Small firms are being warned to keep a closer eye on staff after a survey revealed 72% have stolen from their employer on at least one occasion.

According to a poll of 2,062 office workers in the UK by employment law consultancy Peninsular, this is in spite of 81% believing that stealing is morally wrong.

Peter Done, managing director of Peninsular, is urging companies to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to stealing. Employers should make it clear in staff employment contracts that stealing is unacceptable and set out clear punishments for anybody who does so, he said.

“Employees may well believe that because they can get away with stealing smaller items, they may well be tempted to steal larger and more expensive items, which could cost the company even more money,” he said.

“Workers need to realise that they simply cannot continually get away with stealing from their employer; it is an illegal act and criminal prosecutions can be brought against them for doing so,” he added.

The most common items stolen by staff are stationery such post-it notes, pens and pencils but also include computer equipment and software.

“It is shocking to see that although 81% of those who stole believe it to be morally wrong, they still went ahead and did it anyway,” said Done. “We appear to be becoming a culture where it is deemed evermore acceptable and commonplace to steal from your employer.

“The ethical boundaries that once existed in our society appear to be becoming ever more watered down and eroded,” he added.