'Stealing Office Supplies - What's Up'

Stealing Office Supplies - What's Up

By Office1000 at 01/04/2007 11:28

Stealing Office Supplies - What's Up

By Paul V. Cameron (Nov 29, 2006)

Courtesy of GlossyNews.com

A recent report indicated that more young workers (1 in 5) tend to steal office supplies than older workers (1 in 10) without thinking it is wrong. 25% versus 12% had taken supplies home in the previous year. There was nothing in the report indicating how many employees had been caught taking supplies and how many were fired, are in jail, or have been executed for such behavior.

To explain these results, it is necessary to talk to the experts. One expert is Melvin P. Hensworth, Professor Emeritus at Barnsworth College, NH. Professor Hensworth has studied employee theft for years and, as he revealed, has he himself never been caught. Hensworth is the author of some of the most important research and authorships in this field. Among his many publications are:

- Stealing from Your Employer - What Works (1991)
- Paperclips, Paper, and Pens - Oh My! (1995)
- Supplement Your Income Fencing Office Supplies (2002)
- Office Supplies The Gift that Keeps on Giving (2005)

Hensorth advises that employees fall into two categories - those who take stuff and those who don't. His focus is on those who do. He admitted some employees may take office supplies home accidentally - a pen stuck in a pocket, a stapler that fell into a briefcase, a photocopier that somehow ended up in the back of a truck. Hensworth is not interested in these employees.

"They are absent minded, but not thieves," said Hensworth.

"The typical office supply thief," says Hensworth, "Is someone who is morally flexible. They're always able to justify their behavior through some kind of rationalization."

Some common rationalizations are:

- I get paid so much per hour plus whatever I can take
- They don't pay me enough not to steal
- It's not like it's not going to get used
- No, I bought these from Staples. I don't know what happened to YOUR supplies,
- Hanukkah/Christmas/Kwanza/Ramadan: Office supplies make great gifts,
- The voices in my head said it was okay,
- Aliens, definitely, definitely aliens - or maybe those people under the cupboards.

Office supply thieves can be opportunistic or cagey. They can either act in the moment or they might make detailed plans to remove office equipment during a weekend or under the guise of taking it out for repair. Some have been known to slip their office supply needs onto the office order form. Although, a 'gross of condoms' may be difficult to explain to your company's auditor. Hensworth says, in such cases, revert to the technical name - call it a 'gross of prophylactics' instead and then, if questioned, just say you thought you were ordering stamps.

Hensworth doesn't see the office supply removal problem slowing down anytime soon. They're easily accessible unless you work for a bunch of crazies who count every pencil, eraser, and paperclip. Occasionally employees will snag office supplies for home and personal use mainly because they are too lazy or too cheap to buy their own. Some, due to undiagnosed mental health issues, will hoard supplies in preparation for the coming apocalypse. Although, one wonders what need there will be for seventeen staplers after Armageddon hits. Still, better safe than sorry.

So, between the kleptomaniacs, survivalists, cheapskates, and basic thieves it's a wonder any company can keep any supplies on hand to meet its, and its employee's needs. Hensworth offers this advice to those companies - buy only the cheapest, lousiest supplies - pencils that break if you press too hard, paper with wood chips in them, pens that skip, staplers that jam.

Says Hensworth, "In this scenario only the most desparate or unfeeling or nuttiest of employees will want to take these for personal use. There may be some grumbling from some who prefer quality office supplies, but they will be in the minority or will leave for a company with better quality supplies. In the end, your bottom line will be better off and, in business as in life, it's the bottom line that matters most."

Hensworth added that bosses should have their own secret stock of good quality office supplies. The crappy stuff is okay for staff, but bosses need to maintain an image. A quality image. Which can't be done with pencils made in Goodenoughistan.

Oh, yes, and the bosses' supplies should be kept in a secure location away from the envious, prying eyes of employees. The focus should be on work not on why there are two sets of standards - one for staff and one for management - that's just the way things are and employees should just get used to it.