I was listening to the radio today and the CBC was interviewing extended family of the man who died as a result of a gas-and-dash on the weekend. The interviewer was asking questions like "Why was he going out there over $112?" and "Why is management taking gas-and-dash losses from the employees?"
Well first, he's going out there after $112 A) because it is coming out of his pocket if he doesn't, and B) because frankly that's a lot of money, especially for some guy working in a gas station. It is probably around two days after-tax take-home -- and that's important, since gas-and-dash losses are not tax deductible. That thief was driving off with two days of his money, and he's not about to just sit there and watch it go.
I worked in a gas bar in the 1990s and it was the same thing. You kept the binoculars close because unless you could get the cops involved in a gas-and-dash, that money was coming out of your pocket.
And while I don't think the people who steal this way really care one way or another, I don't think it is common knowledge that this money comes out of the employee's pocket.
You're not sticking it to "the man", you are sticking it to someone who probably can't afford to drive like you do.
As to why the gas stations do this -- well as I've shown, since at least 1990 it has always been that way. But really I think most people don't know -- or have conveniently forgotten -- about this whole underclass of employment where the fundamental requirements are that you are required to stand upright and convert oxygen into carbon dioxide. There's always a line up of more people like that, so management treats them like crap basically because they can replace fired/quitting employees at the drop of a hat. They hate their employees because they're lazy and unmotivated and trying to rob the store blind -- and the employees hate management right back and remain unmotivated and feel entitled to "extras". It is a vicious circle.
Not all employees are like this. You get the intelligent and motivated people, but they're usually working their way up (where "up" means "out of here") and will be able to get a better job. So they're gone too. So why care?
And why would customers care? Treating employees right costs money, and that translates into higher prices -- and when it comes to a commodity that is gasoline, service isn't worth anything.
So here we are -- we've raced to the bottom so fast we've bounced off it.
And some guy has died for $100.
Again.
See you next year when it happens again.
