Persuading Employees that a Security Camera Is Necessary

To save money, your company orders office supplies in bulk. Each department then gets its allotment of supplies, which are kept in a supply room for employees to access when needed. The room is locked at night, and only you and security guards have the key.

Large amounts of office supplies have been disappearing from your department's supply room for several months. It started with small items, such as pens, tape, and sticky notes. Now, staplers, calculators, and expensive poster and certificate frames are missing. You have no idea who is responsible, but the thefts appear to be happening during regular business hours. The total loss from the thefts is now more than $1,000. You tried having employees sign materials out on the honor system, but the thefts continued. Security recommends a hidden camera for the room, but the idea of "spying" on employees troubles you. You have agreed to a compromise: a security camera placed in plain view.

You tried having employees sign materials out on the honor system, but the thefts continued. Security recommends a hidden camera for the room, but the idea of "spying" on employees troubles you. You have agreed to a compromise: a security camera placed in plain view.

You believe the thefts are the work of one person and that the other 90 employees in your department are innocent. Therefore, the camera may offend people and harm employee morale.

Morale already has been down because the company has experienced profit losses the past two quarters due to increased competition. Rumors are spreading that some jobs will be transferred overseas and layoffs are imminent, though you have no solid information on management's plans. Your employeesmany of whom have been with the company for more than 10 yearsare apprehensive about their future with the company.

But the alternative is to allow the increasingly costly thefts to continue. You also want to avoid having to search employees and their belongings, the next step according to security if the camera fails to discourage the thief.

writ a memo to your employees explaining the need for the camera