Landscape Management, February 2011

Yes 12 88 No HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED EQUIPMENT THEFT BY EMPLOYEES Yes 36 64 No WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON PRODUCTS MATERIALS STOLEN BY EMPLOYEES Hand tools 51 DO YOU HAVE PROCEDURES IN PLACE TO REDUCE EMPLOYEE THEFT LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET FEBRUARY 2011 22 PHOTOS ILLUSTRATIONS BY ISTOCK INTERNATIONAL INC 10 EMPLOYEES THEFT STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING EMPLOYEE THEFT Theft by employees can include bookkeeping fraud wasted on the job time see Theft in the dolphin tank page 14 clandestinely acquiring customer lists or using company equipment to do personal work But to the point of this article it more often involves pilfering equipment tools fuel and landscape materials such as topsoil mulch and chemicals Minimize employee theft by making sure there is an accounting for everything that is used plus demonstrating to your employees how theft has an impact on their bene ts Consider these 10 practical strategies to reduce victimization by your own employees 1 Conduct thorough checks on the references of prospective new hires as well as checks on their educational credentials and criminal history 2 Establish a clear zero tolerance policy on theft and security and make sure all employees understand it 3 Examine and update nancial controls such as keeping checkbooks locked up and limiting the number of people authorized to write checks having good documentation on where money is spent auditing internal nancial documents regularly and checking invoices to make sure they match what was delivered 4 Implement a closely monitored inventory system for all tools and materials 5 Assign and make employees responsible for the care of their own tools 6 Have employees store all tools in a locked but visible screened in enclosure 7 Keep all chemicals secured in locked metal storage containers Only selected supervisors have keys to these areas These containers as well as the tool enclosures should be equipped with locks that require keys that cannot be duplicated at any hardware store 8 Block access to the premises Lock the doors Turn on the security system Employee theft often happens after hours 9 Use GPS to track service vehicles and to monitor vehicle and fuel use 10 Act decisively and immediately re any employee proved to be stealing as described by your companys policy of zero tolerance EQUIPMENT THEFT Yes 24 76 No Termination 63 HAS THEFT BY EMPLOYEES INCREASED IN YOUR BUSINESS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS 41 Handheld power equipment 39 Fuel 14 Customers as side jobs 11 Trucks 10 Plants nursery materials 4 Mowers 4 Hardscape materials 0 Construction equipment WHAT MEASURES HAVE YOU TAKEN TO AVOID OR DECREASE EQUIPMENT THEFT BY EMPLOYEES 48 Stricter penalties for employee theft as part of company policy 48 Keep better records of equipment PINs serial numbers make model and year 35 Crew equipment labeling to match employees with speci c pieces of equipment 38 Better security on trucks and or investing in enclosed trailers trucks 38 Better security and lighting at storage facility 25 More tracking devices and labeling on equipment 10 Remove components to prevent equipment operation 8 Request more visits patrols from local law enforcement agencies