In certain workplaces, employees are actually instructed to be dishonest. Some managers believe that employee theft improves morale and makes boring jobs exciting. In many businesses, because so many people are stealing, those who do not steal are the deviants and outcasts theft becomes normal and honesty becomes abnormal. In other words, poor examples are set: employees may observe managerial illegalities and then act similarly. Politicians, corporate executives, and other “pillars of society” are constantly being found guilty of some form of crime, resulting in inadequate socialization. Otherwise, litigation can result, besides other losses. A system of policies, procedures, awareness, and training are essential. Management must ensure that the corporate culture facilitates respect for individual difference.
Blades (2010: 35) writes that an individual’s differences (e.g., ethnicity, accent, or hobbies) can result in bullying or tormenting by co-workers that can lead to alienation and thoughts of revenge, such as theft and violence. The environment also affects internal theft. A wise employer should be alert to troubled employees and suggest referral to an Employee Assistance Program (see Chapter 18). Research by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (2010: 4–5) revealed that the most common behavioral “red flags” of offenders were living beyond their means (43%) and financial difficulties (36%). It is inappropriate to state that every employee who has such problems will steal, but during trying times, the pressure to steal may be greater. Financial troubles, domestic discord, drug abuse, and excessive gambling can contribute to theft. Employee personal problems often affect behavior on the job. Two major causes of employee theft are employee personal problems and the environment. Purpura, in Security and Loss Prevention (Sixth Edition), 2013 Why Do Employees Steal? Undercover investigations are a widely used and effective method to combat losses. Although these practices produce a negative image of undercover investigative services, not all of these companies are unethical. When clients become impatient and ask why the investigation is taking so long, sometimes the service company’s response is that “a break in the case is right around the corner and we just need a few more weeks.” If put under excessive pressure by supervisors, investigators may succumb to exaggerated reports and may even invent information. Frightening reports about losses can scare clients into paying for unnecessarily lengthy investigations. Supervisors are known to withhold good information from clients to submit later during “dry weeks,” when no substantial information is uncovered. The reporting phase of the investigation is the time when unscrupulous activity by the service company may take place. Are they prepared to testify in court, if necessary? How many reports will the client receive each week? Undercover investigators send reports to their immediate supervisor, who edits them before sending a report to the client.
Are investigators bonded? Proof should be provided. The client should ask the representative about the backgrounds of investigators, selection methods (for employment and assignment), training, and supervision. The cost may be thousands of dollars per week, depending on the background of the investigator. These investigations last from six to eight weeks but may require months to yield success. When speaking to a service representative, the client needs to find out the cost and probable length of the investigation. With an understanding of how contract undercover investigation services operate, the client will obtain better results. The undercover investigator secretly infiltrates employee informal groups, as a regular employee, to gather information about theft, illegal drug usage, production problems, employee behavior toward customers, and other issues. Management often recruits an outside firm specializing in undercover investigations. When this happens, management wants immediate action even when it is predisposed to avoid panic buying. Purpura, in Security and Loss Prevention (Sixth Edition), 2013 Contract Undercover InvestigationsĪ common scenario in businesses is the panic atmosphere after the discovery of a high inventory-shrinkage statistic following an inventory.
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