In the everyday workplace, items such as pens, rulers and notepads don’t demand a declaration for their absence.
No longer can an employer overlook these small disappearances; as focusing on external, as well as internal, theft within the workplace is evolving into an essential business practice.
Gone are the days when consumer theft was the only threat to business. Reoccurring cases are alerting employers on rising internal crime issues and alarming them to how best protect themselves and their assets.
A common misconception is that theft and workplace fraud occur only within multi-million dollar companies – however, recently, small Renwick based company Wairau Power Services has put such myths to rest.
A recent case saw an administrator for the company embezzle thousands by giving herself a pay rise, stealing client payments and abusing the company fuel card.
The individual managed payments from clients to the company but instead diverted the funds to her own account, changing the bank account number on client invoices.
Alarmingly, this is one of many cases that senior employment relations adviser Vanessa Bainbridge, from Employsure, has witnessed.
The workplace relations specialist service trusted by more than 21,000 small businesses has seen many cases – proven and unproven – of employee theft.
Companies such as Employsure are made to assist employees with prevention strategies such as payroll, internal relations, recruitment, performance management, workplace health and safety, and workplace conduct.
The problem with managing such issues lays in the fact that many Kiwi businesses fear monitoring their employees incorrectly – often serious cases of misconduct are therefore overlooked due to misconceptions.
Theft may not be the easiest to identify, but installing a hidden camera is an action that employers can take to prevent crime and monitor the workplace.
Bainbridge is sending a message to employers that they can in fact surveil their employees without them knowing, particularly if they are suspected of stealing.
However, it is important that this is done within compliance of the Privacy Act found here.