Five Ways Some People Steal from their Employer

A Christian in the workplace—whether working a part-time summer job or pursuing a long-term career—should reflect the character of Christ. When your employer and co-workers know you are a Christian, they will judge your faith by the quality of your work.

Your work ethic is a direct reflection on Jesus Christ.

Some people have a low opinion of Christianity because they have seen religious people cheat their employers. On the other hand, many Christians advance in their careers because their biblical values make them responsible, reliable, and trustworthy employees.

Five Ways to Avoid Cheating Your Employer

• Stealing Time: If you are paid by the hour, you are expected to be working diligently during those hours. You were not hired to text, chat with friends, or scroll through social media. Focus entirely on the tasks you were hired to do. If you run out of work, ask for more, or take the initiative to clean and organize. This shows you are eager to learn and valuable. As one employer put it:

  “When I see employees chatting instead of working, I feel like they are picking my pocket.”

• Embezzling (misappropriating funds): This means taking money that belongs to your company for yourself. If you have access to company cash, or if you are given a company credit card, your employer is trusting you. Never use company funds to purchase personal items.

• Taking Unauthorized Loans: You might be tempted to use company money or credit cards for personal needs, saying, “I will pay it back.” Employers do not view this as a loan; they view it as stealing. Many cases of workplace fraud start this way—with small amounts a person intends to return. Eventually, the debt grows too large to repay. If you need money before payday, ask your employer for an advance (an approved prepayment deducted from your next check) instead of taking it without permission.

• Pilfering (stealing small items): Taking office supplies, tools, or merchandise for personal use is theft. Although taking a pen, notepad, or minor item might seem insignificant, Scripture explicitly forbids taking what is not ours. The principle of honesty applies to all employee-employer relationships:

  “…not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” (Titus 2:9-10)

• Padding Expenses: Many jobs reimburse (repay) employees for business expenses. While companies sometimes reimburse small items without a receipt, you must be completely honest about what you spent. Never claim personal expenses as business costs or exaggerate your spending. Ask yourself: Is your integrity worth selling for an extra $10? Cheating on expenses destroys trust and compromises your Christian witness.