Question

Review your abilities to speak to your co-workers about theft. Is theft only stealing money? Can it be taking other things? How will you handle the issue of theft as a medical office assistant?

Answer 1

1. Make a connection for staff. Personalizing the concept of theft makes it more relevant and ‘real’ to staff who may otherwise view it as an abstract idea. Try talking to staff about short-term versus long-term gain: no one should risk a permanent job with a great team just to make a couple extra dollars off a cash register scam.

2. Ask staff to work with you. Good staff members like to be the one you can count on. While having your talk, ask if they are on board to help you watch for theft. Explain that thefts result in uncomfortable investigations, broken friendships between staff, and increased costs that take away from staffing hours. Those who enjoy their work will want to avoid anything that would change the status quo.

3. Be clear about your loss prevention efforts. Let staff know if you’re utilizing cameras, software, or other strategies for loss prevention. It may deter those who would be considering a dishonest act, but it will also give peace of mind to honest staff who may be concerned about being affected by, or accused of theft themselves.

4. Engage everyone. Ensure that your managers, district managers and even the owner are all familiar faces on site; this will increase the likelihood that an associate will feel comfortable talking about something they witness, even if it involves a senior staff person. Work on fostering a sense of openness and friendliness so that associates can feel comfortable asking for help.

5. Reinforce your commitment to your employees’ wellbeing. Employee theft affects the entire team: investigations are taxing and awkward, business losses affect the staffing budget, and associates’ personal belongings can even be a target for thieves. Emphasize that your interest in preventing employee theft is in the best interest of all staff members.

6. Keep the conversation going. Don’t talk about associate dishonesty only once a year or only during a crisis. Keep the topic fresh in people’s minds so they always know what to do if there’s an issue.

7. Provide a help line, tip sheet, or other signage. You can’t be on site 24/7, so an easy way to keep the topic front-of-mind is with signage. We’ve created some signage here that may help you get started. Print this off and fill in the blanks to have your own personalized theft prevention signage.