Question

1. What programs you would establish to communicate with the workforce the serious ethical issues involved in employee theft?

2. What you would suggest as the consequences for this ethical breach when detected?

3. What controls might you put in place to protect company assets and to deter employees from engaging in the unethical behavior?

4. What steps will you take to secure employee and management “buy in” and thereby smooth the implementation process?

Answer 1

1.)

I would establish different programs to communicate with the workforce the serious ethical issues involved in employee theft such as ethical meeting, anonymous employee hotline, guidelines about employee behavior, set up punishment for unethical behavior, establish reward system to support ethical behavior, keep complaint confidential, be a role model and set example on employees who steal after thorough investigation.

2.)

As per Wehbe, there are several approaches to this solution where we can investigate to avoid any defamation, illegal and harassment case as the preliminary stage. Once it’s concluded, we can document his/her file and terminate him/her on the spot, let him make restitution by working off the monies he stole, by calling the loss prevention for tips, fraud unit or call local authorities(2013). It’s important to set an example to stop the illegal or unethical behavior to prevent others from copying such horrible behavior. “It is important that business owners and managers hold the offender accountable and send a message to other employees that theft will not be tolerated. (Wehbe, 2013)

3.)

To protect company assets and to deter employees from engaging in the unethical behavior, I wil create a code of ethics for all employees regardless of their race, nationality and gender.   I will reinforce policies that forbid employees to take work items homes unless they were given to them by managers to avoid confusion. I will adopt background checks on all employees, random drug test for any suspicious behaviors, and create strict hiring procedures. I will lead by example and be fair and consistent to all. I will monitor cash registers, install cameras, conduct regular audits and look for discrepancies. I will also train employees in fraud prevention, add theft coverage and call fraud line for fraud suspicion and authorities for theft and embezzlements.

4.)

I will train employee and management to understand the core of being ethical by doing the right thing at all time. Employees need to feel confident and valuable in the work place which will boost their moral values and will prevent them from abusing that trust due to severe consequences. I will continue to educate them about the business strategy, policy and compliance.

Stealing is never justifiable in a workplace because company has to make some kind of profit to stay in business and to pay employees. Employee theft is a contagious and extremely challenging to micromanage a business whether in a physical or technological aspect. Employer should always have an internal and external auditor depends on the size of the company to compare and contrast ales, gain and loss.