Letting employee steal reams of paper vs firing him

[JEDI]

<Office/desk/white collar job>

I read somewhere (cant find link) that it's better to let the employee steal some office supplies once in a while vs the time/effort to replace him.

I found that odd. If he's stealing a ream of paper every month, then what else is he doing that's unethical/wrong?

It's a slippery slope.

Or is it expected that people WILL take office supplies because that's the norm. But the employee is a good worker otherwise?

What's your view?

 

[GrumpyMan]

If it's a pad of Post Its then maybe keep him, a ream of paper, one warning and you're out if you don't stop.

 

[lyssword]

I think people steal paper because it's convinient and most people think that big corporations don't care about few dollars worth of paper. Of course I wouldn't, for fear of getting fired

 

[mugs]

I forget the exact figure, but the cost to replace an employee is something in the range of $15,000. So yeah, letting them steal paper is a lot cheaper.

As for other things the person might do, that's a bit of a stretch. Although I'd have to wonder about someone who would steal a $4 ream of paper from their office, I'd like to think it's a crime of convenience like lyssword suggested.

 

[rh71]

memo in general vicinity that it's being accounted for, ftw.

 

[illusion88]

because paper grows on trees

 

[Ns1]

it's NOT a slippery slope.

 

[Codewiz]

I guess you could say I steal pens but I don't see it as stealing I put them in my laptop bag. A lot end up at home while I am working on my laptop but never make it back to work.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: Codewiz
I guess you could say I steal pens but I don't see it as stealing I put them in my laptop bag. A lot end up at home while I am working on my laptop but never make it back to work.

OMG! Teh slippery slope has you! Next thing you know, you will be embezzling millions and seducing the copy boy!!!!

 

[Accipiter22]

Originally posted by: mugs
I forget the exact figure, but the cost to replace an employee is something in the range of $15,000. So yeah, letting them steal paper is a lot cheaper.

As for other things the person might do, that's a bit of a stretch. Although I'd have to wonder about someone who would steal a $4 ream of paper from their office, I'd like to think it's a crime of convenience like lyssword suggested.

depends what type of employee though

 

[DaveSimmons]

I've taken home a couple of reams of paper over the years, because I use the printer I paid for (and buy toner for) for work-related printing.

If the company is getting free extra work from me, done on my computer and printer, they can save me a trip to Office Depot to buy 1 ream even if some of the sheets aren't used for work.

That's different from grabbing office supplies for no reason though.

 

[SKORPI0]

Holding On To Your Most Valuable Asset w/ Employee Turnover Cost Calculator.

According to a recent survey by the U.S. Department of Labor, the cost of replacing employees is costing employers more than ever.

 

[Fritzo]

Jeeze...paper costs like $2/ream in bulk. If the guy is making the company $10K a month...let him have what he wants. Our office actually has a policy of "free use of office supplies". Nobody abuses it.

 

[xtknight]

Who cares. Paper is like the cheapest thing on earth. Way too cheap to fire somebody over.

 

[BigJ]

REPOST! Safeway posted this exact topic a couple of months ago.

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis
it's NOT a slippery slope.

can you elaborate?

 

[JEDI]

Originally posted by: BigJ
REPOST! Safeway posted this exact topic a couple of months ago.

link pls cause it's not in the 1st couple of pages when i searched under his username.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis
it's NOT a slippery slope.

can you elaborate?

I was going to post the same thing, so I'll elaborate a bit.

Having been employed by more than fifteen different companies, I have seen many different types of business-people, and many different ethical outlooks, some better than others. Of the many business-people I've encountered the most successful have demonstrated a knowledge that fundamental ethical principles applied to business are a good foundation for moral behavior; respect others, respect moral norms, consider the consequences of your actions. These are the basic tenets, and most people observe them, sometimes purposefully and sometimes unconsciously. I believe that, for many, an intuitive perception of the precepts has helped them to prosper and so adherence to those principles is reinforced, despite this, unethical behavior does persist. In all cases, unfortunately, every business person I've encountered, has behaved unethically at one time or another, but in most cases this is the exception and not the rule. Many of the unethical acts I've encountered are small acts for slight gain and often, taken in context of the person's general character, forgivable.

IMO, stelaing a ream of paper indicates an unfulfilled need. The person is dissatisfied in some way and taking the paper helps to ameliorate the dissatisfaction, as a manager it might behoove you, if the person is inherently valuable and not easily replacable to discover and ameliorate that dissatisfaction. Of course, if the person is replaceable, dont bother, but then one might question your ethics.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis
it's NOT a slippery slope.

can you elaborate?

Occasionally taking cheap office supplies out of convenience does not lead to grand larceny?