Source: People management Magazine

Date: 13/07/2007

Employers in small businesses are being warned to keep an eye on their business’ supplies, as new findings suggest workers are pocketing office goods worth millions of pounds each year.

A survey commissioned by The Federation Against Software Theft has found that the items stolen by staff range from computer software and digital downloads such as film, music and video (which 10% of staff admitted taking), pens (62%) and notebooks, printer paper and blank CDs (25%).

Furthermore, while 8% of respondents said they feel the occasional stab of guilt over taking pens, just 2% felt that downloading illegal software was something to feel ashamed of.

John Lovelock, director general of The Federation said: “Just as we expected, people fail to recognise that theft is theft – whether it’s the act of physically taking something that doesn’t belong to you or downloading software that you haven’t paid for.

“Digital theft is costing the UK millions of pounds each year. You wouldn’t expect to walk out of PC World with a piece of software up your jumper and get away with it, would you?”

He also warned bosses that the downloading of software, films, music or games is illegal, and it would be the employee’s boss who could be liable to ten years in jail, should the activity be caught.

Clive Lewis of Globis said “When working relationships need developing one of the areas that begin to increase are staff theft and sabotage. Organisations can avoid this when there are productive healthy relationships at work”.