The lesson here is that there's literally no reason to care at all about theft from a corporation, because they do not care about you.
this post was submitted on 05 Apr 2026
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Waitrose is a worker-owned cooperative though.
It's part of the John Lewis Partnership which isn't a cooperative. It's a company where workers are given a "partner" status and allocated a share of profits. When you look into it, it's still a big business with employees.
Well that's less neat.
We have a place like that locally that's pretty terrible to its employees.
Well that's neat.
I did supermarket retail for a while. We were expected to check trollies as they came through the till for hidden items but we also weren't allowed to stop the thief if they just walked out with it.
The one time I caught a genuine theft (they'd lined the bottom of the trolley with meat packs and covered them with their shopping bags) I checked they weren't a mystery shopper and then promptly forgot that I'd seen shit.
I don't know about the UK, but this makes sense to me.
Working retail here in Canada, common rule is to prevent shoplifting through having eyes on suspicious people. However, you never go after them yourself when they leave the store, or even do so much as accuse them of stealing while they're in the store. You make security, who're specialised for the task and are workers with a contract company, aware and they recover the shoplifted merchandise.
It's for safety reasons and to avoid different lawsuits. The store doesn't want to be held legally liable for injuries or possible discrimination.
I've worked retail for over 15 years and yes, it's the same here. We're told to be vigilant and customer-service away to deter shoplifters. If we see or suspect actual theft, we tell management and/or security. We're told to never pursue or confront a shoplifter, leave that to security and management.
I once worked at a store behind the till.
A guy came in with a bag and emptied the shelf of all the easter eggs. I only knew because the manager came running out (seen on camera) shouting at me to stop him.
Bitch there is no way I a 19 year old is going to confront a grown ass man over eggs I don't own.
Left that job pretty sharpish after that.
I hope ASDA offer him a job, just like they did to that austist that Waitrose sacked last year.
Unlikely. The difference is every retail employee in the nation. Is clearly told not to try and stop theft etc. Just report it.
And while the companies claim it's to prevent harm to employees. It is very much to prevent employees or thieves from suing them.
ASDA and any other retail company. Would be held responsible for any harm done. By both failing to warn staff not to get involved. And failing to adaquotely disapline staff that do.
If ASDA was to hire this person. Knowing this happened. And then some event caused anyone to get injured. ASDA would go bankrupt.
Reminds me of how Meijer grocery store paralyzed Leroy Spangler, allegedly (so they don't try and find/sue me).
I think the guy actually won the lawsuit against Meyer.