This happened at my old company Nob Hill Foods. Once upon a time, Ray and David worked together at Fry's market.
Ray left Fry's and got a job at Nob Hill. Ray became meat manager.
A couple years later, David lost his job at Fry's
David came to Nob Hill Foods to ask Ray for help getting hired. Ray put in a good word, David was hired.
10 years later, things have changed. Now Ray is an assistant manager and David is the meat supervisor. Ray gets caught eating something he didn't pay for. David is called in and decides to fire Ray. What do you think of that? David probably didn't even remember that Ray got him his job. But he should. What would you do if you were in David's position? If I was David, Ray would pretty much have a free pass for everything. He could do anything he wants within reason.
BTW, Ray with help from the union got his job back. His story (that he came up with later) was a customer told him the Harris Ranch cooked tri tips were bad. He had to sample one to see if she was right. He wasn't stealing. He was sampling.
I wouldn't fire him, but I'd keep him on a short leash for awhile. I'd remind him of his position and what the expectations are AND, probably the most important part, remind him that in his position he is a leader and to lead by example. If anyone else finds out he's eatin' for free, they will undoubtedly want to eat for free. That will kill your margin in a heartbeat. And if the margin is hurt, he may lose his job simply because money isn't adding up. I'd also demand my drinks be put on his bartab for a month. That'll hurt him in the pocket and he'll get the point.
