|
|
|
|
|
|
HomeShop at BookSurgeHealth & FitnessHealth Care IssuesSolving Employee Theft: New Insights, New Tactics |
|
|  |
| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review:
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
 A Mixed Lot Jun 25, 2009
On the positive side: There is some useful information here and some entertainment value in some of the stories. The applied psychology perspective is particularly helpful, especially for those somewhat blind to those aspects of employee relations/management. Much of what the author offers is common sense (but that can be in short supply) or things that one would likely have learned other places or after some time in a business. It's written at an entry level and may be a reasonable intro to the subject, particularly to new manager without a lot of experience (on the other hand if one is not completely comfortable with the manager it may be a little too useful a guidebook for them - managers having more responsibility, also have more opportunity).
On the negative: The author has several axes to grind, particularly around polygraphing (which can be expensive, not always practical, and fraught with some legal complexities), and also has several more products to sell. These aspects are covered in some of the other less positive reviews here. The book is a little longish and appears to be self published. A publisher's editor might have tightened it up and taken the edge off a few of those axes. Some elements of the title (new and solving) may also be a little of an oversell of the contents, as others note.
Nicely accompanied what I learned about theft in Accounting 101 Apr 16, 2009
Well written, but there's quite a bit here that I already learned in Accounting 101. For example, separation of duties so that no one person is in charge of handling money and also doing bank deposits, as that gives them opportunity. Then there's the employee who NEVER takes a sick day or vacation because they're continually trying to cover up their theft and they can't risk someone else assuming their duties and discovering that they've stolen.
What's in this book that I didn't learn in Accounting 101 is how to present your security measures to employees to make them aware that you're watching and yet not make your employees feel like you're saying, "I hired you, but I don't trust you." The book also has ideas on how to talk to employees (prospective and current) that help minimize confusion in communication about rules and policies, and the book's ideas try to limit exposing an employer to possible lawsuits when it comes to dishonest employees.
Definitely worth checking out this book if you're a business owner, or if you work for a company as a manager or supervisor.
A downside to this book is that while it appears to be a thick volume, the type is rather large.
 Insights and Tactics in Dealing with Employee Theft Mar 09, 2009
Very well written with lots of questions and scenario's to help a business stay in business by eliminating the problem employees that sometimes help themselves to things they are not entitled too.
The author suggests several questions to ask, and the logical answers, and how to interrupt the employees answers.
I recommend to anyone who has a business with employees.
--WE
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 "Julio said he could really use that sofa..." Jan 15, 2009
I work for a great, healthy corporation that has few problems. But in this economy, even a few problems can sink a great business. And employee theft, unnoticed and undeterred, is a giant big iceberg to our Titanic. A comprehensive, logical book on theft in the workplace could save even a mid-sized company millions. This is not that book.
Let's start with what's good. There's a brief mention of how the character of a business owner can be a deterrent in and of itself. A kind, admirable leader inspires employees and they are less likely to steal from such a person. A haughty, richer-than-thou vibe inspires more theft stemming from resentment. Good advice. It is also useful to know the statistics on first-time thieves becoming second-time thieves, though the numbers are a bit too vague. Asking yourself whether "this person can afford to work for me" at the salary you're paying is smart. Chapter Four is the strongest, with good tips on communication and general goodwill. OK, done with the good.
Now for the bad. Wow. Where to begin. The extended rant on polygraph laws? The blanket statements not backed up by noted sources or solid numbers (pg. 52, "theft in Arab countries is far less than theft in Western countries". No doubt. How much less? Did you even look that up, Mr. Basset?)? The stomach-turning treacle of the Bicycle story (pg. 165), a low trick most likely to work on a child? Stereotyping former strippers (pg. 102)? Indirectly recommending people snoop around employees' houses by glorifying a story where an employer did that (pg. 177)? There's a lot more.
The absolute worse bit in the whole book involves a statement you are supposed to make to suspect employees to get them to confess. In my opinion, implying to a worker that they will get a second chance if they confess when you have no intention of giving them a second chance is wrong. Even if you didn't say the exact words, you lied to them, created false hope, and have put yourself at risk for a very angry, disillusioned response from a person who apparently doesn't have a problem breaking the law. Bad idea, bad advice.
This book is a skim-only. There's a bit of useful stuff, but it's written at a third-grade level and contains questionable ideas. Look elsewhere for building good business policies.
GRADE: C-/D
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
One of those books that's hard to put down Jan 04, 2009
This book is more than just a dry scientific thesis in how a business owner can reduce employee theft. It's more of an exploration into the psychology behind why people steal, even when they could have just as easily purchased the item. A must read, even if it is to make sure that the one who is reading it might not fall prey to such unacceptable behavior. The book does not have to read front to back; just pick any chapter and read it...and re-read it.
|
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
