Page 6 - Logistics News - September October 2023

W A R EH OU SING

or appears as duplicates rather than originals. Check the criminal history of potential employees
• Stock is constantly found near exits or loading as well as check with previous employers to find out
bays. how long the person worked there and why they left.
Trust your gut – if you’re not sure about someone’s
It is very difficult to prove that someone is guilty credibility, don’t hire them.
of warehouse theft without catching the person red-
handed. It’s much easier to put security measures in 2. Educate employees about company policy on theft.
place that help you avoid theft altogether. Make sure all your staff are aware that you have a zero-
tolerance policy when it comes to theft or fraud. Have
If you notice any discrepancies, look into them them sign a code of conduct that clearly outlines how
immediately. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be violations will be punished.
to ascertain whether the missing stock items are lost or
stolen. Additionally, you can identify anonymous channels
for staff to report any suspicious activity. If everyone
It’s easier to do this with decent data: knowing knows that their colleagues are keeping an eye out, it will
where your stock is, or isn’t, is critical and from this deter thieves due to a higher chance of being caught.
point, we advise taking precautionary measures to
raise awareness, identify weak points and limit the 3. Deal with thefts immediately, in line with your
opportunity for theft. company policy.
If you experience a theft, or series of thefts, take a look
Tips to prevent warehouse theft in your at your shift register to see who was on duty when the
business stock went missing. If you begin to notice a pattern
between missing stock and certain staff members on
1. Conduct background checks before hiring new duty, monitor their activity in the warehouse.
warehouse staff.
It might seem like a no-brainer, but doing a basic If you notice any suspicious behaviour (such as
background check on criminal records will drastically consistently clocking in or out at odd times), then you
decrease your chances of warehouse theft. may need to investigate further. This can be done in
line with the company policy education and process.
Gulf Business reports: “Numerous subsets of
screening services may be included in an employment 4. Maximise managerial visibility in your warehouse.
background check. Which ones you choose will depend Having a strong managerial presence on your
on a whole host of variables, including the nature of warehouse floor will deter theft. It can, however, be
your industry, nature of your business, what kind of role difficult for warehouse managers to spend a lot of time
you’re hiring for, wherein the corporate hierarchy that on the floor as many of their duties require a computer.
role falls and your organisation’s level of risk tolerance.
Beyond that, you should be mindful of the laws and Consider investing in a warehouse management
regulations affecting your organisation. solution that offers a mobile component; this would
allow warehouse managers a desk-free solution. The
The bottom line is that when they’re done properly, DM Mobile Solution offers a couple of advantages for
background checks can help ensure the integrity, managers as they walk the floor:
fairness and consistency of the hiring process. That’s • Systematically record active interactions with
good for those doing the hiring, of course, but it also employees, including observations and performance
benefits honest candidates who are playing by the rules measurement.
and giving employers an accurate picture of themselves • Review work in the warehouse by wave, job function
and their qualifications.” and task/activity.

4 SEP T E MB E R/O CT O B E R 2023 www .l o g ist i csn e w s .c o .z a