Workplace Surveillance Provides Much More than Safety

Some of the advantages in the use of security cameras in the workplace are obvious. Security camera systems can reduce crime, increase customer and employee safety, and document disputed events. Alone, those advantages are very significant to any business owner.

 But research shows that there is an additional advantage of video surveillance systems in the area of business discipline.

A recent study called, “Cleaning House: The Impact of Information Technology Monitoring on Employee Theft and Productivity”, by Lamar Pierce, associate professor at the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis; Daniel Snow, associate professor at the Marriott School at Brigham Young University; and Andrew McAfee, research scientist at the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, research showed that the use of CCTV in the workplace is even more valuable than originally perceived.

Research and Findings In Restaurant Safety

In it, they installed CCTV in 392 restaurants in 39 states and software that measured employee-level theft prior to and after installation of the surveillance system. The restaurant industry was chosen for the study for many reasons, including the expectation of a high amount of employee theft. Managers of the restaurants received electronic alerts in instances which were clearly employee misconduct or theft throughout the study.

The results were very interesting. The average savings from the alerts were modest, around $108 per week per restaurant. However, after installing surveillance and monitoring software the average weekly revenue increased by 7% or $2,982 a week.

What was most compelling was that the result of the increased profit was not because of a decrease of theft but was mostly due to changed employee behaviors. Employees not only changed unethical behaviors, they also applied new positive energy to into their jobs.

About Security Instrument

Ultimately, cloud-based video surveillance systems is a far more than an important workplace safety feature. It is a tool that can help set employees—and your business, up for success. If you have any questions about How Security Instrument can meet your business security needs or the incredible features cloud-based video surveillance offers, give us a call.