New research claims 80% of staff are filling their boots at their employer’s expense. Can 24 million people really be stealing from work?

According to insurer Royal & Sun Alliance (R&SA), 24 million people have stolen workplace property or exaggerated their expense claims. One in seven admitted to telling their employer they worked more overtime than they actually did or falsified expense claims. The R&SA also claim that more than a quarter of a million employees admitted to having taken a work laptop computer for personal use and never returning it.

Their research also suggests that up to a million people who have stolen from work considered the stolen item to be their property.

“The findings show that taking work property home and making false claims are very common in the workplace,” said R&SA trading director Jon Woodman. “Per worker, thefts are mostly of small items, but given that 82% of people who work have admitted to pilfering from the workplace, the overall impact on a business could be significant.

“Businesses need to be aware of the action of their employees,” he advised. “Disciplinary policies need to be enforced to encourage employers to respect company property. Employers should also ensure all staff invoices are carefully checked and all expenses receipted. Problems such as the theft of laptops can be reduced by ensuring staff sign equipment in and out before taking it.”

According to the UK's fraud prevention service CIFAS, employers can help prevent the likelihood of employee fraud by rigorously checking the ID and references of potential employees during the recruitment process.