When you’re at work, one of the last things you want to have to be dealing with is any type of theft. But for many people, theft is something they have to deal with at one point or another in their career. So whether you’re a business owner, working at a retail store, or are an employee for a larger organization, you’ve got to know what to do if you’re involved in a situation regarding someone else’s theft. To help with this, here are three tips for dealing with theft in the workplace.
Theft Of Your Ideas
If you work in a very collaborative work environment, you may find yourself at one point or another being the victim of having your ideas stolen. While this can happen innocently, it can also be something that becomes a major problem if you’re regularly not being heard and being steamrolled by a coworker. If this is the case, Patty Azzarello, a contributor to TLNT.com, shares that you should confront the person who’s using your ideas for their own praise. However, be sure that you don’t confront them in public, as this can be very unprofessionally. When you speak to them, make sure it’s clear that you recognize what they’re doing and will now be standing up for your own work. For the sake of your career, you can’t allow this type of theft to continue.
Theft By An Employee At Your Company
For those who are business owners, you may have some bigger issues with people trying to steal from you and your organization. While you might have theft insurance for your business, having an employee stealing from you may not be covered under your policy. Plus, when it’s only small things being stolen, you probably want to handle the situation on your own anyway. To do this, Matt Meltzer, a contributor to BFSCapital.com, recommends that you make absolutely sure that the employee is stealing before you take any actions. This means collecting evidence, making the correct documentation, and planning how you’ll address the issue with your employee. This can quickly turn into a sticky situation, so make sure you protect yourself and your company from anything the employee may do out of rage or resentment.
Theft From A Customer
If you work at a retail store and you see a customer stealing from your store, the actions you take should be dictated by your store’s policy on shoplifting. According to Kristen Hamlin, a contributor to The Nest, you may be able to approach the person, yet you might be required to wait for a security guard to come or to just report the crime to the police. Just make sure that you’re keeping yourself safe and that you report your suspicions to your manager or supervisor so the correct action can be taken.
If you’re dealing with a theft in the workplace, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you manage the situation appropriately.
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