What to Do When You Suspect an Employee of Stealing

Learning that an employee may have stolen from your company is always a challenging situation. When this happens, it’s important to take the following four steps to address the issue:

Investigate

Whenever you suspect an employee of stealing, you need to investigate. While the procedure and scope of an investigation will vary, you always need to start by determining who will conduct the investigation. In some cases, it may be wise to hire an attorney to conduct the investigation. If an attorney conducts the investigation, the attorney-client privilege may protect certain communications and materials from being disclosed.

Disciplinary Action

If the investigation confirms the employee theft, you will need to determine what type of disciplinary action, such as termination, to take. Make sure to document any disciplinary action that you take.

Process Review

Once you handle the theft at issue, it is important to review your existing procedures to determine if changes need to be made to better prevent future instances of theft.

Recover Stolen Funds or Property

You may be able to recover what was stolen. An employment lawyer can help you identify and evaluate your options, which may include criminal charges or filing a civil lawsuit against the employee.

At Levene Legal, we work with clients at every stage, from investigation to recovery. Getting the advice of an employment lawyer at the outset can minimize your losses and reduce future risk.