Question

You are in a department store shopping for an outfit and your budget is not what you would like it to be. You have a pair of pants and two shirts that you absolutely love. You want both shirts but know you can't afford both, so you take them to the register to decide there. When you go to check out, you see it's one of your friends working there. You are casual friends and you haven't seen her in a while, and you didn't even know she worked there. You chat a bit and you ask her which of the shirts does she like best because you can't afford both of them. She ignores what you just said, rings up the pants, rings up one of the shirts, and places all three items into your bag. You pay your total, agree to meet up for lunch soon, and leave. .

Questions:

1. Did you commit theft, or did she commit theft or both of you?

2. Would it make a difference to you whether the shirt was $79 versus $17?

3. What if the scenario was the same, but you were at a restaurant and she was your server? When you got your ticket, you noticed you weren't charged for your drinks and your appetizers. Is that theft, or just a "hook up?"

4. Looking at every scenario, is there an instance where you would refuse the "free" gift? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Answer. 1. Both of us have committed theft in this case. It is wrong from both the perspectives I.e. from employees and customers perspective.
Answer 2. Yes it will make a difference to the company more than it would to me. The company would have to bear the loss because of the theft. It would make a difference to me as well . I would psychologically be in a feeling of guilt and debt , because I have not paid for the product I bought. The feeling increases and worsens as the amount of the theft increases.

Answer 3. Yes, it would then also be a theft but since its a service and not an actual product , it would hardly make a difference. But yes , anything of this sort is a theft if the employer is unaware about the whole situation and all this is happening in his absence .
Answer 4. In every scenario where the employer or the main head of the company is unaware , I would refuse to take such free gifts . It is unethical for the employee to misuse his or her power. It’s bad for the employee , employer , company and for me as well. If the employee asks the employer and then does this with full consent , I would happily accept the gift from him or her.