Over $32 billion was lost last
year by retailers in the U.S.A. alone in "inventory
shrinkage," according to an article from the PR
Newswire Association. The most significant factor in
this rising shrinkage amount is employee theft.
We will never eliminate
dishonesty, but we can significantly decrease it by
learning from others mistakes. Ashamedly, I have many
you can learn from.
As a youth I was one of those
dishonest employees who pilfered merchandise. At my
first retail job I, and many other employees, observed a
theft go unpunished. Almost immediately this business
became like a permissive parent with out of control
children. Many employees began stealing. Even though
management was liked, they were not respected.
At my second retail job the
opposite was true. They had heavy security, and a
multitude of rules, but staff was treated with contempt.
Many employees stole out of defiance and resentment.
So what's the lesson? You can
be a well-liked manager, but if you have no rules or
structure for the staff you will have chaos. On the
other hand if you have lots of rules and do a great job
of holding people accountable, but you show no care or
concern for your employees you will see rebellion.
The Psalmist who penned Psalm
119 knew the solution. His boss was God, and he told God
in Psalm 119:124, "Deal with your servant according
to your love and teach me your decrees." All
through this psalm the author reveals his obedience and
faithfulness, due to his love for God and God's
commands.
If you desire to see your
inventory sold rather than stolen, or desire to have a
workplace with integrity, remember this formula; Rules +
Relationships = Integrity.
© 2000, Integrity
Management, Inc. "Integrity Moments with Rick
Boxx" is a weekly commentary on issues of integrity
in the workplace from a Christian perspective.
