“Spring has officially arrived.” So says the spam email I received from Brian at Phenix Investigations this morning. “It’s time to think about using surveillance to deal with employee-related issues.”
I don’t know Brian and have never heard of Phenix Investigations until today, but I did find it a rather curious email. For starters, spring officially arrived about five months ago. And frankly, I can’t think of a worse idea at any time of the year than spying on my employees, especially in the current business environment.
My curiosity moves me to do a little investigating on my own.
I learn that the man behind the email is Brian Herbert, director of corporate investigations at Phenix. The company, located in Greenwood, IN, was founded by Brian Bauer, who grew up in a military family and spent most of his previous career in law enforcement. According to the company website, Phenix is a leader in employee surveillance, helping companies nab those who are stealing materials or information, wasting time, claiming excessive overtime or moonlighting, abusing family leave of absence, making fraudulent workers comp claims, or spending too much time on the Internet or in the bathroom.
“You might have heard that employees are your most valuable asset,” Brian warns, “but you should also be aware they can be your biggest liability.” He points to research that shows employee theft is five times greater than consumer theft, and that one in three failed businesses can be directly attributed to employee theft.
My guess is there is considerable research on the other side showing that employees who work for bad companies, those with command-and-control management and cultures of distrust, are more likely to be unproductive and steal from their employers. Whereas employees who are valued as an asset rather than a potential liability — who are engaged, treated with respect, and made to feel they are part of a mission to serve the needs of their customers — are more likely to be loyal, productive and to advocate for their company. They also are less likely to leave the first time another employment opportunity comes along.
In a customer-centric market where brands are shaped largely by experience, employees play a more crucial role in business success than ever before. Companies that feel they need to resort to surveillance might want to consider bringing in a management consulting firm instead. As for Phenix Investigations, they might want to hire a good marketing agency.
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