Restaurant Employee Theft
Everywhere you go, there are restaurants. From the greasy spoon diner to a five-star restaurant, there's one on just about every block. That makes for a lot of places to steal from. But even if people aren't leaving with silverware or pocketing the salt and pepper shakers, they could be stealing food instead.
If left unchecked, food theft can lead to bigger problems - like staff shortages and higher prices for customers - that are nearly impossible to recover from in the long run.
The signs of food theft
If you're worried that your restaurant might be facing theft by one or more of your employees, you may have a few clues to look out for. Here are six of the most common signs that point to possible food theft:
1. Overestimated time cards. Payroll fraud is the biggest red flag and is often a sign of food theft in general. Often, those who are stealing food will exaggerate the number of hours worked and then use that money to buy themselves a personal supply.
2. Long periods of time away from the restaurant. Employees who use excessive amounts of time off from work are likely spending large chunks of their days at another job or spending the hours off stealing food.
3. Low food costs, despite high prices on the menu. It's no secret that restaurants pay shocking amounts for their food. But if the employees are stealing food, they're likely not paying up on that.
4. Blatantly empty shelves. If an employee is taking your food, it's not just out of spite; they're probably hungry or drunk and looking to get a quick fix before their shift ends. When you notice that your shelves look empty, you could be onto something.
5. Incomplete records for inventory and sales inventory statistics. Unlike some other types of theft, food-related fraud is often closely tied to how much money and food you spend on your menu. If you're looking at financial records, you might notice something odd about totals for inventory or sales figures.
6. Excess waste from the restaurant. If employees are stealing food from the kitchen, they don't usually want to be getting rid of leftovers. Despite what some people may tell you, food waste is a serious problem and can make things harder for both your restaurant and the environment.
If you do suspect your restaurant of food theft, there are plenty of steps you can take to protect yourself. The first step is to look at the big picture and try not to get too caught up in individual stories. It's easy to get frustrated, but it's hard to resolve a problem that may not be as large as it looks.
If you're suspicious of food theft during the night shift, you might want to consider working with a sleep doctor or other medical professional to help understand exactly what's going on. Your employees will probably be too drunk or drugged up to remember anything about the day after it ends. But your doctor likely has a better handle on everything that's going on right now and can help you figure out if there are any underlying issues that could be causing the problem.
The other thing you could do is look at your current policies on alcohol and drug use. If your employees are stealing food to feed a drug habit, there's likely more to the problem than anything you can identify with a digital inventory system. In these cases, disciplinary action can be very effective in curbing and preventing future theft.
In the end, food theft is hard to prevent altogether but it doesn't have to be as bad as it seems. By following a few simple precautions, you can ensure that you're doing everything you can to keep your restaurant protected from the most likely source of theft. After all, if your employees are stealing, it's probably not because they don't like your food - it's because they're not getting paid enough to feed their habit.
If your employees are stealing food from your restaurant, try to work with a doctor or other medical professional who can help track down possible solutions to the problem. Often, a therapy session is enough to solve the problem and help your employees get back on track.
To avoid food theft, keep an eye out for signs of employee theft. If you find yourself in a situation where your employees are stealing from you, contact a sleep doctor immediately. As many restaurants have found out, it's much cheaper and easier to provide food for the whole staff than it is to replace it when someone steals from the kitchen.
If you're looking for a restaurant that provides a great meal without the hassle of employee theft, contact us today.
Author: Mike Schlosser - © 2017 Restaurant Employee Theft. All rights reserved.
Website: http://www.restauranttheft.com/
Source: http://EzineArticles.
Conclusion
Although this may be a nightmare situation for any restaurant owner to face, it is possible to turn things around with the right therapies. A great way to help an employee who is stealing from the restaurant or bar is to seek out sleep doctors or other medical professionals who can provide a customized therapy program.
The most important thing for an employee that is stealing from your restaurant would be to understand why you are stealing and how you can fix it.