Can you get unemployment if you get fired for stealing

by Anonymous

Table of Contents Show

Correctly Denied Unemployment Benefits After Being Fired for Stealing
Consider a Different Field
Obtain Letters of Recommendation
Retool Your Skills
Tap the Hidden Job Market
What disqualifies you from unemployment in Illinois?
Is it hard to get a job after being fired for theft?
What happens if you steal from your work?
Is it better to quit or be fired?

(Henderson, Nevada)

Around Christmas time our company gives out a Visa Bonus Card. Well I found of these $75 Visa Gift Cards in the desk of one of the employees. I proceeded to a local store and used the card to purchase goods. I then made the mistake of returning the empty Visa Gift to the employees desk, not thinking they would investigate it.

Well they did…the employee tracked where the purchase was made…got a copy of the surveillance tape/photography and went to the police. The police contacted the Human Resource Dept and they made the positive ID that it was me…When they called me into the office my actual Supervisor didn’t say a word (anger/embarrassed)…The HR Manager only said ” I regret to inform you that we have to terminate your employment effective immediately” and gave me the detectives number to contact. Which I did and confessed.

The HR Manager did not verbally say why I was getting fired…only to contact the detective. The HR Manger also said that they would mention to any other employees why it is I was being terminated.

I think my mistake when filing for unemployment came when a rep called to conduct a phone interview…I told them than the reason i was terminated was for “misuse of company property” (i think this raised a red flag in my case file)… and didn’t mention the stealing of the gift card” I think if I had just said that i was laid off…that i would have received the benefits with no questions.

So needless to say i was denied benefits..and i appealed it.

In my appeal letter I just told em an innocent story about how I didn’t know what I was fired for…just that i only guessed it was because I would occasionally use the company’s computer to check email…which is not something i thought i should have been fired for, seeing that other departments/employees use the internet plus I was never warned that if I used the internet that i would be terminated. My appeal hearing is next week and the paper says that all witnesses must be present at the hearing. Sooo…im assuming that means my former employer too, right? My plan was to stick with my (misuse of company property) story and hopefully win the decision….but if there is a witness there…then i was just going to plead my case for need of help… what do you think???

Correctly Denied Unemployment Benefits After Being Fired for Stealing

Hi Eric,

Just in case it’s not obvious to any other unreasonable unemployed people reading your account of why you were terminated and denied unemployment, let me be clear, I have little doubt the denial of your unemployment benefits was the correct determination for the Nevada unemployment dept (DETR) to make, in fact, it was likely the only one that could be made .. if your employer initially responded to the notice you filed a claim, to tell the truth about the cause for termination .. and I’m betting they likely did initially respond.

To support my position, that I’m being reasonable about a clear admission you know you stole something.. and then thought you’d ask me if I had any thoughts that might help you obfuscate further, the reason your employer fired you .. if they don’t show up at the unemployment hearing being held on your appeal .. with another lie, is stunning to me.

Your actions fit well with some of the more horrible sounding words used to describe what work misconduct is, when I, a reasonable person think your actions were of such an egregious nature even I understand why the employer skipped over any progressive discipline policy to gather sufficient evidence to fire an employee for a reason not nearly as clear as being as wrong as you were.

“Well I found of these $75 Visa Gift Cards in the desk of one of the employees. I proceeded to a local store and used the card to purchase goods. I then made the mistake of returning the empty Visa Gift to the employees desk, not thinking they would investigate it.”

No .. your mistake was snooping in a desk and then stealing a gift card that did not belong to you in the first place. That is theft of property .. and that’s enough for me to tell you I think you ought to withdraw your appeal .. regardless if the employer show for the hearing, or not.

Chris

Finding a good job is likely to be difficult – but not impossible – if you are under investigation at work for theft or have a history of theft on your record. Most employees serve at will, meaning they can be let go at any time for any reason other than illegal discrimination. Consequently, hiring managers are accustomed to interviewing job applicants who were fired from one or multiple jobs. Strategies for returning to the workforce include considering new career paths, leveraging references, retooling job skills, and tapping the hidden job market.

Consider a Different Field

The odds of finding a new job right away depend on the nature of work you were doing at the time of termination. Even if you were good at your job, it might be in your best interests to consider a different line of work. You’ll have the toughest time securing a job that entails handling money or valuables. Employees caught stealing on camera at companies such as Amazon are fired on the spot and prohibited from any future employment with the company or its subsidiaries, according to Warehouse Ninja.

Being fired for theft from a professional position that involved years of schooling can be devastating. Salarship suggests that it may be possible to return to the field after a few years. Maintaining a spotless record and regaining a reputation in a similar occupation may help you win back customers or even convince a former boss to give you a second chance if you were let go for something minor like pilfering a few office supplies.

Obtain Letters of Recommendation

Consider reaching out to supportive mentors, former supervisors or colleagues for letters of recommendation. Approach individuals who will vouch for your good character, unique skill set, dedication and abilities. Letters of recommendation should not mention your involuntary separation. You and your references are not obligated to volunteer this information unless asked.

When a job applicant is fired for theft and a background check reveals criminal prosecution, a hiring manager must exercise due diligence to ensure that the individual will not pose a risk to the company if offered a job. Letters of recommendation from credible individuals can help reassure a prospective employer that you are trustworthy and unlikely to re-offend. You can upload recommendation letters when applying online or take them along to the job interview as part of a professional portfolio of your work.

Retool Your Skills

Indeed Career Guide suggests that being fired from a job presents an opportunity to reassess career interests and develop new skills that may expand career options. For example, if you were fired for shoplifting eggs and butter when you worked as an underpaid grocery store cashier, you may want to consider going back to school and getting a fresh start. The My Next Move website contains online career exploration tools, such as the O*NET interest profiler, that can help you identify career areas that are best suited to your interests, personality and aptitude.

You can then research careers and educational requirements. Earning a certificate or completing a training program in a high-demand field can make you more employable. Employers may be more inclined to overlook past mistakes on the job if an otherwise qualified candidate possesses cutting-edge skills and a positive attitude.

Tap the Hidden Job Market

Don’t limit your job search to advertised positions on job boards where you may face stiff competition. Forbes reports that most jobs are filled via word-of-mouth and personal connections. Stay active in the community and use social media to network with professionals in your field who may have insider information on open positions.

Let your friends, neighbors, former classmates and previous colleagues know you're looking for work. Ask your contacts to put in a good word for you if you’re trying to get an interview with their company. Be honest with friends and hiring managers if you’re asked about reasons for leaving your last job. Offer a brief explanation, explain what’s changed, and redirect the conversation to your skills.

What disqualifies you from unemployment in Illinois?

There are several ways you can be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefits in Illinois: You quit your job without good cause. You were fired due to misconduct connected to your work. You did not have a good reason to apply for Illinois unemployment or did not accept a suitable job offered to you.

Is it hard to get a job after being fired for theft?

What happens if you steal from your work?

The company you stole from could charge you with gross misconduct and has grounds to fire you immediately. Or you could face suspension, without pay, while the company conducts an investigation, in which case you could still be terminated or face a major demotion or transfer.

Is it better to quit or be fired?

Resigning from a job has some advantages worth considering. One of the biggest perks is that it looks better on your resume than being fired. If you voluntarily leave a job, you tend to have greater control over your narrative. You can showcase your departure in a more positive light to prospective employers.