CazVid Blog Tips to curb workplace theft

Prevent theft in the workplace with this recruitment method

Theft at work is a type of workplace violence that involve staff members stealing from or misusing business resources. Both real and intangible goods such as data, time, or ideas are susceptible to these robberies. In order to prevent dishonest personnel from harming the company's reputation and causing large financial losses, recruiting is a crucial activity.

In this post, we'll discuss how careful personnel selection can reduce workplace theft. In this section, we'll examine the many controls that can be used during the hiring process, ranging from thorough examinations of resumes and professional references to the administration of psychometric tests and in-depth interviews.

Additionally, we will provide helpful guidance on how to spot potential red flags during the selection process, such as contradictions in career history or unethical interview conduct. In order to prevent workplace theft, we'll also discuss how to set up clear and open standards for the handling of money and other important resources.

The effects of theft at work

For a business, theft in the workplace can have disastrous repercussions. They not only represent real financial losses, but they can also harm employee morale and erode team trust. The reputation and image of the business among clients, vendors, and business partners can also be harmed by theft.

The financial losses brought on by thefts might be considerable, adversely hurting the business's revenue and profitability. In extreme circumstances, this may result in business closure, reduced investment, or even personnel reductions. Additionally, the time and money spent on researching and resolving these occurrences adds to the business's expenses.

The effects reach beyond economics, though. Employees feel insecure and unmotivated because of the stressful and distrustful work climate that thefts produce. This lack of confidence may have a negative impact on output and work quality. Additionally, it may create a hostile environment among team members, which may harm labor relations and prevent cooperation.

What leads to workplace theft?

As an illustration, the U.S. Department of Commerce averages that there are over $50 billion in annual losses due to employee theft nationwide. But what leads to workplace theft? There isn't just one solution; rather, it's a complicated, multifaceted phenomenon that depends on numerous personal, professional, and societal elements. Some of the potential reasons include:

  • Job dissatisfaction: When employees don't feel appreciated, acknowledged, or compensated for their job, they may grow resentful of the company and be inclined to steal to ease their discomfort or exact retribution.
  • Lack of control: Employees may believe that there is little chance of being caught or penalized for stealing if security and surveillance measures are inadequate or nonexistent, which lowers the perceived risk and increases the likelihood that the crime will be committed.
  • Economic pressure: When faced with personal or family financial challenges, employees may turn to stealing to supplement their income or meet their fundamental necessities.
  • Social influence and impunity: When employees see or learn about coworkers who steal and escape punishment, they may emulate the act or defend it as being typical or acceptable in the workplace.
  • Lack of ethics: If someone lacks moral standards or ethical principles that forbid theft, their actions may be motivated by egotism, greed, or a disregard for others.

There are numerous additional factors that may affect each unique case of workplace theft; these are just a few. The most important thing is that businesses are aware of the issue and take preventative and corrective efforts to eliminate or drastically decrease it.

Selection of employees is crucial to preventing workplace theft

By identifying and employing dependable and moral people, recruitment is essential in preventing theft. You can lessen the chance of hiring persons with criminal records or a propensity for dishonest behavior by properly screening prospects. Additionally, by assessing the applicants' skills and competences, it is possible to determine those who exhibit accountability and honesty, which helps to create a secure and reliable work environment.

To acquire a more complete image of the individual during selection, references and employment history are also checked. You may lessen the possibility of theft events and preserve the integrity of the company by making sure you have a dependable crew from the beginning.

Control methods used in the selecting process

You can lessen the possibility of selecting persons who are unreliable or have a history of problems by employing the following restrictions during the selection process:

  • Background checks for employment and criminal activity are necessary to uncover any fraudulent or criminal activity.
  • Before reading their resumes or doing interviews, you can have a preliminary understanding of the prospects by first conducting curricular screening using video CVs.
  • Finding out about a candidate's personality and behavior in circumstances similar to the job requires the use of personal references and video resumes.
  • Psychometric evaluations can be used to evaluate a candidate's abilities and skills as well as their appropriateness for the job.
  • Structured interviews are a useful tool for learning about a candidate's professional ethics, job history, and personal values.

Our article on interview questions may be of interest to you.

Warning indications while making the selection

It's crucial to keep an eye out for specific warning signs that could point to possible issues during the hiring process. A few of these indicators include:

  • Inconsistencies in the information the candidate submitted.
  • Answers given in the interview that are evasive or contradictory.
  • Lack of employment or references.
  • Inconsistent work history or brief employment.
  • Not having the necessary qualifications or experience for the job.

As a result, suspicious behavior or unethical attitudes during the selection process should also be taken into account as red flags. Keeping an eye out for these indicators can aid in spotting individuals who might be problematic and assist in preventing future errors.

Characteristics of an unreliable employee

A dishonest employee is one who performs poorly at work and lacks honesty, dedication, and ethics, harming the business, their coworkers, and themselves. The following traits can help you spot a dishonest employee:

  • Falsehoods or deception: Uses falsehoods or deceit to conceal errors, avoid obligations, gain unfair advantages, or cause harm to others. They might exaggerate their employment history, accomplishments, hours worked, or activities for instance.
  • Falsifies or manipulates facts or papers in order to deceive, hide, or gain an advantage. They may for instance, alter data in a report, create a fake invoice or signature, or plagiarize someone else's work.
  • Spend time speaking poorly about or criticizing your superiors, coworkers, or clients without regard or justification. An unfavorable, conflictual, and distrusting work atmosphere may result from this mentality.
  • Breaks or betrayals: They fail to uphold or abide by the company's rules, agreements, or ideals. regardless of the repercussions for other people, behaves selfishly, recklessly, or unfairly. They might for instance, break a promise, a deadline, or a task, or they might betray the confidence of a client or a coworker.

These are a few of the traits that can identify a dishonest employee. But it's important to remember that dishonesty is a trait that can change based on the situation, the individual, and their own intentions.

Why using a video resume can help you stop workplace theft

A unique and powerful tool for job applicants is the video resume. It can demonstrate the professional background, skills, and personality of a candidate in a little video that lasts between one to three minutes.

For you to prevent and reduce workplace theft during the hiring process, consider the following reasons:

  • You can form a more accurate first impression of the candidates by seeing them in person and speaking with them than you could by simply reading about them on a piece of paper. You can check for potential indications of dishonesty or deceit by observing someone's body language, tone of voice, expression, and behavior.
  • Checking references is made easier by watching the video resume, which allows you to compare the information candidates give you with the references they attach. For instance, you can check to verify if the positions they indicate are indeed theirs or if they have experience with the organizations they claim.
  • Fosters an ethical culture by showing that your business encourages innovation, creativity, and openness by asking job hopefuls to submit video resumes. As a result, you can draw in others who identify with your initiative and who have similar values in common. By doing this, you may develop a team that respects the company's policies and resources and is dedicated and accountable.

These are some of the benefits that using a video resume can offer in terms of decreasing or eliminating workplace theft. We advise you to download CazVid, the only program that allows you to search for jobs and employees in video format, if you wish to incorporate this format into your hiring procedures.

Recommendations for preventing or avoiding theft at work

Here are some broad tips to assist you in safeguarding your company from this kind of crime:

  • Access Control: The business's security level will be raised with a door opening system accessible by smartphone, providing it more flexibility when employees enter and exit.
  • Assignment of access permits for employees, partners, and outside agents (suppliers or maintenance services, for example) to the company's facilities is one of the essential controls. Access to the most delicate or exposed locations, including storage facilities, safes, or offices, can be controlled in this fashion.
  • Conduct routine inventories: Another strategy to stop labor theft is to maintain a strict control over the inventory of goods, materials, and resources. Periodic inventories will allow for the detection of any abnormality or loss and the implementation of the necessary corrective or punitive actions.
  • Use other measures of surveillance and control: Other strategies, such as security cameras, sirens, detectors, or barcodes, can assist discourage or prevent theft at work in addition to access control.
  • Promote an ethical and responsible culture: Creating a work atmosphere built on respect, accountability, and trust is crucial. To do this, employees must be made aware of the detrimental effects that workplace theft has both on the business and on the individual employees. Additionally, it's important to encourage employee participation and communication, and provide those who require it with anonymous complaint channels or assistance.

Conclusion

The staff selection procedure is the major focal point of your employee base when it comes to preventing and avoiding thefts at work and the terrible effects that they generate. Its significance stems from the fact that if you make poor hiring decisions and your staff steal from you, this is known as indirect complicity.

The video resume is one of the tools that, when used in conjunction with other ones, can enhance your hiring procedure, particularly in terms of the human element. CazVid is the program that will unquestionably assist you in completing your first curricular screening. It is the instrument that is appropriate for you to use.

DOWNLOAD CAZVID NOW

Employers