Dear All,

I work for a Small and Medium Scale Software Enterprise with an employee strength having diverse skill and educational background.

Recently there have been 2 incidents of theft of Mobiles from the work desk of the employees during working hours. Both the incidents were reported to the HR and Admin departments before the end of working hours on the day the theft was committed, but even though we have a security guard we did not permit him to body search all employees fearing we may hurt their egos and feelings knowing fully well that the person/persons who were responsible would be smart enough to smuggle it out immediately after the theft.

Apart from the HR Manager speaking to the employee on a one to one basis and assuring the employees that necessary action would be taken and sending across a mail to all the employees requesting them to return the same if its found someplace, no further actions were taken.

Request the distinguished members of this forum to suggest some measures and solutions to the above situation in order to prevent such instances as well as providing solace to the aggrieved employee.

Regards,

Ruchika

Hi Ruchika,

I have been through a similar experience and i can understand the situation very well
In my opinion there can be practically two ways to handle this kind of situation:

1. To cover working areas with CCtv's which can be a very costly affair for the organization.

2. To take care of your valuables when you know that u have to leave your seat very often. Most company provide, drawers with keys. Make use of those drawers and keep your phones into them whenever you are not expecting any calls. if you think, that your job involves attending to your mobile phone often, then buy a sling(around the neck) or be in a habbit of keeping your mobile phones in your hands.

You can get a reimbursement, you can get the theif caught as well...but the greatest prevention is to be vigil yourself. Its more because of the person's carelessness that the mobiles are lost. If you keep your valuables accessible to anyone, then you can expect these things to happen once in a while. Its a story of every organization.'

Blv me nidhish, no one can do nothing about your lost valuables. They can only show that they are concerned. And no manager would ever change the structure of the security, unless and until it is actually required, for lost mobiles.

Be careful next time.

I wish to add my coments on the following topic.

1. Educate your employees how to keep their own belongings in the office. Also they should not bring more valuable articles and more currencies. Every where ATMS are available. So, no need of carrying cash. Valuable articles, ornaments and other items bought in festival seasons should be avoided. It is the common practice among women employees to carry silk sarees and ornaments to show to others. This is to be forbidden. Make it as a rule.

Take this as a part of your training schedule.

2. Safe guarding mobile - the suggestions said by Mr Nidish are good and common practice also.

3. Please note that once mobile missing is confirmed yuo can destroy the activation of the mobile immediately so that it can not be used by any one.

With best wishes,

Dipankar

dear ruchika,

I do agree that it is important to advise all employees about the risks associated with valuables in the workplace. However, I do not encourage you to "ban" or "forbid" employees from bring such valuables to the office.

You have the opportunity to build the culture and creating rules against the employee having valuable items makes the victim the responsible party for the theft rather than holding the theif accountble for deplorable actions.

You would also be sending the message that management does not care enough for
the employees to try to create a safe environment and puts the responsibility on the employees to look after themselves.

These are subtle messages, but ones that will serve the company and what are defined as acceptable bahaviors for many years to come. So I suggest you give a lot of thought before taking the easy solution of removing valuables from the workplace. You have a much bigger issue to deal with when you have employees stealing from one another.

Are you hiring the right people? Have you screened each one properly? Do you have a consistent practice of firing and prosecuting anyone caught stealing?

Food for thought ...

Jigar