7 in 10 workers admit to stealing in the workplace from their employer

7 in 10 workers admit to stealing in the workplace from their employer; even though 8 in 10 of those who stole believe it is morally wrong

A survey of 2,062 office workers in the United Kingdom by Peninsula the employment law consultancy has shown that 72% of office workers admit to stealing from their employer.

- 72% of office workers admit to stealing from their employer on more than one occasion

- 81% of those who stole believe that stealing is morally wrong

Based on a polled survey of 2,062 office workers from a variety of industries across the United Kingdom

Peter Done, Managing Director of Peninsula provides quote and comment:

The issue of workers stealing from their employer is a serious one; the nature of which is often underestimated. It is quite shocking that such a high percentage of workers admit to stealing, and this can have grave consequences for the employer. It is shocking to see that although 81% of those who stole believe it to be morally wrong, they still went ahead and did it anyway. We appear to be becoming a culture where it is deemed evermore acceptable and commonplace to steal from your employer. The ethical boundaries that once existed in our society appear to be becoming ever more watered down and eroded. However employees may well believe that because they can get away with stealing smaller items, they may well be tempted to steal larger and more expensive items, which could cost the company even more money.

The act of stealing itself is quite simply wrong because stealing is a criminal offence, and can have serious consequences for the individual committing such a grievous act, no matter whether the item(s) stolen are small and insignificant or large and expensive, the principal is the same. However the attitude and stance taken towards it is another matter, which cannot easily be resolved. The most common items stolen often range from small amounts of stationary such as post-it notes, pens, pencils and paper to computer programmes and equipment.

Workers need to realise that they simply cannot continually get away with stealing from their employer, it is an illegal act and criminal prosecutions can be brought against them for doing so. Employers need to make it clear in their employeesí contracts of employment that stealing is unacceptable, whilst also setting out clear punishments for anybody who does so.