| e theft can take a big bite out of your | | | | from engaging with employees so they |
| business’s bottom line. In fact, the | | | | understand how seriously accusations of theft are |
| Association of Certified Fraud Examiners reports | | | | taken to installing video camera surveillance |
| businesses lose approximately six percent of their | | | | around the office. |
| revenue from employee theft. Small businesses | | | | Encourage your employees to take personal |
| suffer more because they often have limited | | | | security seriously. There is only so far commercial |
| resources they can devote to detecting theft. No | | | | security systems can go in helping a company |
| matter the size of your budget, there are steps | | | | deter theft. No burglar alarm system in the world |
| every business can take to protect itself from | | | | will protect an employee from having his or her |
| losing money to unscrupulous employees. | | | | wallet swiped by a colleague. Have employees |
| Start by creating a positive work environment. | | | | keep purses, wallets and cell phones on their |
| This will encourage employees to follow | | | | person at all times. If the item cannot be kept |
| established policies and procedures. Fair employee | | | | with the worker, encourage it locked in a desk. If |
| practices, written job descriptions and clear | | | | employees have an office with a door, give the |
| procedures all lead to a better work environment. | | | | employee a key and prompt them to lock the |
| Managers should work to keep open lines of | | | | door whenever they are out of the room. |
| communication with their employees. This will | | | | Video surveillance is also helpful in areas that are |
| make employees more comfortable reporting | | | | away from the office’s general population. |
| inappropriate behavior and theft. Managers should | | | | Hallways and closets that are not widely used are |
| also consider implementing a positive employee | | | | perfect spots for loiterers to wait for an |
| recognition program. In addition to these actions, | | | | opportunity to take something. Encourage your |
| the most important first step is to document a | | | | employees to challenge these loiterers. |
| policy on security and communicate that | | | | While office supplies may seem like small items, |
| information with your employees. Make sure they | | | | theft of pens, sticky notes and other supplies can |
| have a clear understanding of what is considered | | | | add up quickly. Consider putting a few individuals in |
| a policy violation and the consequences involved. | | | | charge of distributing supplies or simply give them |
| Next, implement internal controls to keep your | | | | a key to the office supply cabinet. This way they |
| operations effective and efficient. Make sure to | | | | can monitor how many items are being taken and |
| separate employee duties. This means no one | | | | by whom. |
| person should both record and process | | | | After an employee leaves the company, whether |
| transactions. Try to control access to important | | | | they are terminated or they choose to leave, |
| financial information. Certain employees have no | | | | make sure they surrender any equipment issued |
| business being involved in financial aspects of a | | | | and turn over identification badges. This will |
| company and they should not have access to this | | | | discourage theft of items or information once the |
| information. | | | | employee is gone. |
| Increase the perception of detection in your | | | | With a clear understanding of ways to secure |
| office building. If an employee believes he or she | | | | your office, you can take steps to implement |
| will be caught in the act of stealing, he or she will | | | | these suggestions. |
| be less likely to do it. This can mean everything | | | | |