Although employees typically trust their coworkers, no workplace is immune to theft. Because it’s often a necessity for your staff to have their keys, phones, handbags, etc. with them at work, here are some ways you can help them secure their belongings.
Increase Awareness
Because the office often feels like a second home to employees, your staff may not give much thought to keeping their stuff secure while at work. In the same way they might feel comfortable leaving important things lying around their own houses, they may become equally casual about their belongings in the workplace.While there’s no need to cause undue alarm, it’s a smart move to make sure employees are aware that theft can occur anywhere. Remind them that it’s likely they’ll need to step away from their desks and offices throughout the day, and each time they do so their belongings are left unguarded. Encourage staff to avoid bringing anything truly valuable to work, and then advise them to take steps to secure whatever they must have with them.
Provide Lockers
In the same way your employees may have a safe vault or other security unit at home in which to store their valuables, lockers provided by the company can give staff a protective option for their belongings while at work. Having an assigned space in which to lock up their things can give everyone peace of mind, and employees won’t be distracted from their duties by keeping an overly-watchful eye on their keys and wallets throughout the day. If staff are permitted to bring their own locks to use, they may feel even more confident that no one else can access their belongings. As an added bonus, requiring employees to use lockers may also cut down on office and workspace clutter by providing a designated, out-of-sight area for personal things.Install Security Cameras
Just as your business and its assets require protecting, so do your employees and their belongings. Although you may have a policy absolving your company from responsibility for theft of or damage to personal items, you still likely feel an obligation to prevent such problems from occurring in the first place. A surveillance camera system that monitors all areas of your operations can be an effective deterrent to stealing, and if a theft does occur the captured recordings may help identify the perpetrator. In addition to regular workspaces, places such as breakrooms, corridors and storage areas should all be watched over. If you’ve installed employee lockers, be sure the area is well-covered by cameras and watch out for blind spots. A robust surveillance system that covers your entire facility can go a long way toward foiling bad actors.Avoid Issues With Outsiders
Finally, consider the risk that visitors to your office may pose. After all, you may believe your own employees to be completely trustworthy, but it’s not always possible to say the same about vendors or clients who enter your building. A good first step is to designate individual offices or other specific areas as off-limits to visitors; if you have installed employee lockers, it should be a given that this area is forbidden to outsiders. It may be a good idea to further restrict certain zones by adding some sort of access control system so that only authorized individuals may enter. With these systems, a badge swipe or presentation of a biometric feature (such as a thumb print or iris scan) is the only way for someone to enter the restricted area. Although this may seem extreme if your business doesn’t deal in highly confidential matters, it can help provide a more secure workplace and safeguard your employees and their belongings.Unfortunately, even in the most tightly-knit of workplaces, theft of personal belongings still has the potential to occur. By educating your employees, providing a secure place for their things and implementing measures to surveille and control your facility, you’ll be taking some smart steps toward creating a safer workplace.
