There are many ways for workers to embezzle. Many of them are quite direct and obviously intentional. Workers intercepting client payments, overcharging customers or refunding transactions to pocket the money know that their actions violate the law.
However, sometimes white-collar employees end up accused of embezzlement for engaging in what they view as reasonable or appropriate actions. The same could be true for those in managerial positions at service-based businesses such as hotels and retail shops.
What types of behaviors might put a professional at risk of embezzlement charges, even when they don’t actually intend to steal from their employer?
Misusing a company card
Businesses sometimes provide company cards for managers and others who may need to make purchases while performing job functions. A salesperson who travels, for example, could use a company card to put gas in their vehicle and pay for a room at a motel while they are out on the road. Unfortunately, some people start misusing company expense accounts for private and inappropriate purchases. They may use a corporate card to pay for dinner dates for their romantic partners or travel expenses not associated with work. Even when coworkers may engage in similar behaviors, workers put themselves at risk of prosecution when they abuse company credit cards or debit cards.
Inappropriate reimbursement requests
Sometimes companies take a different approach to work-related expenses. They expect workers to pay for purchases initially with their own resources. However, they can submit receipts for reimbursement. Many of the same inappropriate behaviors can occur in a reimbursement arrangement as when a worker has access to an expense account. Asking a company to reimburse any personal purchases might eventually lead to criminal charges.
Misappropriating company supplies
There are many sorts of business supplies that workers might covet. Perhaps the company has comfortable office chairs, many of which are not currently in use. Maybe the business has just begun upgrading its computers, and the old hard drives all sit in storage. Workers might take items that they assume the company doesn’t want for personal use. Especially when those items have a significant value or the company may have been able to resell them, the worker could be at risk of embezzlement charges.
Fighting embezzlement charges often requires an in-depth review of the evidence and a carefully developed strategy with the assistance of a skilled legal team. Professionals who secure legal support early after an arrest or indictment may improve their chances of successfully fighting white-collar criminal charges.