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Conference 7.286::digital

Title:	The Digital way of working

Moderator:	QUARK::LIONELON

Created:	Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5321
Total number of notes:	139771

533.0. "And what would YOU do?" by TIXEL::ARNOLD (Back to the cold north) Mon May 09 1988 16:33

    Several months ago, I moved from MK1 to MK2.  During the process
    of moving, I had at one point almost everything moved, except for
    a couple of coffee mugs (very distinctive) and an 8-cup coffee pot.
    When I came in the next morning to get these remaining items, I
    found they were gone.  Nope, nobody had seen them, didn't know where
    they went.  Of course, I filed the appropriate forms with security
    to report stolen items, but even the security person admitted that
    the chances of recovering them were slim to nil.
    
    Having lunch today in MK2, I happened to notice one of the cleaning
    janitors sitting at a table having a smoke & coffee with one of
    her friends.  Not so unusual, except that she was drinking her coffee
    out of "an exact duplicate" of one of my distinctive missing coffee
    mugs. (It's a Digital mug, kinda sparkly, with the logo about
    "Computers for Hire"; I got it in the field several years ago when
    Digital was advertising their rent-a-DECmate program.
    
    Now I'm not claiming that she is the person who took it, but the
    circumstancial evidence seems to be large.  What would you do?
    
    Thanks
    Jon

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
533.1		CUPOLA::HAKKARAINEN	Your VAX is on the roof	`Mon May 09 1988 16:35`	1
	Contact Security with the new info.
533.2	Call Security	CIVIC::FERRIGNO		`Mon May 09 1988 17:23`	12
	Definitely contact Security with your findings. Our group has had many things "stolen" by cleaning crews, including Walkman, cash, and calculators. We come in on some mornings to find cigarette butts on our desks, chairs arranged in circular fashion in back offices, etc. In addition, we have learned that some of the crews currently doing some of the re-hab of the buildings have been "escorted" out of the building by Security for various infractions. In short, sounds like a plant management problem which needs serious attention in general.
533.3		MISFIT::DEEP		`Mon May 09 1988 19:33`	9
	Agreed! Call security! The majority of the janitorial staff is honest and hard working, and will be happy to have the thief among them removed. However... make sure that you explain to security that the mug you describe is not unique! $.02
533.4		SEAPEN::PHIPPS	Mike @DTN 225-4959	`Mon May 09 1988 21:25`	12
	> of moving, I had at one point almost everything moved, except for > a couple of coffee mugs (very distinctive) and an 8-cup coffee pot. In other words, your old office might of looked virtually deserted. I'm not making excuses for the person but I like to give people the benefit of a doubt. So often someone moves out of an office and "left overs" sit there a month if the office isn't used right away. Then they wind up in a dumpster. There are coffee pots of various type all over this place.
533.5	Bet it looked like junk to the guy	SMAUG::GARROD	DTN 226-7114	`Tue May 10 1988 00:02`	7
	Sounds to me like theis person thought that you had abandoned the coffee mug. I'd just go up to them and politely ask if they found it in your office when you moved and tell them that it was the only thing there, make it clear that you are not accusing them of stealing it and I bet they'll happily give it back. Dave
533.6	make it 2 bits worth!!	CSC32::BUTTERWORTH		`Tue May 10 1988 03:14`	4
	Re .5 Exactly what I was gonna suggest! No one should be offended if it's done in a polite manner!
533.7	My $.02 worth.	CHIRON::MANGU		`Tue May 17 1988 19:49`	16
	Whether the cups were abandoned or not, janitorial staff should not help themselves to things unless told otherwise. I'm not saying that they did in this case. I've had all my credit cards stolen in one facility several years ago. I used to work late. I would come in and leave my pocket book (purse) sitting around on my desk or under the desk on the floor all day long. I know who helped themselves to it, but couldn't prove is. My bad luck. I did leave my purse unattended in the open. The facility that I now work at, I find the crew to be exceptional. They won't even throw garbage out (including dead plants) unless it's marked with an orange sticker. I changed offices in the building and left something in a bag under the desk. Went back after two months to the empty office and found it where I originally left it.