Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
User submission
1.2K
Guy Tells Story Of Friend Taking 3 Trash Bags From Work And Getting Fired, Now People Are Sharing Similar Stories
While some consider theft a black-and-white situation, whereby it doesn’t matter what you steal, it’s still stealing and it’s wrong, others tend to find a gray area between the two. You know, like it depends on what exactly is stolen and what the circumstances are.
Or more specifically, what if it was 3 empty garbage bags from a massive fast food chain, and the employee wasn’t really hiding the fact that he was taking them. This is what happened in u/BilbosBagholder’s post shared in the r/AntiWork subreddit that’s all about ending work.
Needless to say, it did divide the lovely people of Reddit a little bit, who were trying to decide who was wrong and who wasn’t, while others shared similar stories.
More Info: Reddit
RELATED:
We don’t think much of garbage bags, but companies do, especially if they are used for personal ends
Image credits: barnimages.com
So, Reddit user BilbosBagholder shared a story of how back in the day, a friend of his took 3 garbage bags from the McDonald’s he worked at to be used for packing some of his clothes he was planning to get rid of at home.
Well, the Assistant Manager offered the friend a ride home and happened to notice the trash bags on him. He inquired whether those bags were from work—the friend was truthful about it, didn’t hide it at all, and didn’t even make a big deal about taking them in the first place.
An internaut shared a story of how his friend got fired for taking 3 trash bags from work
Image credits: BilbosBagholder
Nothing really happened until the next day when the employee found out his job contract was terminated. Turns out, the Assistant Manager reported the theft to the Manager, who took action and dismissed the thief.
“The AM held his head down and wouldn’t make eye contact with my friend. Didn’t say anything or apologize,” elaborated Bilbo.
In light of the story, the Reddit user also pointed out how he now sees a lot of fast food joints desperately looking for people to work, saying how the tables have turned that previously restaurants were fire-happy while now there’s an extreme shortage of people working in the field.
Image credits: BilbosBagholder
The post has managed to garner nearly 32,000 upvotes in under 12 hours, engaging with people to a degree where there are now over 4,000 comments and over 30 Reddit awards on the post.
While for the most part people were supportive of the fired one, considering the trash bags quite a minor thing to take from work and sharing their own stories of how they got fired from similar establishments, there were also some who argued the opposite.
They claimed stealing is stealing, it doesn’t really matter what is stolen, pointing out that he’s lucky no charges were brought upon him, as it could’ve gotten very ugly very quickly.
Besides debating the right and wrong, many shared some of their “being fired” stories
You can read more comments by checking out the Reddit post, but before you go, tell us your thoughts on this. Was he wrong to steal, was the manager wrong to jump to such a conclusion without confronting the employee? Was everyone wrong, or nobody? Discuss and debate in the comment section below!
105Kviews
Share on Facebook What do you think ?
H Edwards 4 years ago
A warning would have been more appropriate. Kid clearly didn't know he was doing anything wrong, so they could have just put him straight and that would be that.
Big Blue Cat 4 years ago
Yes. A warning with explanation why he shouldn't do that. (If they let people help themselves with small stuff, where does it end? It can lead to loss of big bucks over time.)
Load More Replies...
Jerry Mathers 4 years ago
Okay, so for the theft is theft folks, how you stand on this? Employee A clocks out and is walking out the door when they are stopped by their manager who gets them to help lift a box onto the counter. The employee does, then leaves. Is that theft? How about your boss calling you outside of work hours? Unpaid time to help the business is technically theft by the employer. Proportionality it's the same. It's just a few cents. But technical it's theft of labor. This kind of stuff routinely happens. I don't know if there is a name for it, but I call it being a human. We overlook the small crap, do what we can, and the world is smoother. A warning would have been the most that should have happened.
ChimeraBubbles 4 years ago (edited)
Jerry, I upvoted you because you are absolutely right. Companies think nothing of the theft of labour and then get hopping mad about small item loss. I worked at a big company in the early 00s that accepted this was a reality and let a lot of it slide. This was because the CEO was well aware of the small but extra minutes that employees put into the company outside of paid time. Small item loss from the company was equalled out by small time loss from the employees. What's a real shame is the number of people who don't seem to (want to) understand this concept and routinely defend corporations' own terrible behaviour. I can't see them as anything other than turkeys voting for Christmas at this point.
Load More Replies...
Fat Harry 4 years ago
This is the whole problem with the US's "at-will" employment laws. Yes, you can fire someone for gross misconduct in the UK, but you can't simply fire someone because you don't like the look of their face like you can in the US. The more I learn about the US, the more messed up that country seems to be.
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago
It’s why we need to unionize more workplaces. I had a union job once, and it was like night and day. Management really has to make an ironclad case for firing you, or it just doesn’t happen. It was nice to know the union had my back, and I wouldn’t have to fight for my job alone. Ended up leaving anyway, to go back to college full time and get my Masters.
Load More Replies...
Claire Stanfield 4 years ago
I agree with the perspective that they were looking for a reason to fire him, and settled on that when it came up.
Paul Davis 4 years ago (edited)
I can't believe how many crazy "stealing trash bags is wrong" lunatics were responding. I'm not saying stealing is okay, but the point is letting a willing employee go for such a triviality is massively stupid and short-sighted considering the cost v. benefit of having to hire and train a new person to do the work. And the loon who said this would cause a rash of trashbag thefts by every employee in the company...seriously? Even if it happened it wouldn't make a blip against all the other waste and issues these companies have. That guy really must live under a flipping rock, with no real life experience at all.
H Edwards 4 years ago
There are a lot of people who refuse to accept that there are any ethical grey areas in life. Many of them like to comment on Reddit posts. Thankfully I find that most people IRL seem to be a little more open minded.
Load More Replies... Alexis Draskinis 4 years ago
My sister got fired from a deli for eating a slice of cheese. It was cut already but made it overweight. Customer wanted it under. It was wasted out, meaning the company will be compensated for along with other waste items for the say, & would otherwise have gone in the garbage. Another employee asked her if she wanted it. They fired her anyway cause it was on camera. Literally fired over a $.05 slice of cheese that they already accounted for...its bullshit
King Joffrey 4 years ago
This could have been an informal warning. To fire someone for that is just silly.
DC 4 years ago
Work don't pays for my pen and paper. If I print out a navigation sheet for work, I will reuse the backside for shopping lists not associated with work, unless I buy a new pen or so... People should just see the proportion. While stealing is stealing, of course, the value does matter. A warning may have been legit, firing him not. Also - I know a guy who stole toilet paper and got fired over it ... after he developed a massice diarrhea from the crappy food at work and his shift ended in the middle of the night, so no chance buying some on his own. Unfair? Sure. But he also didn't hide anything or so...
Awsomemom52 4 years ago
I worked in a sewing factory. At some point I talk to one of my colleagues about how I could certainly make a nice patchwork blanket, out of the leftover fabric we had at the time. I jokingly said: I should take some to sew a pillowcase out of it ... just to see how it turns out. The next day I was called to the office. My boss first insulted me, accused me of theft and then fired me. He wanted me to admit it and apologize to him. I told him that I'm not desperate enough to steal from someone like him yet ... even though he payed me such a ridiculous hourly wage. Then I turned around and just left. The scraps of fabric were only 3 by 3 inches ... and were thrown away.
H Edwards 4 years ago
A warning would have been more appropriate. Kid clearly didn't know he was doing anything wrong, so they could have just put him straight and that would be that.
Big Blue Cat 4 years ago
Yes. A warning with explanation why he shouldn't do that. (If they let people help themselves with small stuff, where does it end? It can lead to loss of big bucks over time.)
Load More Replies... Jerry Mathers 4 years ago
Okay, so for the theft is theft folks, how you stand on this? Employee A clocks out and is walking out the door when they are stopped by their manager who gets them to help lift a box onto the counter. The employee does, then leaves. Is that theft? How about your boss calling you outside of work hours? Unpaid time to help the business is technically theft by the employer. Proportionality it's the same. It's just a few cents. But technical it's theft of labor. This kind of stuff routinely happens. I don't know if there is a name for it, but I call it being a human. We overlook the small crap, do what we can, and the world is smoother. A warning would have been the most that should have happened.
ChimeraBubbles 4 years ago (edited)
Jerry, I upvoted you because you are absolutely right. Companies think nothing of the theft of labour and then get hopping mad about small item loss. I worked at a big company in the early 00s that accepted this was a reality and let a lot of it slide. This was because the CEO was well aware of the small but extra minutes that employees put into the company outside of paid time. Small item loss from the company was equalled out by small time loss from the employees. What's a real shame is the number of people who don't seem to (want to) understand this concept and routinely defend corporations' own terrible behaviour. I can't see them as anything other than turkeys voting for Christmas at this point.
Load More Replies... Fat Harry 4 years ago
This is the whole problem with the US's "at-will" employment laws. Yes, you can fire someone for gross misconduct in the UK, but you can't simply fire someone because you don't like the look of their face like you can in the US. The more I learn about the US, the more messed up that country seems to be.
Kathryn Baylis 4 years ago
It’s why we need to unionize more workplaces. I had a union job once, and it was like night and day. Management really has to make an ironclad case for firing you, or it just doesn’t happen. It was nice to know the union had my back, and I wouldn’t have to fight for my job alone. Ended up leaving anyway, to go back to college full time and get my Masters.
Load More Replies... Claire Stanfield 4 years ago
I agree with the perspective that they were looking for a reason to fire him, and settled on that when it came up.
Paul Davis 4 years ago (edited)
I can't believe how many crazy "stealing trash bags is wrong" lunatics were responding. I'm not saying stealing is okay, but the point is letting a willing employee go for such a triviality is massively stupid and short-sighted considering the cost v. benefit of having to hire and train a new person to do the work. And the loon who said this would cause a rash of trashbag thefts by every employee in the company...seriously? Even if it happened it wouldn't make a blip against all the other waste and issues these companies have. That guy really must live under a flipping rock, with no real life experience at all.
H Edwards 4 years ago
There are a lot of people who refuse to accept that there are any ethical grey areas in life. Many of them like to comment on Reddit posts. Thankfully I find that most people IRL seem to be a little more open minded.
Load More Replies... Alexis Draskinis 4 years ago
My sister got fired from a deli for eating a slice of cheese. It was cut already but made it overweight. Customer wanted it under. It was wasted out, meaning the company will be compensated for along with other waste items for the say, & would otherwise have gone in the garbage. Another employee asked her if she wanted it. They fired her anyway cause it was on camera. Literally fired over a $.05 slice of cheese that they already accounted for...its bullshit
King Joffrey 4 years ago
This could have been an informal warning. To fire someone for that is just silly.
DC 4 years ago
Work don't pays for my pen and paper. If I print out a navigation sheet for work, I will reuse the backside for shopping lists not associated with work, unless I buy a new pen or so... People should just see the proportion. While stealing is stealing, of course, the value does matter. A warning may have been legit, firing him not. Also - I know a guy who stole toilet paper and got fired over it ... after he developed a massice diarrhea from the crappy food at work and his shift ended in the middle of the night, so no chance buying some on his own. Unfair? Sure. But he also didn't hide anything or so...
Awsomemom52 4 years ago
I worked in a sewing factory. At some point I talk to one of my colleagues about how I could certainly make a nice patchwork blanket, out of the leftover fabric we had at the time. I jokingly said: I should take some to sew a pillowcase out of it ... just to see how it turns out. The next day I was called to the office. My boss first insulted me, accused me of theft and then fired me. He wanted me to admit it and apologize to him. I told him that I'm not desperate enough to steal from someone like him yet ... even though he payed me such a ridiculous hourly wage. Then I turned around and just left. The scraps of fabric were only 3 by 3 inches ... and were thrown away.
You May Like Woman Celebrating Her PhD Delivers Savage Response To Male Criticism, Internet Joins In Women Online Roast Men Who Say They Prefer The “No Makeup Look,” Here Are The 51 Best Posts
Viktorija Ošikaitė
Viktorija Ošikaitė
Related on Bored Panda
78
94