In a commercial crime insurance policy, employee dishonesty coverage is a critical component. It rewards business owners for employee acts that endanger the company’s physical or financial well-being. Financial forgeries, cybercrime, loss of business property, embezzlement, and unlawful money transfers are some of the things it could safeguard you from.
Small firms are typically offered the plan, which may have per-position, per-person, and per-incident limits. Temporary employees, seasonal laborers, contractors, volunteers, board members, and trustees are all covered. Employee dishonesty insurance can be found under the following names:
What is a dishonesty policy?
Employee Dishonesty Coverage (also known as employee theft insurance or employee dishonesty insurance) is a type of insurance that protects small firms from financial losses caused by one or more workers’ dishonest or criminal conduct. It’s also known by the following terms:
Why Do You Need Employee Theft Coverage?
Did you know that 75% of employees admit to stealing from their employers, and that inventory loss accounts for 42.7 percent of all losses? Every year, firms lose $50 billion due to employee theft. These figures alone demonstrate the importance of having staff theft insurance to protect your assets. Even if you hire the most trustworthy staff, there is always the possibility of a rotten apple in the bunch.
How Employee Theft Insurance Policies are Written
- Sustained Loss: This covers a loss that occurs while the insurance is in effect, up to the policy limitations.
- A claims-made policy is comparable to a discovery base policy. This covers losses that occur at any time, but only if they are detected during the policy’s active period.
These plans might have coverage amounts ranging from $100,000 to $1 million.
What is another name for employee dishonesty coverage?
Employee dishonesty insurance (also known as employee theft insurance or employee dishonesty insurance) is designed to safeguard your company from financial losses resulting from criminal acts done by one or more workers. This includes offenses such as:
Employee Theft of Money or Securities: If your employees steal money or securities from your firm, whether they take cash or make unlawful transfers, the employee dishonesty coverage will fully reimburse your company for all damages.
Forgery and Alteration: You’ll be covered if one of your employees forges a check, draft, or promissory note to benefit financially at the expense of the firm. You’ll also be covered if you give your employee a check to pay and they modify the amount to steal from you. This insurance is required if you provide your employees access to check or bank accounts.
Credit Card Fraud: The financial and reputational consequences of one of your employees misusing a customer’s credit card or fraudulently charging one of the company’s credit cards can be severe. All losses involving credit, charge, and debit cards are covered by a preferred policy.
Embezzlement: Employees who have access to the company’s finances owe a fiduciary duty to protect those assets and use them as intended. They may cause substantial damage to your firm if they convert the funds for personal purposes. Your business will be protected against costly fraud and embezzlement damages with the correct crime insurance policy.
What is the difference between a fidelity bond and employee dishonesty insurance?
Fidelity bonds safeguard businesses from losses caused by employee theft or fraud. A business service bond will cover customer property for businesses that go inside their customers’ homes and workplaces, but an employee dishonesty bond will protect the customer’s own property. Employees’ retirement plans will be protected by ERISA fidelity bonds if the plan’s managers commit fraud. Fidelity Bonds play a vital role in helping firms manage their risk because employee theft and fraud is a frequent problem.
Who pays the price for staff dishonesty?
As a result, the Employer anticipates being able to rely on the Employee to carry out his or her responsibilities. Furthermore, when the Employer inquires about duties and/or projects that were supposed to be done by a certain date, the Employer will take the Employee’s word for it. As a result, maintaining the Employer-Employee relationship requires a high level of trust.
The relationship between the employer and the employee is built on trust. Workplace instability and strife would result if there was no trust. When the trust relationship between the Parties has broken down or is non-existent, the Employer will be unable and reluctant to advise an Employee to undertake particular responsibilities.
It will be nearly impossible for the Employer to trust an Employee again once it has been discovered that they have been dishonest. The Employer will question and/or second-guess everything the Employee says and/or does after the dishonesty has been discovered.
The Employer would be hesitant to have the dishonest Employee complete key work if he or she had previously been dishonest about finishing important tasks. The Employer will be unable to place the same level of faith in the Employee as it once did.
Employees might not always see their dishonesty in the same light as the employer. After years of faithful and honest work to the Employer, the Employees realize they committed one error. Years of faithful and honest service without incident are frequently the straw that breaks the camel’s back. For years, the Employer had placed complete trust in this Employee. This implicit trust is instantaneously shattered by a single act of dishonesty.
Because the Employee may disappoint the Employer, the Employer does not want to allocate any additional projects to the dishonest Employee. This, in turn, could have a detrimental influence on the Employer’s business and bring it into shame. Employing and keeping a dishonest employee would thus be a bad business decision.
Workplace dishonesty is a serious problem “A deal-breaker.” Dishonesty shatters the bond of trust that exists between the employer and the employee. The employment connection cannot be saved or mended once the trust relationship has been shattered. The Employer will not take anything the Employee does after the dishonesty has been exposed at face value.
In addition, if an Employer decides to “If you “ignore” the employee’s dishonesty, it will cause turmoil at work. Especially if it is discovered that the Employer takes no disciplinary action against dishonest employees. It will send the wrong message to the other members of the team. It might be argued that the Employer condones dishonest behavior.
If the Employer fails to act against one dishonest Employee or chooses not to act against one dishonest Employee, the Employer will be unable to act against another dishonest Employee.
If the Employer then decides to retaliate against another dishonest Employee, the Employer will be perceived as acting inconsistently. The CCMA and/or Bargaining Council may deem the dismissal substantively unfair if there is inconsistency in penalizing dishonest employees.
If the Employer has handled with dishonesty inconsistently in the past, it should issue a formal revocation to all of its employees. As a result of the revocation, all Employees who have been found guilty of dishonesty shall be summarily terminated as of the date of issuance. Other penalties will not be considered.
As a result, it is recommended that an employer have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to workplace dishonesty. Employees suspected of dishonesty should be placed on paid leave and the matter should be referred to a Disciplinary Hearing. Employees who have been found guilty of dishonesty at a Disciplinary Hearing must be fired immediately.
SchoemanLaw Inc can help you with all of your contracting, drafting, and employment-related needs. Disciplinary Hearings can be chaired with our help. Employers can also benefit from our training, which relieves them of some of their responsibilities so they can focus on running their businesses.
Is employee theft and employee dishonesty the same?
Employee Theft Insurance, often known as employee dishonesty insurance, protects businesses from employee theft. Employee Theft Coverage pays for losses or damages to money, securities, and other property caused by theft by an employee, whether identifiable or not, acting alone or in conjunction with others.
Employee Theft Coverage is one of the most important aspects of a normal commercial crime policy, and it can be acquired separately or as part of a package with other crime policies. While a conventional commercial property policy may give some limited coverage for losses resulting from third-party criminal activity, it often excludes property losses resulting from employee theft. Employee Theft Coverage bridges the gap between standard commercial property plans and employee theft.
Is employee theft the same as employee dishonesty?
Employee theft and employee dishonesty are two words that refer to the same coverage in insurance terms. Employee Theft Insurance is often known as employee dishonesty insurance.
What is the name of an insurance policy that pays employer money in case an employee theft occurs?
Because of how it overlaps with the coverage in a typical business owner’s policy, commercial crime insurance is sometimes misinterpreted or neglected. Owners have a tendency to believe they already have it. Alternatively, they are unconcerned about purchasing it. Most business owners don’t put “staff theft” high on their list of concerns after a year marked by lockdowns and supply chain problems.
SMBs, on the other hand, are increasingly losing money to thieves operating within and around their businesses. According to the most recent statistics, small and mid-sized enterprises account for 68 percent of all employee theft instances, with losses averaging $290,000.
What else we know is that certain industries are more affected than others. According to a 2018 research by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, banking and financial services are at the top of the list, with manufacturing, retail, and construction not far behind.
If you think your company can’t afford to lose any money, expensive merchandise, or supplies, read the following business crime/commercial crime insurance FAQs:
Does business insurance cover employee theft?
Most likely not. Some sorts of theft (e.g., a random burglary) are covered under your commercial property insurance… but there are two key exclusions:
- Theft of cash is not covered by commercial property insurance (only tangible assets like computers or product inventory)
- Employee theft is not covered by commercial property insurance. It is not included if the offense was committed by you, your partners, or someone on your payroll.
“Really?!?” you might be thinking. So, what’s the point of insurance?” However, when you consider how easy insurance fraud could be done without them, these exclusions make sense. More importantly, now that you’re aware of these exclusions, it’s time to consider filling in the gaps with a commercial crime insurance coverage.
What is business crime insurance or commercial crime insurance?
Business crime insurance is a type of insurance meant to protect companies from theft and fraud. It’s most commonly connected with employee theft since it helps to bridge some crucial gaps between what commercial property insurance can and won’t cover. It’s also known as “fidelity insurance,” “employee theft coverage,” or “employee dishonesty coverage,” among other terms.
However, crime insurance might cover a lot more. It can be written to cover theft or fraud situations involving internal (employee) or external (random thief or cybercriminal) sources, or a combination of both.
Where/how can I buy business crime insurance?
Depending on the type of business you own, you may already have crime insurance included in your total commercial package, along with liability and other coverage. It’s also possible that you’ll need to purchase it as a stand-alone insurance. Request that your agent explain the various carrier possibilities.
Commercial crime insurance is divided into eight categories by the ISO (an organization that creates standard insurance policy language): one for workers and seven for outside perpetrators. Each section covers a different set of terms and conditions. Some insurance companies use the ISO language verbatim in their crime policies, while others just use bits of it. As a result, it’s critical to consider the many forms of theft risk that your company may face. Request that your representative walk you through some of the most typical scenarios today. He or she will be able to clarify which insurance and/or endorsements will best meet your requirements.
What does commercial crime insurance cover?
Commercial crime policies, in general, are designed to combat business theft, forgery, embezzlement, unauthorized cash transfers, computer fraud, check fraud, billing, and payroll fraud.
Commercial crime coverage, on the other hand, can be arranged in a variety of ways, depending on your carrier’s products and policy wording. You may need to purchase certain endorsements in addition to a basic crime insurance policy to ensure you are covering your most significant risks. Consider the following scenario:
- Do you require ERISA protection in the event that your company’s pension plan officer embezzles funds from the company-sponsored plan?
These are some instances of specialized hazards that may necessitate extra thought and underwriting.
Remember that employee theft is rarely a one-time event. Instead, the offense is usually committed over a long period of time. To protect yourself from future losses, have your agent go over the two forms of crime coverage: “loss detected” and “loss incurred.” When a crime is found, the first sort of coverage kicks in as long as your insurance is active (even if the thief started raiding your register five years ago). Only if the offense happened during the policy’s term is the latter type applicable.
What is not covered by crime insurance?
There is no uniform list because each policy has its own conditions and exclusions. However, there are some types of losses that are normally not covered by a crime policy, such as:
- Expenses for investigation (uncovering the crime or proving the full extent of it)
- Losses incurred if it is discovered that an employee has stolen from you or a previous company (e.g., no coverage for giving second chances)
- Data that has been stolen (e.g., client lists, company documents, secret recipes, intellectual property)
- Losses that were entirely based on inventory records were claimed (without clear evidence of theft)
- Indirect losses (e.g., lost money from missed work days or projects due to stolen computers or equipment)
Does my business need crime insurance?
Anyone who manages a business with a lot of cash and/or high-value inventory should think about crime insurance. Exploring crime coverage is also a smart idea if your employees bring cash or products off premises, such as to tradeshows, live events, or as part of a delivery service (e.g., cannabis delivery). Crime insurance is becoming increasingly important for enterprises who sell things online.
Asset misappropriation accounts for 89 percent of all company theft, to give you some perspective. Theft of cash, billing schemes, payment schemes, check and payroll manipulation, and theft of non-monetary assets all fall into this category (which is the most common business crime of all). Are any of these crimes likely to occur on a large scale at your company?
Does crime insurance cover my business against employees who steal from clients?
This is a difficult question to answer. It’s also critical for companies that deploy staff into customers’ homes or offices. What if a member of your landscaping team steals a laptop from a customer’s vehicle? What if an employee from your IT department takes a credential and then enters an office building after hours?
The quick answer is that incidents like these may not be covered by commercial crime insurance. Because conventional crime coverage only covers the property of the policyholder, this is the case.
You’ll probably need to ask your agent about adding a business crime endorsement to extend theft coverage to other parties, such as your clients. (In most cases, it’s Clients’ Property Endorsement CR 04 01.) This is a classic illustration of how firms can and should tailor a crime policy to fit their own risk profile.
Does business insurance cover damage or looting that occurs during a riot?
Yes, in most cases. During a riot, strike, or other event of civil upheaval, your typical business owner’s coverage would be sufficient to cover losses (property damage, lost product). If your only concerns are the recent protests in Washington and other places throughout the country, you won’t need separate crime insurance.
What are some tips for preventing business theft?
Whether or not you choose to get crime insurance, there are a number of things you can do at work to assist deter theft and dishonesty. It’s usually a good idea to install video cameras, especially near cash registers or cash boxes. Another best practice is to keep meticulous records of all cash, cheques, and receipts. Experts advise labeling checks “FOR DEPOSIT ONLY” right away. Though it’s a good idea to go to the bank every day (to avoid leaving cash and cheques sitting around), your habits shouldn’t be too rigid (such that employees or their associates know when and where they can find you carrying a lot of money).
Finally, devote the necessary time to finding and keeping good staff. Perform background checks and personality assessments. Make contact with all of your references. Create a positive company culture that encourages good employees to stay. (Incidents of theft and dishonesty are linked to high staff turnover rates.) Also, teach your employees how to respond to various threatson-site, off-site, and online.
Does professional liability cover employee dishonesty?
Employee dishonesty is covered by commercial crime insurance, which protects business owners. General liability, professional liability, and property insurance do not cover dishonesty. Damage to business property, employee fraud, and theft of your or a client’s property are all covered incidents.
Commercial crime coverage is frequently purchased by business owners to safeguard their company from the financial hardship caused by staff theft, or to protect their clients when they manage money or securities on their behalf. In many cases, business owners require coverage to ensure that their clients are protected financially in the event of dishonesty or theft.
Is crime and fidelity insurance the same?
When it comes to commercial crime insurance, company owners are frequently perplexed when their brokers mention fidelity bonds. Is fidelity insurance and crime insurance the same thing? Is that the case, and if so, what is it?
The most straightforward response is that fidelity bonds and crime insurance are essentially the same thing. However, depending on your industry and the specific risks against which you want to protect your business by purchasing the correct coverage, there are different forms of crime insurance and distinct needs for crime insurance.
Fidelity bonds are a sort of criminal insurance that protects businesses against specific types of fraud. Let’s look at the types of fidelity bonds accessible to businesses and what crimes they can be used for.
Why is a fidelity bond required?
An ERISA fidelity bond is a type of insurance that protects an employee benefit plan against losses caused by fraud or dishonesty. The ERISA-mandated fidelity bond protects a plan from losses caused by fraud or dishonesty (e.g., theft) by those who handle plan assets or property.