High class business theft
When you think about someone stealing something, you probably think of these common scenarios: common street criminals who steal to maintain a drug habit; malicious people who steal for the thrill; or kids who steal to impress their friends. These are the stories that are most often paraded in newspapers and on television. But another class of criminals steals in plain sight, and smiles while doing so.{{more}} The criminals in this class are professionals, too: trusted employees who go to work every day, do their jobs, and leave for home after a full shift-with company property.
Every business experiences some sort of financial loss from employees who take items home from work. Many of those losses are absentminded thefts-pens, forgotten behind ears; paperclips, stored in pockets; and other small supplies that were strategically placed during the day for convenient use – that âinnocentâ employees either return the next day or figure, âOh, itâs just a pen; Iâll just keep it here by the phone.â
However, other losses are intentional thefts – items that were purchased for work use, taken home, and utilized for personal gain. The items are usually not large or very expensive but over time, and with multiple employees doing so, the loss of these materials could spell financial ruin.
Letâs cite a few industries and get this out in the open:
⢠Healthcare. It should be no surprise that the hospital is experiencing a loss greater than $100,000! A few bandages, some aspirin, refilling your friendâs prescription at no cost, first aid ointments or even a few pairs of scissors. Isnât that stealing?
⢠Hospitality. The next time you enter the house of someone who works in a hotel, check out the linens . . . chances are they have hotel sheets, hotel towels, hotel soaps and shampoos, and maybe even a few bathrobes with the hotel logo. Isnât that stealing?
⢠Restaurant. Have you ever wondered why your friends who work in restaurants hardly ever go to the grocery store? Some of them âshopâ at the restaurant: a few pounds of meat, a few containers of sugar, a roll or two of paper towels, a bag of flour, a bottle of wine . . . Isnât that stealing?
⢠Lumber and hardware. A few nails once in a while, a piece or two of lumber every now and then, an extra sheet of galvanize, some varnish, a screwdriver . . . Doesnât someone have to pay for this stuff? Isnât that stealing?
⢠Office. Things are really bad when an office worker takes an order! âGirl, bring me two pens and pencils please, for Marcusâs school bag; and donât forget some of those small writing pads.â Can we say highway robbery? Isnât that stealing?
No, not all employees steal, but there are those whose eyes and desires lead them to think that their thefts are not really stealing-because their acts are disguised behind a pretty, professional wardrobe and no one comes out of the crime with handcuffs, their picture in the news, or a jail sentence.
Oh, and by the way, if your supervisor says itâs okay to take âthatâ home, remember that the supervisor is probably not an owner nor does he likely have a financial interest in the business.
Chances are, itâs probably not okay.
⢠Karen Hinds President/CEO â Workplace Success Group,
Toll Free: 1-877-902-2775;
Tel: 1-203-757-4103
Karen@WorkplaceSuccess.com
www.WorkplaceSuccess.com
Creator of The Workplace Success Program (TM)
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