Employee theft continues to be a major drain on companies’ bottom-line profits. According to the 2021 National Retail Security Survey the average dishonest employee case value in 2020 was $1,552 up 36% from 2019’s average case value ($1,139). Something needs to change on how we address the issue of employee theft/dishonesty.
I came across this new approach to employee dishonesty by the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP). I found it very interesting and informative, so I thought I would share it with you. I think the timing is right considering the current worker shortage. With the cost to recruit, hire and train a new employee being $2-4k per employee, retailers cannot afford to lose an otherwise good employee due to a minor policy violation or infraction.
The Workshop Integrity Project
Built on the success of the NASP education programs, used by businesses and criminal justice agencies across the country to educate and rehabilitate dishonest consumer shoplifters, this new series shifts the focus from external theft to internal theft and employee dishonesty. This program focuses on the employee and navigating the path to success in the workplace. There are three choices discussed in this program: Good Choices; Everyday Choices; and Better Choices.
Good Choices:
New Hire Program: A quick-hit, targeted message promoting a culture of integrity and honesty at your new job.
Everyday Choices:
Honest Associate Refresher: Checking in on employees to thank them for maintaining honesty and reminding them of their options to encourage the ‘see something/say something’ culture and the use of the hotline services.
Better Choices:
Dishonest Associate Retention / Transition: One course with a dual-purpose: to help refocus employees who have demonstrated poor judgement but who have otherwise earned the opportunity for a second chance; to support those that must be released but who demonstrate a willingness to take responsibility for their actions.
The course offers benefits to the employee and employer.
Employee: Learn from their mistakes; make better choices in the future; and demonstrate their commitment to being held accountable.
Employer: Demonstrates social responsibility; commitment to empathy and compassion; and promotes culture of honesty and integrity. $
(Editor’s Note: Much of this information is from the NASP’s The Workplace Integrity Project materials. For more information: https://www.shopliftingprevention.org/)
