Working with Valuables – How to Stay out of Trouble
The recent case of a former poker dealer at JACK Cleveland Casino pleading guilty to stealing from the pots he managed, serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with handling valuables in professional settings. Often, workers have to deal with cash, goods, sensitive information, or high-value assets almost daily.
The problem is more persistent now in the digital age. Whether you’re playing at a physical casino or using your phone to access Telegram casino games like blackjack or poker, securing your valuables is crucial. For instance, securing your crypto wallet when using a Telegram gambling platform involves implementing safeguards to prevent theft, such as two-factor authentication or storing your private keys in a safe place. But if you are working with valuables, how can you ensure you’re staying out of trouble?
Understanding the Risks
Employee theft is common across industries. It isn’t always about cash but can include the theft of goods, falsifying records, committing payroll fraud, or engaging in unauthorized transactions. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) says that employee theft is responsible for nearly 30% of business failures. Besides financial loss, theft and fraud can damage your company’s reputation. It can also erode trust and can lead to legal consequences for both employees and employers. It’s important to understand the risks so that you can prevent them.
Staying Out of Trouble
Strong Hiring Practices
The foundation of a trustworthy workforce starts with hiring the right people. As an employer, make sure to conduct thorough background checks, including criminal history, employment verification, and reference checks. You should also engage in behavioral interviews, placing the focus on ethical dilemmas. A person’s responses can help assess a candidate’s integrity.
For employees, be transparent about your past work experience and showcase your ethical decision-making skills to build credibility. Avoid exaggerating on your resume and in any application forms. Lying about things like skills and experience will almost always come back to haunt you in the future.
Policies and Procedures
If you are an employer, you should create thoroughly researched policies that lay out all your expectations and any consequences when it comes to theft, fraud, and mismanagement of valuables. Include information like:
Guidelines on handling cash, merchandise, or sensitive data.
Detailed consequences of misconduct, including termination and legal action.
Procedures for reporting suspicious behavior.
As an employee, familiarize yourself with any policies your employer has laid out and be strict about sticking to the guidelines. Keep in mind that any deviation could have serious consequences while adhering to the rules rigidly will help you prevent misunderstandings or missteps.
Transparency and Accountability
Usually, workplaces with open communication and ethical leadership, bosses, and management that uphold morals, tend to have lower rates of employee theft and fraud. If the managers and higher-ups are leading by example in terms of transparency and accountability, employees can be more easily encouraged. They can also:
Promote whistleblower protection to allow employees to report suspicious activity without fear.
Hold regular discussions on workplace ethics and integrity to encourage those who are doing the right thing and discourage bad behavior from the more dishonest team members.
Accountability, even to oneself is important. As an employee, you should take personal responsibility for your actions and avoid any temptation to cut corners. It’s best to avoid trouble by acting with integrity at all times.
Surveillance and Monitoring Systems
In environments where cash or high-value goods are handled, you need to take stricter security measures. Install cameras, and access control systems, and monitor all transactions. These measures will not only deter theft among employees but they will also be tools for detecting and addressing theft if it happens.
When you’re hired and working in a high-risk environment like this, you should understand that surveillance is not just about catching wrongdoing but ensuring fairness. Having an employer install cameras isn’t a sign that they don’t trust you, it is a measure meant to protect you too from blame if anything were to happen. If any security situation makes you uncomfortable, raise your management concerns with the HR department and further up, if nothing is done to help.
Regular Audits and Reviews
If you have any hope of success, your businesses should be performing scheduled and random audits as often as possible. Audit all of your financial records, inventory, and employee transactions. Regular reviews will help you catch any issues very early, meaning that you can keep small issues from growing into larger fraud cases.
Employees need to maintain accurate records. One way to do this is to double-check all the transactions you facilitate. This can help you avoid accidental mistakes that could be misinterpreted as theft.
Conclusion
Handling valuables in a professional setting requires responsibility, due diligence, and ethical behavior. If you are an employer, make sure to implement safeguards to protect your assets, and keep your employees in line with best practices to avoid legal or ethical trouble.
Employees who prioritize integrity and professionalism will not only protect their organizations but also maintain their reputations and careers. Ultimately, staying out of trouble when working with valuables comes down to one core principle: always do the right thing, even when you think no one is watching.