Physical removal of items, monies and IT from an organisation. Finished or unfinished, raw materials or products used in production such as paints or lubricants. Even waste and recycled materials. There is a marketplace for any product for sale or for use by an employee and you must be 100% sure that no one is taking advantage.
Around two thirds of office-based UK employees confessed to stealing from their workplace in a study conducted in 2016. But just because an employee confessed to stealing from their workplace in a report, doesn’t mean they were ever caught. The employer could have no idea that this has happened. In fact, if two thirds of employees are doing it, it’s statistically likely they wouldn’t. Do you know if it’s happening in your organisation?
The police service is under enormous pressure and have little resources to investigate employee theft. Which means that it is on you to act and now is the time to do so.
It’s Time to Act
An employee has the OPPORTUNITY to commit theft and fraud within their daily role, or by a slight adaptation on their part. They will also know and understand the limitations of your systems, whether they are operational, IT or security and crime prevention systems. They will know how to work around them.
An employee will RATIONALISE their actions. Remember they are not a criminal, a thief or fraudster in their own minds. They will feel they have a right to illegal remuneration for any number of reasons. It is often irrelevant as to how they rationalise, what is relevant is that the rationalisation has encouraged them to commit theft or fraud.
And an employee’s MOTIVATION will always be financial renumeration. Never in my 30 years as an investigator (including as a police detective) have I seen anyone committing theft or fraud for a charitable or philanthropic reason.
A dishonest employee will always have that tipping point, where they have arrived at the conclusion that their motivation is important enough, they have spent enough time rationalising their actions and the opportunity is right. Take away their opportunity and you avert the situation completely.
That’s why it’s time to act.
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