(Newswire.net — September 14, 2022) — There’s no disputing that being falsely accused of a crime you did not commit can turn your life upside down. You can also be put at risk of being charged with a serious crime that could potentially not only result in jail/prison time but can damage your reputation forever.
Suppose you feel you have been falsely accused of a serious theft crime like extortion. In that case, you must immediately contact a reputable criminal defense attorney like that of the Orange County, CA, Law Office of Scott C. Thomas (www.ScottCThomasLaw.com). A criminal defense lawyer will work with the judge and jury to make certain you are vindicated and that your reputation is restored.
But what else should you know about fighting back against employer-related false theft accusations? According to a recent report, if your boss and/or employer suddenly and wrongly accuses you of stealing something from the business, it will likely come as a horrible shock. Acting instinctively, you might display anger or even a defensive posture.
There are natural emotions and should be entirely expected by both accusers and accused. But it’s best to inhale a deep breath and calm yourself down. Only then can you attempt to rationalize and make sense of the accusation. It will also allow you to come up with an initial defense calmly and collectedly.
Some experts say; that if you feel you’ve been falsely accused of stealing in the workplace, it’s okay to register disappointment and shock while being verbal about the “alarm at the accusation.” You should ask your superior in the company for a moment or two so you can collect your thoughts and retrace your steps before proceeding with a defense that will likely go on the company record.
That said, here are a few ideas for fighting back against employer-related false theft accusations.
Verifying the Precise Charge
Business experts state that the first thing you need to do upon being falsely accused is to request an immediate and private meeting with a human resources representative and/or supervisor to talk openly about the accusation of theft. Including an impartial observer in the room should ensure that the conversation is appropriately documented for the company record.
You need to take notes or even record conversations on a smartphone app. This will aid significantly in preparing a legal defense if necessary. It will also help you collect appropriate documentation plus support from colleagues willing to come to your defense.
Refuting a False Theft Accusation
Immediately after your boss/employer has laid out his accusation of theft, you need to refute the allegation. At the very least, you will need to come up with a valid explanation for the confusion immediately.
The conflict might be a “simple miscommunication” that can be cleared immediately. Or, it could be more complicated and require you to go back through documents, timecards, emails, recorded conversations, texts, and more to validly support your case.
Note that this is not a good time to bleach-bit your emails/texts and/or smash your smartphone to pieces with a hammer. Some elite career politicians might get away with this, but you, as a company employee, will not. You must show responsibility for the charge, even if it’s false, along with the confidence that it’s only a matter of time and effort before you will be fully exonerated.
Preparing a Defense
You can plan for your defense by finding valid ways to refute every “point of an argument” your employer has verbalized. For instance, if your boss/employer has accused you of padding an expense account during a specific time, you will need to go through all your mileage logs, credit/debit card receipts, plus any other documentation that illustrates individual transactions along with the specific purpose for every expenditure.
The same goes for falsifying your time card. You should go back through your day planner to identify the days in question, then provide an accurate and detailed overview of the tasks you were performing and the time they took.
If you can find colleagues willing to back up your explanations without feeling they are putting their job at risk, all the better.
If All Else Fails…
…You need to secure the legal help of a reputable criminal defense attorney. If your employer is accusing you of a very serious charge like embezzlement—a charge that could result in prison time—you need to retain a legal attorney specializing in criminal and employment law.
One of your nefarious colleagues, and even your direct superior, may be attempting to implicate you in their crimes. In this case, you have no choice but to retain a criminal attorney to avoid a false criminal conviction and save your reputation.