A recent arbitration decision highlights the well-accepted rule that theft from an employer is a serious offense that can support a just cause discharge in a union environment. In this matter, management advocate Attorney Wiley also stressed that theft from a public employer — in any amount — rises to the level of felony theft. The attached award provides very thorough analysis of other arbitration decisions that have held that even a small value theft supports disciplinary discharge.
While there may be circumstances when an employer would not want to necessarily terminate an employee for a small theft, this arbitration authority supports employer-side arguments that discharge is, indeed, an appropriate remedy. Contact attorney Wiley for representation in your employee misconduct matter.