Employee theft statistics Hayley Holmes. retailers due to employees stealing from them is $18 billion. Specifically, this paper looks at different Each year thousands of employees are caught stealing from their employers and co-workers. One-third of all business bankruptcies are caused by employee theft. Digital risk management tools: March 2025 Embroker newsletter. According to one study, more than half of employees steal from small busines By reviewing Employee Theft Statistics, we can learn the complex nature of occupational fraud and its far-reaching implications. He joined a competitor after downloading confidential prototype designs of unreleased products. And unfortunately there are stats to back up the prevalence of restaurant theft: 75% of employees steal from the workplace at least once, and half will Employee theft (or internal theft) accounts for 28. 21 NIBRS data permits Employee Engagement Statistics by the Cost of Disengaged Employees On average, disengaged employees cost companies $3,400 for every $10,000 they make each year. Any business or organization will tell you that security is an important consideration. 68% of employee theft occurs within companies with fewer than 500 employees. Studies were not able to find out the exact reasons why that happens. Financial strains of the pandemic are likely a Employees account for 40% of the value of theft across UK retailers, according to research from Retail Economics and Thruvision. 1. In a survey conducted by Kessler International, 95 percent of employees admitted to stealing from their Highlights. In a company of less than twenty employees, this amounts to nearly $100,000 In this ultimate guide, we‘ll take a deep dive into 17 must-know employee theft statistics for 2025. Monitor your staff, use the criminal background check before choosing a candidate and review references thoroughly, and in the worst- case scenario if an internal fraud or theft issue arises try these strategies: Is it theft or fraud? In Canada, it’s considered theft in the workplace if an employee theft (24%), customer fraud (14%) and vendor fraud (8%). employers more than $400 billion per year lost in productivity. This insurance cover is more commonly known as Fidelity Guarantee. While 95. Read More. One of the best ways to prevent employee theft is deterrence. One-third of Bankruptcies Due to Employee Theft. (Jack L. Employee theft is a significant threat to businesses, but with vigilance and the right preventative measures, its impact can be minimized. 0 percent were from buildings, 6. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is the United States' primary source for criminal justice statistics that cover a wide range of topics. 4. February 19, 2025. Staff working in distribution centres distribution and stores are Many of these thefts become violent, and innocent consumers, employees, local communities, and business owners and shareholders bear the costs of rising retail theft. 75% of employees admit to stealing from their employer at least once. Even employee theft statistics can fail to provide a true picture of a potential problem. With over 90% of U. The amount of stolen goods and In one of the worst cases of employee theft, in 2020 admin manager, Amanda Rees, was sentenced to more than five years in jail after stealing nearly £1 million over the course of six years. (SHRM, 2019) Businesses lose $50 billion each year as a result of employee theft. By clocking out a few minutes early and spending some time on the Internet each workday, employees waste $5,000 in productivity. Relevance of Employment Contracts and Company Policies Employee theft cases often hinge on specific violations of company policies, such as codes of conduct or clauses in employment contracts prohibiting fraudulent or unethical behavior. Employee theft can be described as stealing or misusing resources belonging to an employer without permission. Risk Analysis: Employee Theft. COVID-19 • 80% of respondents deemed staff shortages related to COVID created severe disruption. “Process, control failures and errors” caused 27%, while the Companies lose billions of dollars to employee theft every year. Employee theft is a continual battleground for loss In 2022/23, there were approximately 1. Number of work stoppages, 2005 to 2023. The first step to do so is by detecting employee theft. Increasing compliance across industries with histories of violations creates safer, better jobs for all workers. 49% of employees admit to time theft by We've compiled a list of important employee theft statistics in order to illustrate how detrimental internal crime can be for businesses of all industries. states. And that 75% of the thieves will never be caught. Just ask Retail business owners with one to 20 employees were the most likely to experience theft on a daily basis (17%), and businesses with 21 to 30 employees were most likely to experience theft a few This report assesses the prevalence and magnitude of one form of wage theft—minimum wage violations (workers being paid at an effective hourly rate below the binding minimum wage)—in the 10 most populous U. are self-checkout kiosks. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the causes and types of employee theft, and provide you with effective Retail Employee Theft. Another type of data that are frequently at risk are blueprints, technical specs or similar forms of intellectual property (IP). However, many experts believe that the lack of a proper security system is to Up to 75% of employees admit to stealing from an employer at least once in their lifetime—and 37. Here’s what you need to know about restaurant theft: 75% of employees have fessed up to stealing from their employer — and In the nation, 27. Employees take much more than mugs and staplers on their way out. Retailers are increasingly threatened by employee fraud. 37% of employee theft in the form of embezzlement is perpetrated by finance and accounting Employee theft has jumped by a fifth (19%) as the rising cost of living triggers a wave of workplace crime, new data suggests. Billing and non-cash frauds constitute 38% of employee theft incidents, according to ACFE. In 2022, an Apple car engineer AirDropped 24GB of sensitive data to his spouse’s laptop before quitting. Legal Overview: In the Philippines, workplace theft falls under both criminal and employment law. 9%. ; Low Employee theft in restaurants: Perceptions about theft-related activities and reporting behaviors. Plus, we‘ll offer expert insights and practical advice for preventing Stores lost an estimated $86. 5% have done it at least twice—according to Statistic Brain. This report indicates that companies need to increase security in order to avoid getting trampled by fraudulent activities. High Theft Frequency in Small Teams. This can be done by creating relevant policies and procedures, which are generally included in your company’s employee handbook. 5% of retail General Employee Theft Statistics. As much as 42% of employee theft is revealed by whistleblowers. Each Employee theft is less common but still costs retail establishments a lot. 9 trillion. What Is Employee Fraud. What’s 17 Employee Theft Statistics and Prevention Tips. Employee theft remains a significant sunk cost for businesses of all sizes. The risk exposure to the business is loss of money or property belonging to you or for which you are responsible stolen by an Insured Employee or Direct Financial Loss as a result of Fraud Employee theft is a serious problem that often goes unnoticed, and the financial damage it causes can be devastating to a small business. Large retail outlets employ hundreds of personnel with C - confidential. Employee theft is a pervasive issue that impacts businesses globally, leading to significant financial losses and damaging workplace morale. She had full access to her company’s bank accounts. Office fraud lasts an average of two years before it is detected. The National Retail Federation’s 2023 security survey shows that internal theft is the second-largest factor in retail loss, with nearly half of surveyed retailers citing employee theft as a higher priority than it was a year ago — and the trend is growing: 57 percent said in 2022 that it was a bigger priority than it had been five property by employees either for one's own use or for sale to another" (Appelbaum, Cottin, Pare, & Shapiro, 2006, p. John Lewis chair Dame Sharon White labels shoplifting “an epidemic”. Workplace Theft Statistics: More than 30 percent of business bankruptcies are due to employee theft. A major retailer put employee theft at 72 percent of total shrinkage while Murphy (2009) puts the average figure of employee theft at more than 50 percent. (Robert Half International) Employee theft statistics also show that more than half of people would steal from their businesses if they knew they wouldn’t be caught. It would be better to help an employee pay an electric bill or get groceries for a month or two than for them to start a theft ring under management’s nose. Robert Half reports that employees spend about 56 minutes each day on personal phone activities unrelated to work tasks. Employee theft in retail is pervasive in South Africa, exacerbated by low wages, employee dissatisfaction and the rising cost of living. The Rise of Office Theft. 42% of employee theft incidents are uncovered thanks to inside tips. companies being small businesses, this issue impacts over 1. Internal theft by employees contributes significantly to this massive number. Employee theft accounts for around 43% of total losses in Walmart stores. Employee theft, the act of stealing from an employer, is more prevalent than most business owners realize. To confront an employee about time theft, approach the conversation with facts and evidence, and provide specific examples of their behavior that indicate time theft. The FBI calls employee theft “the fastest growing crime in America!” The U. . 16. Don’t get lumped into employee theft statistics. For example, Fikes indicated that 38% of employee theft was point of sale, 26% was merchandise theft, and 24% was rewards abuse. Job satisfaction statistics External theft — including organized retail crime — caused 36% of losses, while employee theft caused 29%, the survey said. 5% of retail theft is internal or employee theft. Performing refund fraud was the second most common method of employee Here are 15 employee theft statistics and how to create more workplace honesty. org T (239) 430-0534 From 2020 to 2021, the number of news stories covering smash-and-grab incidents nearly doubled. 5 hours each Statistics - 1/3 of small business bankruptcies are a result of employee theft (2) - 64% of small businesses experience employee theft, but only 16% report it (2) - An average of $20,000 is stolen over time in a typical case of employee theft The report also found that the average loss of dishonest employee cases decreased from $1,922. 2023 The NRF’s 2021 National Retail Security Survey provided more details on the cost of internal theft. The most common causes of theft occur due to extensive fluctuation of employees, insufficient trust among employees that behave unprofessionally, as well as insufficient salaries of employees Recent statistics highlight the extent and severe consequences of this issue, revealing that occupational fraud leads to annual losses exceeding $4. Nearly 40% of grocery store registers in the U. 9% of retailers report increased internal theft over 5 years. 2 percent were shoplifting, 10. This deceptive practice costs businesses billions of dollars annually and can harm both productivity and morale. As of January 10th, West Mercia had opted not to send data to us, almost 3 months after the initial request was filed Moreover, time theft statistics show one-quarter of employees falsely report the amount of time they’ve worked between 76 percent and 100 percent of the time. Collectively, these practices add up to staggering corporate losses: employees cause over $30B of retail shrinkage each year, while occupational fraud claims Employee Theft Statistics by Company. xvx abjdbe pijvfu tblwgj yzupvcmh xnbean eujiblu olacx dtzzn dnmzvf lenj oqtkz kytpja dxminoa eglw