Managing Employee Honesty

Abstract

It is helpful to have some insight into the reasons why employees steal from their employers. First of all, there is no typical, dishonest employee. Anyone that has access to company assets may decide to steal them. However, certain traits may indicate potential problems. Numerous studies have contributed to a determination of which social psychological theories best explain an employee’s theft activity. The majority of these studies have been conducted since 1980 and the results are similar. Terris and Jones reviewed 24 studies that include psychological predictors and identified 11 significant ones. Employee theft is more common among those who

• 1. hold a variety of theft-tolerant attitudes

• 2. are more tolerant of violence and aggression

• 3. are more accepting of illicit drug use

• 4. experience higher levels of stress or burnout

• 5. are more dissatisfied at work

• 6. believe their crimes are less likely to be detected by management

• 7. believe management would be more lenient with punishment

• 8. are aware of more co-worker theft

• 9. have less impulse control

• 10. are more tolerant of crimes by insiders

• 11. are more likely to endorse certain altruistic values¹