How to Protect
Your Profits
(When your employees steal)
Eemployee theft is such a major
problem that it is a leading cause of restaurant
failure. There are several reasons as to why the
restaurant industry is susceptible to loss from
employee theft.
They are:
• There are several ways employees can combine
house receipts with tips.
• High employee turnover.
• Access to cash.
• Food and liquor are highly desirable items.
In order to combat the problem of the theft, you
must learn to recognize the symptoms.
Some of those symptoms may be: 1. Become familiar with the warning signs
of substance abuse. In most instances
an employee will need the extra money to finance
a habit.
2. Refuses to take a vacation.
Employees who refuse to go on vacation may be
afraid that their substitute will discover their
dishonesty.
3. Condoning dishonesty in others.
Employees who steal tend to have a different belief
system when it comes to theft. Rather than believing
theft is wrong, they may condone the acts of dishonest
employees as, "It’s no big deal. It
was only a few bucks."
4. A change in behavior. Employees
who suddenly exhibit an unexpected change in their
behavior should be a warning sign to management.
Watch for sudden mood swings, nervousness, hostility,
and other emotional changes.
5. Over protection of work records or
files. Employees who are reluctant to
give up custody of records or files may be keeping
incriminating facts and documents close to them.
6. Violating the work rules. Employees
who rebel against company policies and procedures
should be watched.
Additionally, employee embezzlement can put you
out of business. Employee theft is far worse than
all the theft committed by your customers. You
need to take the right steps to protect your cash
and checks.
