Q: My client has an employee who we think may be stealing stock, can we exit them from the business?

A: Serious allegations should be investigated formally so you have a solid basis for a dismissal later, and speaking with the employee will be a part of that process.

Employees who have over two years’ service have the right to a full disciplinary process. In this instance, if you want to dismiss the employee for gross misconduct, and theft usually fits into this category, you need to fulfil your contractual obligations to the employee. 

The first step of the disciplinary process when you think that an employee might have broken a rule is the investigation. The point of the investigation is to find out as much as possible about what happened, when and why.