PLUS 8 Methods to Combat Restaurant Theft
Although employee theft in restaurants is a major issue, it is always possible to avoid it from happening. Here will be provided additional 8 ways how to deal with it.
1. Paying your staff well and cultivating open communication.
Take a close look at the workplace you've established as an employer before you start blaming your staff for your failures and putting cameras everywhere.
Most thefts occur as a result of an opportunity that has been presented. You might assume that the major reasons are a lack of inventory control and mild penalties for stealing.
Employee theft is mostly motivated by emotions of undervaluation and mistreatment at work as well as underpayment and underappreciation.
They'll be less likely to take what is purportedly yours if you pay them well, offer benefits that enhance their quality of life, and give them space to talk about their struggles.
2. Free staff meals.
Offering your personnel a complimentary, satiating, ideally healthy, and delectable supper before their shift begins is one approach to stop them from stealing and nibbling away your food stocks.
For your team's snacks, you can also supply some extra treats from your stock.
3. Make policies (SOP) and communicate them to your staff.
Make it known to your staff that employee theft is never permitted. You might also describe your policy on staff theft and the kinds of safeguards you've put in place to avoid it, such as cameras and inventory checks.
This will demonstrate to your staff that you are attentive and aware of fraud techniques.
Additionally, you may establish policies and keep an eye on how they are being followed.
Make use of an app that requires your staff to log their arrival and departure times.
Create a comping strategy and set up a daily or weekly budget for complementary goods so you can monitor your sales targets.
Establish a phone and break policy, but recognize that your team needs time to check in on social media or send a ride-hailing text.
Inform staff members that loyalty cards are solely for customer usage and that it is improper for them to scan their own cards while making transactions.
4. Security Cameras.
Installing security cameras prevents your employees from stealing. It is an obvious approach to let your employees know they are being watched.
According to a Washington University research that followed the behavior of workers who were subject to electronic monitoring in 400 restaurants throughout America, surveillance decreased employee theft on average by 22% (saving $24 per week), on average. Theft decreased, even more, three months after installing surveillance, saving $48 each week.
However, before you begin placing cameras in your establishment, be sure that any video monitoring complies with the law and protects the privacy of both staff and clients.
5. Limit who has access to the safe and cash drawers.
The safe should only be open to the manager and owner of the restaurant. In some cases, the safe's combination is only known by the owner. The likelihood of theft decreases as the number of hands handling the money decreases.
6. Proper POS & safe access
You can consider half of your checkout theft prevention done if you install an automated POS system. You can keep track of the overall sales you have made with the aid of an intelligent POS system.
You can restrict access to your POS system so that only you and the manager have it. Without the manager's or owner's password, an order cannot be modified once it has been placed and transmitted to the kitchen or bar. This will stop staff members from revising and canceling the bills.
Also, think about limiting access to the safe to the restaurant's owner and manager. The likelihood of theft decreases as the number of hands handling the money decreases. Even if there are some inconsistencies, you already know who to contact.
7. Invest in reporting and inventory management systems.
Sadly, using preventative steps will only reduce employee theft; they won't get rid of it. Only if the bartender and kitchen workers are aware that orders shouldn't be placed without a ticket can a POS system assist you.
Your final plan of action is to carry out routine reporting and a physical inventory check.
Because no one is looking, staff steal frequently. Employee theft from a restaurant is made simple when the owner is not actively involved in the operation and doesn't conduct audits.
Every pre-opening, shift change, and closing time, conduct daily inspections. At the end of each shift, ask your staff to take an inventory and record the amount of food that was wasted.
Reporting and inventory-taking may be done quickly and efficiently using digital checklist management software.
The kitchen workers will be careful to maintain track of the food inventory if they are aware that they are responsible for it. Additionally, it promotes accountability for proper food preparation to reduce waste.
8. Acquire non-disclosure agreements from staff members.
Finally, you might want to have a nondisclosure agreement signed by the kitchen crew. Once more, having a wonderful boss can be to your benefit. If you treat your employees well, they will typically return the favor.
