Martin Roslyn
chairman,
Pub Accounting
Company
Even if you don't believe you have a problem, undertaking regular checks on stock and staff is as big a deterrent as anything.
1. Conduct key line checks. Count the stock of 10 lines in the morning and again when trading has finished and compare the useage to the till price look-up (PLU). If there is a big
difference there may be a problem.
2. Introduce a mid-session till change. Have a spare drawer already floated up, take an X read and then balance cash to read. This means that if the money under-rung on the till has not been pocketed yet you will have a positive cash balance.
3. Ask a friend/fellow landlord who is not known to any staff member to sit close to the bar and watch your suspect.
4. Have a regular itemised stock-take by a qualified
stocktaker comparing PLUs to actual use.
5. Ensure that there are no X or Z keys available to staff, this way the till can be put right by staff before you do your final Z at the end of the day.
6. Change the shift pattern and compare takings.
7. Ensure that the till screen is visible to customers so that they will notice if the round is under-rung.
If your mind is still not at rest, hold a staff meeting and bring stock loss up as a discussion point. Explain what steps you will be taking to ensure all stock is accounted for.
Also, a quick tip for VAT purposes - if your staff member is taking stock there is no VAT payable as the point of sale has not been achieved. If the staff member is stealing money then VAT is still payable on the theft because the sale has already been made. So, your £20 to £40 per shift is plus VAT.
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