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All restaurants suffer employee theft to some degree. For some employees, it's snacking or drinking. For others, it's giving extras to customers (usually regulars), hoping for bigger tips. For some, it might be forgetting to ring something in that they get themselves, such as soft drinks, desserts, or salads. Bartenders often "forget" to ring drinks in because they serve and sell everything themselves. Some employees unfortunately, commit out and out larceny. Here is a list of behaviors to look out for to protect yourself. These early warning signs may seem obvious, but they still bear constant attention and reinforcement for the managers. Inconsistencies by a staff member explaining discrepancies or errors. Excessive cancels, voids, overrings, drawer shortages, missing coupons, and adjustments need to be explained. Be sure the explanations are consistent and plausible. Maybe the employee needs more training. He definitely needs more supervision. Bad temper or unpleasant behavior that tends to discourage questions. Defensive behavior should not be tolerated under any circumstances. This behavior is symptomatic of other
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problems that your managers may not see, but your customers do. Deep-rooted causes could be resentment, jealousy, personal problems, or just a personality that is inconsistent with the hospitality business in general. Warning
signs of substance abuse.
An employee with a substance abuse problem
will need extra money to finance a habit. Your managers might
be more in tune with these symptoms. Remind them to be aware and
be on the lookout. Expensive habits - drinking, extra- marital affairs. Your managers shouldn't have to be priests or rabbis, but they should be on the lookout for bragging or showing off expensive tastes. Spending
more money than earned or what salary can support. Many
servers have other jobs and the reason they work for you is to get
extra money to buy the things they want - very noble. Other
servers, such as new immigrants or people with obvious limitations,
probably are not capable of buying new cars. These people need
a little extra scrutiny. Disgruntled,
belligerent attitude, complaining about management or job to others.
These people need to be weeded out |
Admission
of theft from prior employer. Sometimes the best predictor
of future behavior is past behavior. Why should they change just
because they now work for you? Be sure your managers are not
the "earth mother" types who are trying to save
everybody. Let them do it on their own time and with their own
money.
Your managers shouldn't have to be priests or rabbis, but they should be on the lookout for bragging or showing off expensive behaviors.
Concealed
family relationships or cohabitation among employees, These
kinds of relationships require a little extra attention, especially
when the relationships are between servers and cooks or cocktail
servers and bartenders. Some businesses just don't allow it. Brian McMillan is Director of Product Development of In Sight Commander System, Inc. a software development company specializing in restaurants and video surveillance systems. He can be reached at (714) 940-9800 or http://www.insightcommander.com/ | ||
