Legal Question in Employment Law in Virginia
Signing papers while emotionally distressed upon accusation
I was an assistant manager for a retail chain, (privately owned), in Va. I was called to the office by loss prevention, to be questioned about purchasing merchandise, which had been discounted by the stores claims dept. employee. I purchased the said items, and with my bankcard, so he had proof. I honestly did not realize that this was against the rules, and have seen other employees purchasing these same (dented cans) that were marked down. I offered to pay what he said I owed for the difference between the actual retail price of said cans that were not damaged. He then pulled out forms, to make restitution for this $14.20, and I was so upset that I wrote exactly what he told me to, and initialed the part that says I signed of my own free will. After discussing this with my husband, he said I should not have signed without legal representation, but at the time, I was scared and embarrassed, as well as in tears. I just wanted to get all of this over with. Could there possibly be a way to withdraw these signed documents? I doubt it, but I am really regretting how I let my emotions take over for rational thought.
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Signing papers while emotionally distressed upon accusation
You haven't indicated what you confessed to under store coercion. Whether the store would allow you to now withdraw your statements would likely be up to some one else in the store management hierarchy other than the loss prevention folks.
A basic lesson to be learned from your experience, of course, is that one should never sign anything that is being contemporaneously coerced by whomever or whatever.
Re: Signing papers while emotionally distressed upon accusation
Under the facts presented, while your employer may permit a retraction, they will not be legally required to.
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