Millions of workers are routinely stealing from their employers, according to fraud prevention service Cifas.
Some 38% of British workers have taken pens or pencils from their office while 22% have siphoned off notepads. And 18% have even taken a pack or two of printer paper home, figures show.
Cifas said pilfering staff rose 14% last year, with around half stealing devices for their own use or to sell on for profit.
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Duncan McLellan, senior fraud intelligence analyst at Cifas, said an “uncertain economic climate” and cost-of-living pressures are driving the increase.
“Coupled with hybrid working – which can make supervision difficult for employers – these factors provide enticing opportunities for individuals to exploit the companies they work for,” he said.
One unnamed worker recalls working at an advertising company where theft was commonplace.
They said: “We had so much champagne in stock that if we wanted a bottle, we took one home.
“If we wanted to spend some holiday money, we may take foreign petty cash to help with our trip.
“Anyone who claims not to have taken something from work is lying, even if it is only a paperclip.”
Fraud investigator Peter Taylor said: “It starts with a few Biros, but then it becomes something bigger.”
Other types of office ‘cheating’ indentified in the study include people who do two jobs at the same time or those who ‘work’ from their holiday destination without taking annual leave.
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