Tips to Prevent Employee Theft – Atlanta Georgia

One of the biggest threats to the success of any small business is employee theft . Small businesses rarely have the resources to devote to preventing theft and therefore suffer disproportionately when it happens to them. Luckily, there are a few tips that any small business can follow which don’t cost any money but can end up saving a company a great deal in the long run. The first thing you want to do is to create a positive work environment. This encourages employees to follow established policies and procedures, and act in the best interests of the organization. Written job descriptions, clear organizational structure, comprehensive policies and procedures and employee recognition programs will all help reduce the likelihood of employee theft .

Next, implement internal controls; these can ensure the effectiveness of operations, compliance with laws and regulations, safeguarding of assets, and accurate financial reporting. Separate the duties; no employee should be responsible for both recording and processing a transaction. It simply gives one individual too much power. Access to physical and financial assets and information, as well as accounting systems, should be restricted to authorized employees only. Develop policies to determine how financial transactions are initiated, authorized, recorded, and reviewed. These internal controls will reduce opportunity for employee theft.

Lastly, take the extra steps necessary to ensure that you’re hiring honest people. Sure, the best of us can always be fooled by a good con man, but by simply making potential employees submit to a pre employment background screening you can greatly reduce your chances of working with that con man in the first place. Check their criminal history for crimes involving violence, theft or fraud; their civil history for any lawsuits, collections or restraining orders, and their employment verification to ensure that they’re qualified to do the job you’re hiring them to do. Follow these simple tips and you’ll make great strides to preventing employee theft .

For more information about internal theft or employee theft investigation contact us at employee theft or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia