A series of interviews and a review of public records shows a pattern of Colorado gas station/convenience store managers encouraging employees to pay out of pocket for cash register shortages — and alerting authorities if they did not. Under state law, wages may be withheld for 90 days during a criminal investigation, and should be returned with interest if no charges are filed. However, final paychecks are not always returned.
From the story: “More than 30 years of public records and internal documents dealing with Bradley Petroleum, one of Colorado's oldest employers, show the company has repeatedly been investigated for violating federal and state labor law, Rocky Mountain PBS I-News has found. In particular, for a pattern of suspending employees for shortages, reporting them to the police for alleged theft, and then permanently withholding the employee's final check despite a lack of evidence of any wrongdoing.”
Read the full story by Rocky Mountain PBS I-News.