I work in a care home as an member of the management team - and we are having a spate of petty theft from our kitchens (not residents), and I wonder how we stand about searching staff bags - can we? We have never before, do we need a sign / notice to say random bag check may be carried or similar words?
We have to leave the kitchen open so that residents can be given there supper, or snacks throughout the night but the items going missing are more than what is usually used during these times.
Suggestions and where do we stand legally - any help gratefully appreciated.
Start here for general info https://www.gov.uk/monitoring-work-workers-rights but contact the Acas Helpline for specific advice. (Several members of this site have reported that there can be quite a long wait to get through on their lines but that it's worth the wait in order to receive excellent advice on all employment matters): 0300 123 1190.
Make your staff aware of the thefts and say extra security precautions will be put in place. This might nip it in the bud if someone thinks they might get caught.
I'm not sure about "hidden" cameras, but we had one suspected theft from a residential kitchen, and a camera with a notice was put up. No further problems, anyway.
Start here for general info
https://www.gov.uk/monitoring-work-workers-rights
but contact the Acas Helpline for specific advice. (Several members of this site have reported that there can be quite a long wait to get through on their lines but that it's worth the wait in order to receive excellent advice on all employment matters): 0300 123 1190.
One GP 'left' a tape recorder on in a room ( a la Good Wife) and recorded - "the other side" yakking and he retrieved the tape later. He had it transcribed and circulated to "his side". And one of his side later waved it in the employers face and said 'ya ya, you're lying'
and there was a lot of ya-ya in court, employment court, and GMC, complaints dept, you've been famed and so on and on