stealing

[palefrost]

Do you think employees steal more from a business or does the consumers steal more? I was really surprised by wal-mart when i worked for them. They believed that employee theft was more important then consumer theft. They hardly watched consumers who shopped but had the cameras on staff!

[vicki2]

I only know from friends who own businesses, but they seem to agree. For instance, in the restaurant business, losses due to employees stealing cutlery, linens not to mention food is huge. Insofar as customers, it's the odd small thing taken.

[brian]

Well, when I used to work at a supermarket I certainly saw the staff theft side. I mean, really, a heavy smoker on the cigarette kiosk? No one watching the book-keeper? Bored teenagers left alone in a warehouse filled with junk food?

[guard3725]

Sorry Brian but did you actually see/hear of them stealing or did you assume that because some manager had put temptation in front of them that they had to be stealing? Most people are paranoid enough that if they are stealing from their work then they dont do it in their own department.
If you want a good laugh though:-
I got sent to a different store and when checking the booking in form noticed that a guard I had previous experience with had been there for the previous fortnight. While talking to the staff about him, one of them mentioned that they had heard his bag "clinking" when leaving one night. When I asked what happened she said nothing because the store manager apparently couldn't search the guard in question without two of our area manager's being present. Now for the punchlines:-
1. After 5pm there is only ever one area manager on duty to arrange absence cover. Therefore no-one on the backshift can be searched.
2. I had been told by my company that the guard had been dismissed after our previous encounter, after I reported to the in house security that he was planning on lifting stuff. They ended up searching him and escorting him off the premises after finding a boxed mobile phone and other items in his bag. Obviously he was using his friendship with the area manager to his advantage.

[ladygirl99]

I also worked in retail like almost a decade ago. The customers usually be watched more than the employees yet I had see a couple employees see odds and end like magazines and snacks. The reason why I never reported was because I felt it was security's job to watch for everyone not just certain type of people, and I don't get paid to do a job that others had failed to do.

[brian]

Originally Posted by guard3725

Sorry Brian but did you actually see/hear of them stealing or did you assume that because some manager had put temptation in front of them that they had to be stealing?

Heh, saw some, and the book keeper was later sacked for stealing.

Trouble was, I had no loyalty to the management so felt no motivation to report anything I saw. The perps were my friends, and the management treated me - well, as a cheap disposable employee.

I was growing my hair long at the time - late 80's - and in those days the only men believed to have long hair must be either a Hells Angel or gay (I was simply neo-hippy ). Got plenty of stick for it, and management actually ensured I tied my ponytail back and hid it down my shirt so customers couldn't see it.

In such conditions, the other teen workers could do all they liked in the warehouse for all I cared.

I guess I learned my first business lesson there - treat employees with proper respect.

I think it's Southern Airlines in the USA who made looking after their employees core company policy - reasoning that happy employees work better for customers and company. They've been the only US airline to file profits every year for 30 years, including after 9/11.

2c.

[vicki2]

That really interesting about Southern Airlines ...I wonder exactly what they do in order to keep people happy enough that they stay loyal and good. Any idea?

[tater03]

I have worked in retail over the years and you are right there is no company loyalty anymore. At the same time if you treat your employees with respect and dignity, not all, but most employess will do the same for their employer. In the end that would reduce stealing, people missing so much time and just the overall bad attitude employees sometimes tend to have. That's not to say I think it is alright to steal from the company you work for. I just think a lot less of it would go on if employees felt more valued. But for some reason compainies tend to think employees are a dime a dozen and a lot of times they let that attitude come across in the way they interact with employees.
As for the stealing I never really understood it. I just would be to afraid of getting caught. And in the end that happens a lot of the time.

[brian]

My bad - it was Southwest Airlines - here's a write up about them:
http://www.platinax.co.uk/forum/2087-herb-kelleher.html

[vicki2]

LOL ...that makes more sense. I used to fly on them alot when I lived in Texas ...they're a great company, and yes, their staff is happy.