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Often, it is not customers that steal from businesses. The people you trust most can be responsible, too; your employees
Sectors such as retail can suffer eye-watering losses due to employee theft today. Still, these problems are not industry-specific, and dubious characters lie in wait everywhere. Even if you hire someone you fully believe in, circumstances can change, as can people.
Trust is vital in the workplace. That said, if you are overseeing an environment like this, you should implement solutions that can address worse-case scenarios. It does not hurt to be prepared.
Here are some ways your firm can prevent employee theft in the workplace.
Utilize a Storage Company
Outside help may be needed when it comes to storing physical assets. Do not hesitate to strike a deal if you need greater space or security around your storage needs.
Companies like Vertical Storage USA can help with these objectives. Part of their ethos is to provide storage so that warehouses can avoid employee theft and item misplacement. Get in touch with them for a free estimate, as they tailor their solutions to your firm’s acute requirements.
Using a storage company can also keep the pressure off your business. You will not need to spend time and money expanding to keep your assets secure.
Shred Documents
Not everything needs to be stored. Moreover, thieving employees cannot steal what has already been destroyed. Shredding documents could be helpful here.
Any paperwork that is not needed for immediate use can be shredded. Should it be required later, redownload it from your firm’s secure and encrypted cloud server and print it again. If the document has been annotated physically, scan it digitally for a computer-based copy, then proceed with the shredding.
Shredding important documents should be a company-wide policy. Make sure all of your workers are diligent in this regard.
Improve Cybersecurity
Not all instances of theft involve physical property. It is essential to be mindful of securing your digital assets as well.
For example, one former Microsoft employee managed to steal $10 million in-store credit. Other dubious workers may try to instigate data breaches, leaking information to competitors.
Try to overhaul your workplace’s cybersecurity features and processes. For instance, you could store data on an encrypted cloud server where only select employees are authorized to view certain files. That way, you can mitigate the chances of data falling into the wrong hands.
Update the Staff Handbook
Implementing company-wide policies can be challenging. The best way to succeed in this, besides sending out emails to all staff, is to update your firm’s staff handbook.
If the employee handbook is clearly presented and frequently updated, situations like accidental theft can be more promptly avoided. Employees know where they stand, which workers have access to which items, and the penalties for any negligence, which is often immediate dismissal.
Theft is not always carried out with malicious intent. This could be the case if an employee is a hybrid worker and occasionally takes the wrong equipment home. Misunderstandings may also occur if the employee has been away on leave and recently returned. Mitigate these situations with well-defined rules. Your employees can refer to it if they are uncertain about what they should and should not touch.
You may also like: The Incident Free Office: How to Improve Security in the Workplace
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