Employee Discounts: A Great Benefit When Used Properly
by Sylvester Carothers, Union Representative
Local 1059 encourages and negotiates with many employers to secure employee discounts for our members. Discount incentives range from lower prices on products at one of our food plants to price reductions of a certain percentage for goods purchased by employees at our retail stores. These discounts are meant to serve as a benefit for working for your company. Problems arise, however, when employees break the rules regarding how these discounts can be used.
Most discount programs are meant to be used by an employee or the employee's immediate family. The term "immediate family" means those family members living in the same household as the employee. If employees allow family members outside the household to use their discounts, then they are abusing the program. The worst-case-scenario for such abuse is an employee buying products at discount prices then selling them to the public for a profit.
To combat abuse of discount programs, many employers are able to track employees' discount purchases. For instance, Kroger has access to all purchases made on a Kroger employee’s Plus Card. Other stores may rely on employee ID numbers to track purchase histories. Make no mistake, abuse of discount programs is a form of theft: Only certain individuals are meant to benefit from these discounts and, when employees break the parameters of the program, the employer considers it employee theft.
Another common misuse of discounts occurs when employees try to get discounts not intended for them. At a food processing plant, this could happen if an employee takes more discounted goods (due to mislabeling, damage, overproduction, etc.) than they are allowed. In retail stores, a customer may give a cashier a coupon they do not plan to use. If an employee does not earn or clip out the coupon for themselves, they should not use the coupon. Often, the cashier will not even ask for the coupon -- the customer will just hand it over because they do not plan to use it -- but the cashier should not keep the coupon for personal use.
Again, Local 1059 fully supports the continuation of discount programs for our members because, frankly, it is the right thing to do. But employees risk termination if they break the rules of the program by letting unauthorized individuals benefit from the discounts, by taking more discounted products than they are allotted, or by using discounts meant for other customers. When in doubt about what the rules allow, always clear it with a manager or supervisor first. The best way to take full advantage of a discount program is to play by the rules and enjoy your discounts for years to come.
Women and Money Seminars
Women members have expressed interest in classes about financial planning. Ohio Treasurer Richard Cordray offers "Women & Money" seminars. Each seminar runs from 8am-4pm at the sites below, and lunch is provided. Participants are encouraged but not required to register in advance at 1-800-228-1102 or www.YourMoneyNowOnline.org. Same-day registrations start at 7:30am.
The seminars include workshops on budgeting, credit and debt management, home ownership, kids & money, identity theft, investment basics, and retirement planning.
Friday, June 27th
Belmont Technical College
120 Fox-Shannon Place
St Clairsville, OH 43950
Friday, July 11th
Sylvania Southview High School
7225 Sylvania Ave.
Sylvania, OH 43560
Friday, July 18th
The Ohio State University at Lima
4240 Campus Drive
Lima, OH 45804
Friday, July 25th
Vinton County High School
63910 US Highway 50
McArthur, OH 45651
Friday, August 1st
Whetstone High School
4405 Scenic Dr
Columbus, OH 43214
Friday, August 15th
Copley Fairlawn High School
3807 Ridgewood Rd
Copley OH 44321
Ten Reasons People Don't Save
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