This article first provides a detailed definition of what is considered to be employee theft. Second, it discusses the causes of employee theft as they apply to three levels of analysis in organizations: (1) the personal level, (2) the social level, and (3) the systemic level. Finally, the article identifies theft prevention strategies at each level of analysis, incorporating both procedural and interactive strategies. .
Definition of Employee Theft .
Employee theft is included in the general class of "deviant behaviors" in organizations, but the study of theft has suffered due to the variety of approaches and definitions of the concept (Robinson & Greenberg;, 1998). For the purposes of this article, theft is considered to be intentional acts by insiders (i.e., employees) that are targeted at the organization rather than at individuals. Thus theft from another employee will not be considered, but theft of spare parts or tools is included. .
In addition, Robinson and Bennett (1995) distinguished between production deviance, which includes work slows down or "time theft," and property deviance, which refers to the appropriation of an organization's tangible assets. The concern in this article is property deviance, not production deviance. Finally, theft differs in terms of degree or consequences. A one-time theft of pads of paper and pens is viewed as vastly different from theft of reams of computer paper on a regular basis (Grover, 1997; Robinson & Bennett;, 1997). This article is concerned with nontrivial theft. .
Why Does Employee Theft Occur? .
Researchers have viewed employee theft through many different lenses, each focused on a different paradigm. Psychologists, criminologists, and sociologists focus on the individual level, seeking to determine a profile of an employee who would steal from the company. Social psychologists examine the relationship between the employee and management as the source of theft, with emphasis on the social exchange relationship or the perceived psychological contract between them, as well as group norms and dynamics.
