A UK Survey published on 26 June 2007 reports that the majority of employees feel no guilt about stealing from the workplace. The survey, by YouGov showed that 8% of those questioned felt guilty about stealing office pens, but only 2% considered that downloading software from work was something to be ashamed of. Worse, only one in fifty respondents thinks stealing software from work is something to feel ashamed of.The Federation against Software Theft, which commissioned the survey, pointed out that getting caught stealing software can result in a prison sentence. "People fail to recognise that theft is theft - whether it's the act of physically taking something that doesn't belong to you or downloading software that you haven't paid for," said the federation's director general John Lovelock.
Most companies seem prepared to accept the risk of this low-level theft; however, over a period of time the cost of such thefts can build - bringing considerable financial losses. The theft of software can also lead to information loss and overall, allowing minor theft to go undetected and unpunished can lead to further increase in the levels of seriousness of crime in the workplace.
So - security managers, don't overlook the small thefts, keep an eye on your staff and record transgressions when they are detected. That is, if you can find a pen!
