The workplace is usually packed with items worth hundreds of pounds each. There’s usually a PC or laptop for every member of the staff, a few printers, a scanner, photocopier, servers plus plenty of pieces of hardware and furniture which, cumulatively, will be worth thousands. As they’re integral to the running of any business, if secured in the right way, everything will stay in the office.
<h2>Theft At Work</h2>
In theory, workers will know just as well as bosses that tech should be taken care of at all times, but growing incidence and awareness of so-called ‘white-collar crime’ is making many office workers take note. Usually, stealing from the office would involve the odd pen or notepad, but at a time when incomes are being squeezed, taking tech from work is becoming more tempting.
<h4>Are the rules less well-regarded than before?</h4>
A <a href="http://www.seareach.plc.uk/white-collar-crime-someone-secretly-stealing-organisation/">survey conducted among office workers</a> in the UK asked them about whether they would willingly replace office equipment stolen while in their possession. The majority of respondents replied ‘no’, with many citing that they would do enough to keep it in good condition.
Just 20% said they felt they had to replace office equipment if stolen while under their care. This at least shows that many workers take office equipment security seriously, but when it comes to the security of business premises, the picture is a little bleaker.
Only 28% said they had security cameras inside and outside their office. Meanwhile 17% said they had locks on their doors, while a paltry 4% claimed that they had alarmed chains locking their doors outside of office hours. Those stats show that workplace security should be ramped up a little more in order to guard against white-collar crime.
<h4>Stealing is surprisingly prevalent.</h4>
Over half of people taking part in the survey said they had never stolen a thing from work. 13% said they had stolen something worth between £1 and £5, usually an item of stationery. Far less said they had stolen something worth between £6 and £50, but 6% claimed they had stolen something worth at least £51, possibly something electronic like a laptop or printer.
All the aforementioned stats show that security of technology kept in the office environments isn’t taken seriously enough. To fully combat white-collar crime, the thing to do may be to look at where it’s kept and how safe the office itself is, as well as focussing on trust between bosses and employees.
[Source: <a href="http://www.seareach.plc.uk/">Seareach.plc.uk</a>]
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