I will be happy to supply you with any additional information. What information do you need?

No. They have not at this time and they never mentioned that they would refer the matter to the police.

Unfortunately, my staff and myself have done this in the past and we have always been honest about it. We have a no refund policy so sometimes when we are checking to see if the merchandise is right for someone we have taken it home, brought it back or paid for it. Always on the up and up.

Also because my staff purchases the gift shop items it gives us access to the vendors and we get merchandise at wholesale prices at times. This particular items (cutting boards priced at $16.95 retail were approximately $8.00 wholesale). I told the gift shop volunteer when I took the merchandise that I paid my secretary so the volunteer/s would not be upset with our discount. When I got back to my office, my secretary was not there, she had left for the day and I brought the merchandise home forgetting about not telling my secretary the next day. The volunteer then asked my secretary if I had paid and of course she at the time knew nothing about it. At some point and time my secretary asked me if I paid for the cutting boards and to be honest I don't remember this conversation but it was said that I said yes. I have no recollection of this conversation. I don't remember her asking me this question and if she did it had to be when I was passing through the office and my mind was not thinking of the cutting boards. I had and still have every intentions of paying for the merchandise that is sitting on my dining room table. She and I both were on vacations at different times recently and honestly the cutting boards slipped my mind. Even I think this whole story sounds lame but it what happened and my intent was not to take something that did not belong to me.

Like I said we have done this in the past, with no problem. This has been an unfortunate incident that I can't believe is happening.

Security has not be involved but the manager of Work Life Services sat in on this meeting with my boss.

I know the Work Life Manager pretty well and we have worked together on projects. She knows my reputation. I have never in 21 years done anything intentionally that would jeopardize my job. I love the work I do with volunteers and know the value they bring to the hospital. Again, I would not intentionally put myself in a situation like stealing!

My most recent performance eval was excellent from my previous boss. During a hospital reorganization, I was switched to a different person to report to. Someone outside my hospital but within our health system. She knew me as a hospital acquaintance but not someone that I had ever worked with before.

It seems like to me this is being blown out of proportion and yes - it does sound awful and I'm starting to feel like the criminal I'm not. I understand a reprimand is in order but I don't think I should lose my job over something that was innocently done. Hindsight sure is 20-20 and at that moment I showed poor judgment.

What can I do to plead my case?