When it comes to office supplies, workers make out like bandits. To the tune of $52 *billion* dollars a year, or over a billion dollars each week. That’s a lot of pens and paper clips!
18% of workers admitted to “borrowing” office supplies to take home in the last year. And, as usual, it’s the youngsters that are to blame… 25% of workers aged 18 to 24 said they pilfer supplies. Workers aged 65 and up were the most honest, with only 12% saying they help themselves to unguarded supplies. Perhaps more disturbing, 29% of people said they didn’t object to the practice… here’s hoping they’re also the more disgruntled among us.
However, this isn’t the whole truth… past studies have revealed much higher theft rates, with one from May that showed 58% all employees burgle supplies from the office. The most commonly stolen items? Pens, post-its and paper clips. 2% of workers even admitted taking big ticket items, like paintings, furniture or plants.
Which reminds me… a few more undercover trips to the supply closet and I’ll finally be able to move into my new 5 bedroom house, made entirely from paper clips, pencils and post-it notes.
