And is treated as a criminal matter. But the manager telling employees to clock out before their shift ends is a civil matter.

Most often an employee caught stealing is just fired. If there's significant value involved perhaps the police would get a call.

Telling an employee to clock out and keep working is a labor law violation, that's not just a civil matter. It happens, but often with the agreement of the employee. I.e. "I know you're about to hit overtime, so if you clock out I'll give you cash, otherwise I have to send you home."

The point is the police will take a complaint in the case of employee theft.

And the "agreement" of the employee is utterly meaningless because it's not a negotiation between equals. Coercion is more accurate.

> labor law violation, that's not just a civil matter

So people go to jail over it? It goes on their criminal record and comes up in background checks?

> I'll give you cash

This part sounds like pure fantasy. And the cash would be less than overtime pay (otherwise why even make the offer) so it's still wage theft.

> if you clock out I'll give you cash

Yes, but on what planet?

Target has a whole surveillance department just for this

> retail and food service.

Two industries that typically pay significantly less than a living wage and which have a reputation for treating their employees like absolute dirt.

Would you respect your employer if they didn’t respect you?

My sister was a waitress at Red Lobster in somewhat of a tourism city and made absolute bank. She still stole stuff like cutlery, salt shakers, etc. Let’s not pretend that most people that are stealing are Robin Hood types.

I don’t think what you and I have said is in opposition?

It’s mutual distain between employee and employer.

When this conversation comes up it is typically mentioned that employers have mechanisms of enforcement that are tied to their basic accounting required for taxes as well as surveillance cameras that are also meant to watch customers for theft. They also have the ability to contact law enforcement and have their employees arrested for theft.

There is an asymmetry in this relationship however where employees don't practically have recourse when their employers steal from them.