More than 70% of office workers admit to stealing from their employer, according to a survey by employment law consultancy Peninsula.
The research found that 81% of those who stole believed that what they do is morally wrong.

Peter Done, managing director of Peninsula, says: “We appear to be becoming a culture where it is deemed evermore acceptable and commonplace to steal from your employer. The ethical boundaries that once existed in our society appear to be becoming ever more watered down and eroded. However employees may well believe that because they can get away with stealing smaller items, they may well be tempted to steal larger and more expensive items, which could cost the company even more money.

“Workers need to realise that they simply cannot continually get away with stealing from their employer, it is an illegal act and criminal prosecutions can be brought against them for doing so. Employers need to make it clear in their employees’ contracts of employment that stealing is unacceptable, whilst also setting out clear punishments for anybody who does so,” he adds.