Unusual behaviour in the workplace

We spend a large proportion of our time at work with our colleagues. Some will be people you only ever see at the office and others will become friends that you will socialise with outside work.

Regardless of the type of relationship you have, it is inevitable that you will get to know the people you work with and their habits relatively well. This puts you in a good position to notice changes in behaviour and to act appropriately should you have any concerns.

It is important to note that a change in someone’s behaviour does not necessarily mean that they are up to no good; for example, someone could become withdrawn because they are under pressure outside work and that is affecting their performance or how they interact with the team. If we don’t provide a supportive working environment which allows people to come forward when they are having problems, their vulnerabilities could leave them in a position where they become a threat to the organisation either through making unintentional mistakes or because committing fraud seems to provide a solution to their problems.

We need to recognise that changes in behaviour could be indicative of something more deliberate and indicate that someone has, or is about to commit an act against the organisation. By identifying and addressing the types of behaviours and acts that could damage our organisation, we stand a better chance of safeguarding our resources from the outset.