How to Reduce Employee Theft

Thieves Don't Have to Look Like Thieves!else deserves payment
According to Government Figures, employee7) Old Fashioned Theft - Employee picks up an
theft costs companies billions of dollars a year initem on their way to lunch and just walks out the
lost profits. In the retail industry, where many ofdoor!
the small business owners in America do business,If You Don't Trust Him, Why Did You Hire him!
the average employee thief steals an average ofLastly, hire the right people! Billions of dollars are
six (6) times more dollars of goods than an offwasted each year on hiring, training and
the street shoplifter! The direct loss of profit toadvertising for employees that ultimately are
small business owners can be staggering,there for only one reason - to steal your profits!
especially in today's difficult economic climate. AYou need to Find Employees You Can Trust!
little common sense and a minimal investment inWhen you factor in how employee theft steals
pre-employment screening can make theyour profits, affects customer service and
difference in the ultimate success or failure ofemployee morale, the saying "One bad apple spoils
many small business.the whole bunch" rings true. The sobering facts
Can You Trust The Employees That Keep Yourare that you already have more than one bad
Books?apple. Put systems in place to reduce your risk
It is important to be aware of some commonand catch employee theft.
theft schemes. Very often, it is sloppy or laxTechnology is a Great Thing and Makes Bosses
book keeping as well as poor supervision andHappy!
follow up that sets the stage for employee theft.Perform a Pre-Employment Background Check
Good record keeping is not only important toBefore Hiring Another Person! Do this before you
reduce theft, but will improve your businesshire anyone else, too! You should call references
decisions as well.and past employers too, but keep the following in
What's In The Box Heading to the Trash? - Themind - the past employer might be afraid of the
Company's Profits!problem employee, afraid of liability arising from
Learn to spot the "Big 7" common employeespeaking honestly about bad employee behavior,
scamsor might not want to be involved as they stand
1) Receipt Forging - employee rings customer andto gain nothing by being honest with you. The
collects money - then voids sale and re-rings it forperson you speak to could even be a friend or
a lesser amount or cheaper product and pocketsaccomplice to the potential hire, and might very
differencewell lie to help the applicant get hired! Don't trust
2) Hiding Receipts - employees simply takes thethose you don't know - too much is at stake!
receipt and keeps the moneyWith today's technology, doing a background
3) Pocketing Loose Change - employee pocketscheck every time before hiring, or even when
petty cash or other small amounts of cash - thisyou might be suspicious of a current employee, is
adds up when it's done regularlyquick and inexpensive.
4) Bogus Returns - After the sale is completed,One out of three employees will steal from you
employee completes a customer return andand 9 out of 10 would if the conditions are right -
refund, then pockets the purchase price andfind out how easy, quick and incredibly important
SALES TAX, and the original product is still withit is to do background checks - just click below
the customer. This common ploy for retail sales isand begin keeping your profits!
a double loss, as the store owner no longer hasTips & Warnings
the product, the money the product costs, theWatch for unexplained increase in an employee's
revenue from the sale or the sales tax collected.lifestyle - could signal theft but don rush to
5) Employee Partnering with Non Employee Friendconclusions! Investigate!
- This scheme can be used many ways, with theDivide tasks so no single employee has too much
employee allowing a bogus return, allowing shopauthority without supervision
lifting, charging below cost prices to their friends,Shift monetary responsibilities so other employees
or could even be used to fake an injury and file amight see inconsistencies or missing or altered
claim!documentation
6) Over billing Expenses - Employee submitsRemember - never jump to conclusions, but if
double bills, fake bills or even changes bills sosomeone lies on an application, what damage
funds are re-directed to them when someonewould they do as an employee?