Top 3 ways of preventing workplace crime
If your business falls victim to a crime, it’ll end up costing you an eye-watering £5,898.
That’s the facts according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), who earlier this year also reported that 48% of small businesses have suffered the effects of a non-cyber related workplace crime. When it comes to cybercrimes, the figure rises significantly to 66%.
If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of a crime being committed against your company, you’ll have to deal with heavy financial consequences and work even harder afterwards to ensure your employees feel safe at work.
To avoid the headache and stress of a nightmare security breach, staying on top of crime prevention should be one of your top priorities over the coming months.
With that in mind, we’ve highlighted three of the most effective ways of keeping your business safe and secure, without having to spend a fortune. Take a look.
#1: Deter thefts and vandals
Appearance is everything, so if your warehouse or office building is in desperate need of a facelift, it could be sending out the wrong message. Crumbling paintwork, overgrown paths and dirty windows can all leave your building looking empty or uncared for, making it an easy target for thieves and vandals.
A few simple housekeeping and maintenance tasks will quickly solve the problem. An industrial cleaning service will take care of the exteriors, freshening up brickwork and fixing any major issues.
Generally, stay on top of waste management to stop litter becoming a problem, and keep all garden or shrubbery areas tidy. Making sure paths and boundaries are well lit will also work to discourage potential troublemakers.
#2: Prevent internal theft
Whether small or large, every business is vulnerable to internal thefts. The biggest problem in tackling this threat is that no one wants to work for an overly suspicious boss who constantly looks over shoulders, questioning every move.
Luckily there are lots of subtle ways of protecting your business from dishonest employees, so you can rest easy knowing your workplace is safe without having to resort to unpopular or desperate measures.
Track access to computer programmes to prevent data being stolen, and immediately close accounts and passwords for employees who leave for another job. In terms of physical solutions, CCTV will help to deter – and detect – crime.
#3: Invest in cyber-security
With the modern business world becoming increasingly reliant on technological and cloud-based solutions for working, cyber-security is the only way to guarantee that your sensitive data doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Luckily, there have also been big improvements in online protection services, so defending your company from hacking and malware is easier than ever before.
Investing in firewalls and security software should be your first step, but you can also help the process along by educating employees on how to stay safe whilst using office computer systems.
The number one rule for preventing workplace crime is to constantly stay aware of threats. Size doesn’t guarantee that you’ll fly under the radar of potential criminals, so don’t assume your business is safe because it’s smaller.
