What Is Employee Theft?Employee theft encompasses much more than the white collar crimes you may hear about on the news. Employees take unlawfully from their employers in many circumstances, including: - Stealing office supplies or merchandise;
- Forging or hiding receipts;
- Overbilling expenses;
- Falsifying time records by improperly reporting sick leave and vacation; and
- Taking intellectual property and information.
As An Employee, What If I Am Accused of Theft But Am Not Guilty?While it is not illegal for your employer to suspect, accuse, or fire you based on a suspicion of theft, a false and unwarranted charge may allow you to sue your employer for damages.
As An Employer, How Can I Avoid Employee Theft? As an employer, you must be proactive on the issue of employee theft. Several ways employers can protect themselves are by: - Perforing background checks on employees;
- Removing the opportunity to take from the company (for example, schedule random employee auditing);
- Developing clear, reliable, and comprehensive company policies (such information may be included in an employee handbook);
- Rewarding employees for reporting theft; and
- Investigating theft carefully and pay attention to facts, since accusations of theft are not taken lightly by employers or employees.
Do I Need A Lawyer? If you are suspected of theft in the workplace, a criminal defense lawyer will be able to discuss with you the repercussions of such an accusation and possible courses of action. Employment attorneys can also be of assistance to employers who mistrust certain employee actions and need help to implement safeguard policies. |
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