In this age of relativism, it seems that the old mores of society are increasingly being cast aside in favor of a nonjudgmental environment in which people are viewed as not wholly responsible for their actions. Outside influences and factors are continually blamed for the shortcomings of the individual, rather than his or her own poor choices. This societal shift has reared its ugly head in the area of workplace theft.
Additionally, the virtual enslavement of vast numbers of our citizens to electronic devices and social media has provided a new element to office thievery. An employee who is harnessed to his or her personal iPhone endeavors while on the clock is stealing – plain and simple.
The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners reports that theft of non-cash items increased from 10.6 percent of corporate theft losses in 2002 to 21 percent in 2018.[1] Pairing the two aforementioned factors, this should come as no surprise.
An employee who has continually been the beneficiary of blame shifting can much more easily justify the theft of company property, from office supplies to equipment, especially someone who feels underpaid or underappreciated. And a worker who is addicted to Facebook probably sees no issue with the lowered productivity that incessant posting causes. It would not be unexpected to find the same two problems playing out in the same employee.
To adequately control and respond to such problems, it is crucial to have clear policies and procedures in place and to be consistent in demanding adherence. It is also advisable to have systems that detect signs of theft or abuse of the timeclock. Once these systems are triggered, an investigator proficient in workplace theft can be brought in to provide documentation as needed.
If you suspect employees of violating your trust, call the professionals of ResultQuest at 713-781-9040. We can assist you with measures to identify and eliminate such behaviors.