The Importance of Decreasing Office Supply Theft

Office supply theft can mean more than a few stolen pens.

We've all done it from time to time: Taking some paper from the office's copier to use at home or walking off with a pen or two. But what seems like a harmless sin can actually be very damaging to the company, and by extension, the employees. Productive companies understand the importance of keeping office supply theft to an absolute minimum.

Facts and Figures

According to the PBS Nightly Business Report, employees take up to $50 billion worth of office supplies every year. Furthermore, 20 percent of all workers between the ages of 18 and 24 don't consider it a crime to steal office supplies. The Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Centers maintains that 75 percent of office supply theft goes unnoticed.

Ease and Motivation

According to the Wall Street Journal, employees are more likely to engage in office supply theft when times are lean and employees are pinching pennies to meet their budgets at home. Employees also are more likely to get away with office supply theft than other forms of theft because they know the system at their workplace--the location of supplies, the status of audits, even the position of keys for locked areas--and can take steps to get around it very easily.

Costs

While a few pens or paper clips won't hurt the bottom line, office supply theft can have more serious consequences if it escalates. Some companies keep sensitive information related to their business plans or products; theft of such information can cripple the company's ability to function, and can the theft of larger equipment, such as computers, copiers or display copies of products. Even a few reams of paper can add up over time, increasing overhead and reducing the company's profits.

Time

Office supply theft can translate to lost time for the company as well, as supply managers and secretaries must purchase new supplies. Further time may be lost by preventative measures, such as assigning someone to track and record office supplies, or employee audits covering the use of supplies. Reducing theft means saving time, and therefore increasing company efficiency.

Morale

According to the International Foundation of Protection Officers (IFPO), office supply theft often stems from low morale, when employees don't feel particularly loyal to the company and see no problem stealing from it. In such cases, office supply theft is actually just a symptom of a much larger problem in the company. Correcting the problem by improving morale and increasing employee loyalty can translate to reduced supply theft and a healthier workplace atmosphere.

References

• IFPO: Employee Theft
• PBS.org: Stealing Office Supplies
• The Wall Street Journal: Businesses Say Theft by Their Workers Is Up
• Missouri Business Net: The Problem of Employee Theft
• HRE Online: Stealing Office Supplies