How to Answer: What would you do if a co-worker asked you to help them steal?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Panera Bread job interview.
35. What would you do if a co-worker asked you to help them steal?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to hear that you are an honest and ethical person. Assure the interviewer that you would not steal if a coworker asked you to, and mention the action you would take if you faced this situation. Theft can occur in many ways in the workplace and is not necessarily reserved to blatantly taking a product. Other forms of theft include:
- Timecard fabrication, also known as 'buddy punching' where you punch in for a coworker who is not present.
- 'Borrowing' money from the register until a later date.
- Falsifying vendor records or inventory.
- Taking items from the lost and found.
- Stealing data or documents containing trade secrets.
- Taking office supplies such as ink, or adding personal items to supply orders.
Express that you would never engage in poor behavior and discuss how you would report this type of situation. If this has happened to you in the past, you can give the interviewer a brief overview.
Written by Rachelle Enns on September 19th, 2020
Answer Example
"Stealing is wrong, no matter how I look at it. I have zero tolerance for unethical behavior and would report the situation immediately. I realize that theft happens in many forms. I once had a coworker ask me to punch in for her when she was late. She didn't want to lose hours on her timesheet! I said no and told her that she needed to wake up earlier to arrive at work on time. She apologized later for asking me to do something unethical. It didn't happen again."
Written by Rachelle Enns on September 19th, 2020