‘Tis the Season for Employee Theft

In the last two months of the year, sales boom and shoppers flood retail spaces. The holiday shopping season is critical for many businesses. With 20% of annual retail sales occurring during the holidays, a number of factors lead to a disproportionate 25-30% of annual loss occurring during the holidays.

Abundant Opportunity

The increased store traffic and sales create distinct vulnerabilities for businesses trying to match seasonal demand.

The most notable risk factor for employee theft during the holiday season is reduced oversight due to greater customer volume. When staff and supervisors are spread thin, businesses tend to neglect their usual oversight measures. Under these conditions, employee theft practices are more likely to go undetected—among these are “sweetheart deals,” where employees give under-the-table deals to friends and family.