I've been working at the same place for the last 10 years and consistently received an evaluation of employee exceeds expectation and things have so far been great until today. I work at a location where there is a constant flow of expensive equipment and I have often lamented to my bosses about the shoddy security system in our location where we have seen multiple thefts of small items which when compounded still cost a good chunk of money. Three years ago we lost 40 pieces of equipment which cost around $600 each and it was only then that they decided to install a security camera within the premises.
Today four more items of significant value were taken and when the camera was viewed, it was apparent that someone had deliberately unplugged the security camera from the network, causing the screen to darken, thereby unable to record any activity. The last captured video was of the door left open (nobody caught on cam) and in two seconds the camera was off.
I come to work an hour earlier than my coworkers since I live an hour away and avoid traffic with this schedule. When my boss was going through the footage, the time frame during which the camera was supposedly disabled was within the hour that I arrive and before everyone else did. This is what transpired during the conversation:
Boss: "Eucalyptic, did you go to the XXX on the morning of XXX?
Me: "Friday? No, I didn't go, in fact I've never been to XXX in weeks."
Boss: "Well according to this, the camera looks like it was deliberately turned off on XXX at this time in the morning. You're the only one who comes in here that morning."
Me: (Already feeling dejected and appalled at the insinuation.) "No, I don't think I did, specially since that was the day I had that very important presentation for XXX."
Boss: "Yeah but this happened earlier than your presentation."
Me: "Exactly, and since I had that presentation which I had to prepare for, there's no way I'd have left my desk to do anything else."
-end of discussion-
I played that scene over and over in my mind and as much as I tried to brush it off, I felt so bad that that conversation felt more like an interrogation than an inquiry. While driving home, I felt convinced that I was treated more like a suspect than anything and I felt so upset to have been suspected of anything. Granted that my boss may not have the best tact in the world, I felt that he handled it in the worst way possible most specially since there were three other coworkers present. I was kicking myself in the behind for having responded to his questions the way I did when I should have been more non-accepting of the way in which he questioned me. I just didn't want to get into a confrontation with so many people to witness it.
Now that I have thought it over and talked it over with my husband, I am more inclined to not just brush off this incident and sit down with my boss to tell him exactly how I feel. He may not have been accusing me of commiting anything but his manner sure did imply it. Also because of it, I am now very uncomfortable about having access to the said location since with what has happened, the mere fact that I come to work earlier than most is enough ground for me to be the thought of as the most likely person to have had access that day (despite the fact that there are 20 other people who have a key and may have arrived early).
I guess I'm sharing this because I want to get your input regarding this situation. I don't want to over act
and normally I know when I am but in this case I don't feel I can continue being comfortable around my boss if I harbour feelings of resentment over what transpired unless I clue him in to my sentiments.
What will you do if you were in my shoes?
Thanks for all your patience and for reading through this long narrative.
Today four more items of significant value were taken and when the camera was viewed, it was apparent that someone had deliberately unplugged the security camera from the network, causing the screen to darken, thereby unable to record any activity. The last captured video was of the door left open (nobody caught on cam) and in two seconds the camera was off.
I come to work an hour earlier than my coworkers since I live an hour away and avoid traffic with this schedule. When my boss was going through the footage, the time frame during which the camera was supposedly disabled was within the hour that I arrive and before everyone else did. This is what transpired during the conversation:
Boss: "Eucalyptic, did you go to the XXX on the morning of XXX?
Me: "Friday? No, I didn't go, in fact I've never been to XXX in weeks."
Boss: "Well according to this, the camera looks like it was deliberately turned off on XXX at this time in the morning. You're the only one who comes in here that morning."
Me: (Already feeling dejected and appalled at the insinuation.) "No, I don't think I did, specially since that was the day I had that very important presentation for XXX."
Boss: "Yeah but this happened earlier than your presentation."
Me: "Exactly, and since I had that presentation which I had to prepare for, there's no way I'd have left my desk to do anything else."
-end of discussion-
I played that scene over and over in my mind and as much as I tried to brush it off, I felt so bad that that conversation felt more like an interrogation than an inquiry. While driving home, I felt convinced that I was treated more like a suspect than anything and I felt so upset to have been suspected of anything. Granted that my boss may not have the best tact in the world, I felt that he handled it in the worst way possible most specially since there were three other coworkers present. I was kicking myself in the behind for having responded to his questions the way I did when I should have been more non-accepting of the way in which he questioned me. I just didn't want to get into a confrontation with so many people to witness it.
Now that I have thought it over and talked it over with my husband, I am more inclined to not just brush off this incident and sit down with my boss to tell him exactly how I feel. He may not have been accusing me of commiting anything but his manner sure did imply it. Also because of it, I am now very uncomfortable about having access to the said location since with what has happened, the mere fact that I come to work earlier than most is enough ground for me to be the thought of as the most likely person to have had access that day (despite the fact that there are 20 other people who have a key and may have arrived early).
I guess I'm sharing this because I want to get your input regarding this situation. I don't want to over act
and normally I know when I am but in this case I don't feel I can continue being comfortable around my boss if I harbour feelings of resentment over what transpired unless I clue him in to my sentiments.
What will you do if you were in my shoes?
Thanks for all your patience and for reading through this long narrative.