Hire and Rental News - May 2018

“The former employee had wiped our DropBox files and phone contact files to hide the fraudulent activities, completely cutting us off from accessing business information.” The final complication came when Leo realised his operating funds had effectively disappeared as a result of the fines and stolen funds which prevented him from continuing with his then line of work building telecoms sites. “We just couldn’t take on any new significant projects without capital behind us. That employee took that from us as well.” INDUSTRY in FOCUS 26 HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • MAY 2018 Leo said this happened to his business because he did not have the correct systems and measures for protection in place. “But you are never prepared for something like this happening to you. In a way, this incident has become an opportunity. While we will probably never recover any of the stolen funds or recover the loss from sabotage and fines, it made us look at the business in a new way. We had to pursue new avenues and different industries to get back on our feet and replace our business. We were pushed to work outside our comfort zone and rebuild; which we did. “We focused on becoming an EWP supplier as well as offering rigging and maintenance equipment. With an expanding fleet of new (and modern) fully equipped EWPs, Skydeck Australia provides clients with a one-stop shop by managing all site access requirements; no matter how difficult the position.” Safeguard your business Leo said now he has implemented a raft of new processes and systems to protect against employee theft. “Now we monitor the accounts closely with a monthly audit. We’ve changed our accounting systems and can now see who has been accessing the accounts and if any changes have been made to any of the account details or information.It provides transparency for us as the employer and also for the employees. “We change our passwords every month. This is not negotiable. We don’t know what our clients are like; they might have disgruntled employees somewhere too. “We don’t take referee contact details from resumes any more. Now we call the business direct. That way we know we are speaking to the correct person or if the information has been misrepresented. And we ask former employers about employee misconduct. “We do a police check on everyone and do a pre-employment medical as another precaution. We need to know if there are any pre-existing medical conditions. “It is about having a level of governance and security in place to protect the business and brand as well as the employees who rely on us for their income. We have a level of commitment to our staff and suppliers and they need to have a level of confidence in us in return, that we can pay our bills too.” Visit: www.skydeckaustralia.com.au An obvious risk is that posed by employees, who, for whatever reason, decide to do the wrong thing and take from the business. The good news is there are a number of simple steps a business can take to reduce the risk of loss from employee The risk from within: employee fraud & theft With high profile news stories about data theft and cyber-attacks, business is properly focused on managing risks from these external sources. As a result, less attention can be paid to risks from within the business. Bartier Perry explains the risks. fraud and theft. Such steps include: 1. Effective screening prior to employment, including proper reference checking and, where applicable, a criminal record check. Admittedly, these measures are not guaranteed to be successful and will only identify past indiscretions. Be careful not to discriminate against someone because of their criminal record; their criminality must affect their ability to perform the inherent requirements of their job; 2. Prepare and promulgate policies and Employee fraud: a cautionary tale .....continued from p24 Aerial Access Australia is theAustraliandistributor of theVERSALIFT elevatingworkplatform. Responsible for the manufacture anddesign to chassis, withwholeof life support. Expect reliability, productivity andversatility withaVersalift. Exceptional design Ease of use The highest safety standards You’ve made the right choice www.aerialaccess.com.au Call 1300 654 591 or email enquiries@aerialaccess.com.au