Private investigator – San Bernardino/ Riverside/Los AngelesEmployee dishonesty is a growing phenomenon costing American business in excess of $50 billion annually. It can happen in your company. The FBI calls employee theft the fastest growing crime in America. According to the Chamber of Commerce, every three-business failure is the direct result of employee theft. The Boston Globe and Denver Post newspapers recently reported that U.S. Companies lose nearly $400 Billion per year in lost productivity due to “time theft” or loafing. The American Society of Employers estimates that 20% of every dollar earned by all U.S. company is lost to employee theft. One third of all U.S. corporate bankruptcies are directly caused by employee theft. Employee theft is stealing of money, use or misuse of the employer’s assets without permission, false representation of time work, which they did not work, taking office supplies and/or materials, or taking product information or designs and trade secrets. Theft of information can cripple business operation-giving competitors inside advantage and knowledge of company designs and products. Some prevalent forms of employee theft are office supplies (paper, time, computers, cabinets, fuel, equipment, tools, petty cash, etc.) We know based on statistics that 42.7% of annual loss is attributing directly to employee theft. Now that we have identified an area of venerability, the question is how do we protect the company from loss? There are some safeguards that we could implement to prevent or minimize theft. First, we must eliminate the myths.
Employers when confronted with the issue of employee theft often dismissed the notion and under estimate the employee based on the following myths:
• We are careful in the selection of employees! Naturally, you are, but the majority of employees who steal are ‘first time offenders.’
• We have our own security department! Last year, a western regional bank suffered a number of “ski-mask” robberies. When the robber was finally caught, he turned out to be the bank’s Director of Security!
• Our computer systems have the latest in anti-hacking systems. That is fine, but more than 65 percent of IT crime is traceable to insiders.
• Our cameras and undercover agents catch most shoplifters. According to the National Retail Security Survey, 48 percent of merchandise losses are attributable to employees.
• Our procedures are foolproof. Famous last words. Many of the largest frauds occur in companies who say precisely this. However, effective the internal control and accounting system, it is not unbeatable.
• We would not want to offend staff that has been with us for many years. Thoughtful and considerate, but employees rarely object.
• We will not be badly hurt by isolated incidents. Perhaps not. However, most large losses are caused by long-term, ongoing schemes that are cleverly hidden for years.
• We have never suffered a theft by an employee. That may be true, but the fact that you may never have had a fire or a vehicle involved in an accident, does not prevent you taking out property insurance. The first loss really hurts!
• We have never suffered a theft by an employee. Maybe you have, but you do not know it yet. U.S. businesses lose as much as $110M dollars a day due to employee-related crimes. However, most employee theft goes undetected.
How much would it be worth to you to find out if a job candidate might steal from your company, use drugs on the job, show up for work and work while they are there? How can a company prevent this type of unwanted activity? Well, each industry is different but here are some good overall pointers.
ACIS investigations provides employers with Pre-employment Screen information regarding criminal record checks, credit checks, or other information regarding changes in life style, character, crime, registered sex offenders, previous workplace violence issues, sexual harassment problems, identity theft and employment eligibility, or risk management activity. Addressing these issues before employment begins is much easier than attempting to correct a problem uncovered after the start of employment.
Conduct frequent physical inventories. Pilferage is one of the most common forms of internal loss. Reconcile sales to inventory on a quarterly basis, or at least annually, with the help of ACIS investigations, conduct surprise inventories.
Separate bookkeeping functions. Misapplication of payments can lead to embezzlement. Do not let the same person who processes checks also manage the accounts receivable records.
Personally approve bookkeeping adjustments. Approve any adjustments to the books no matter how slight – even adjustments to correct an error.
Control check signers. Limit the number of signatories to yourself and one or two highly trusted assistants. Keep blank checks under lock and key.
Review monthly bank statements. Instruct your bank to send the monthly statement directly to you. Review the statement before passing it on to your bookkeeper. This review allows you to spot any improperly executed checks.
Tighten up on petty cash. Allow only one or two trusted employees to disburse petty cash. Require that a receipt and a signed voucher be submitted for all petty cash disbursements.
Separate buying and bookkeeping. To maintain a system of checks and balances, assign ordering and payment responsibilities to different employees.
Watch company credit cards. Require all credit cards be signed out and all credit card expenses be authorized by a purchase order.
Document all expense reports. Require strict documentation for all reimbursable expenses incurred by employees. Subject every expense account voucher to a pre-audit review procedure before payment.
Have a third party refund policy. Issue refunds only upon the approval of a third party, preferably a trusted assistant.
By looking at these policies and procedures and making adjustments, companies can avoid a myriad of problems and therefore increase productivity and profitability. ACIS investigations can provide undercover operatives to unveil internal theft supported by hidden cameras and surveillance. For more information, contact ACIS Investigations by calling (909) 620-0139.
U.S. businesses lose as much as $110M dollars a day due to employee-related crimes. However, most employee theft goes undetected.
You save on profits, materials, law suits, equipment, time and production, and reduce liability when incident is detected before occurrence.
Causes of Employee Theft
Rarely do most employees steal from their employer because of need. Thefts occur because an opportunity to do so has presented itself. It makes sense that an employee will only steal from their employer if the chances of being caught are low.
There are many other basic reasons why employees steal:
• Low morale at the workplace. This is also a major reason why businesses suffer from low production.
• The employee feels that the business or company has wronged or mistreated them in some way.
• The employee feels that they are underpaid [and under-appreciated] for the "hard" work, they do.
• The consequences for theft are minimal. The company has no punitive procedures or policies regarding employee theft. If there are no set consequences to employee theft then employees will continue to steal, because they think that they will not be punished.
• Lack of control over inventory. It is easy to steal because the employer does not have preventive measures to stop them. Preventive measures are crucial to reducing the risk of employee theft. If preventive measures are not existent then the opportunity to steal is very high.
Facts about Employee Theft
• A majority of employee theft goes undetected by supervisors and management.
• Opportunity remains the leading cause of employee theft.
• Employee theft is responsible for 33% of all business bankruptcies.
• Other employees often ignore the theft and do not do anything about it. Employers should not count on other employees to report employee theft, unless they can put a system in place that keeps the "reporter" anonymous and/or a reward program is set up.
• Employee theft is prevalent in every type of business.
• Business owners must be aware of these facts in order to detect employee theft. It is a common fact that most employers do not suspect their employees of theft. Another fact that is important for owners and supervisors to keep in mind is that the majority of the people who are stealing are those who have a close relationship with their boss.
