to rebuild your reputation.

You said it here:



One usually has to suffer the consequences of their poor choices, but one can sooner or later get themselves back on track.

The next time, "do what is right, not what seems expedient".

You've made a mess of your life for a $2.00 bottle of something that would have cost you much less had you chosen to pay for it, rather than steal it!



but the thing is, I haven't refused yet. It's coming up and that is the last time I will see them.
They can't refire me again right?
 
but it is true that i dont have to sign at the end of the day

What makes you think anyone can make you sign anything?

Signing is not an issue.

Stealing is an issue, especially after you admitted to stealing.

Your admission wasn't truthful, falling shy by months because you confessed to a mere one month of thefts.

Good luck.
 
but it is true that i dont have to sign at the end of the day

You have no obligation to ever go back there for any reason. It does not matter if their papers are signed. Either way you have lost your job and are unlikely to get unemployment.
The only reason you might want to go back is to collect your final paycheck, but they will likely mail it to you eventually if you don't show up.
 
You are not obligated to sign anything. Signing or not signing will make no difference. You're still fired and the unemployment office will still know why you were fired. If your boyfriend's father thinks that by refusing to sign an acknowledgement it will protect your unemployment, he is wrong.
 
So what is confusing is that my boyfriend's father was in management and told me that if I were to qualify for unemployment, that I must not sign the form that has me acknowledge for the reasons I'm being terminated and that I'm not obligated to sign that paper. That all I need to sign is the termination papers and that's it.
Is this true?

You don't "need to sign" anything. However, you not signing something isn't going to magically qualify you for unemployment. If you file for unemployment, your employer will dispute your entitlement. That will put the ball in your court either to concede that you're not entitled or to lie under penalty of perjury by denying what the employer claims.
 
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